Motorola MTS 2000 III for local fire dispatch?

[Kevin_CCR]

So I am very new to scanners and I was wondering if a Motorola MTS 2000 III would be a good radio to listen to my local fire/ems dispatching in King county. I am going for this one since it is alot cheaper and I can still use it as a radio. Thanks in advance!

 

[ladn]

So I am very new to scanners and I was wondering if a Motorola MTS 2000 III would be a good radio to listen to my local fire/ems dispatching in King county. I am going for this one since it is alot cheaper and I can still use it as a radio. Thanks in advance!

Technically, there's no reason why it wouldn't as long as the model you get is compatible with your FD system. Know that the Motorola RSS software to program the radio is not inexpensive nor user friendly.

You would also need to inhibit transmit on the FD channels, as well as any other channels where you are not licensed or authorized to transmit.

However, in reality, if all you want to do is listen, you would probably be better off purchasing a true scanner. The benefits include lower cost, lighter weight, more versatility, easier to program.

 

[MTS2000des]

an MTS2000 may work for a while, however the legacy analog system will be replaced by 2020:


https://psern.org/about/

 

[Kevin_CCR]

Technically, there's no reason why it wouldn't as long as the model you get is compatible with your FD system. Know that the Motorola RSS software to program the radio is not inexpensive nor user friendly.

You would also need to inhibit transmit on the FD channels, as well as any other channels where you are not licensed or authorized to transmit.

However, in reality, if all you want to do is listen, you would probably be better off purchasing a true scanner. The benefits include lower cost, lighter weight, more versatility, easier to program.

The reason I'm going with an MTS 2000 is that I would be able to use it for explorers too. How difficult is it to program it to read the NorCom trunking channels?

 

[ladn]

The reason I'm going with an MTS 2000 is that I would be able to use it for explorers too. How difficult is it to program it to read the NorCom trunking channels?

Programming a transceiver to receive a trunking system is different than programming a scanner. A transceiver will need to affiliate itself with the system and to do that the radio actually transmits. You would need a system key for programming the system and that information isn't in public archives. Scanners receive trucked systems in a passive mode, so there is no interaction with the network and a system key isn't needed.

As for your "exploring" use, I'm not sure what you mean. If you mean back country exploring and hiking, there are no unlicensed frequencies in the 800 MHz band. You'd need to get a license, or subscribe to an existing system. For this purpose you are better off using GMRS/FRS or MURS capable radios.

 

[chief21]

Programming a Motorola radio from scratch for a trunking system will be complicated, annoying, frustrating, and - if you're not given the system key - impossible. Get a good scanner to monitor the trunked system and find a more easily-programmed radio for Explorers.