Clueless reporter needs help

tbreaves · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 3:02 PM

I'm working for a news company covering Cabarrus County. I have a Radio Shack PRO-97 scanner, but the directions I've read for it confuse the hell out of me. It was programmed by someone before and has a file with a .rsd extension. Basically, I've just been putting it on "scan" mode, but I seem to miss a lot of things, so I think it's outdated. And whenever emergency agencies switch to "OPS" channels, they fall off.

Will someone help me figure out how to follow OPS channels, and does anyone know if there's a simple way to update the scanner?

trumpetman · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 3:26 PM

Seems you might be out of luck for more than one reason...

First off, Cabarrus County has rebanded, which means the frequencies have shifted down 15 MHz. The PRO97 was on the market before rebanding was figured out, therefore it doesn't know how to follow the new bandplan and will not support tracking it.

Also, Cabarrus is going P25 in the coming weeks/months, so you'll need to invest in a P25 capable scanner in order to hear anything besides the EMS & Fire Dispatch channels on VHF.

tbreaves · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 8:10 PM

Fortunately, it's not my scanner, and it shouldn't be too hard to justify getting a new one.

Can you recommend any models that will be able to handle the change?

jsncrso · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 10:58 PM

You will need a digital scanner, which are more pricey than conventional scanners and require a bit of computer knowlege to program. Any of these will work:

Digital Police Scanner Radios

The PSR-800 and BCD996XT are the flagship models. I personally use the BCD996XT, but honestly, if you are looking for something that's easy, the Home Patrol model is your best bet since it updates itself over the internet. The PSR-800 is also a good choice since it has everything you need to program it (whereas the BCD996XT does not) and has a lot more customization and flexibility than the Home Patrol..

trumpetman · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 11:25 PM

The BCD396XT is my preferred choice, the software is free (FreeSCAN), and has a lot of flexibility. I'm working on a file right now as well for the Charlotte area which I could help you out with so it's ready to go.

Shoot me an email when you get a free minute and I can go direct with you and help you out. trumpetman (at) radioreference (dot) com.

N2PYS · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2013, 11:39 PM

I would say he would be looking towards the BCD396XT the handheld version of the 996 because he wants mobility as well as function. How large an area are you going to be covering when you say Cabarrus County? because the scanner you need is in the 450-500 $ range. I say that because i was at one time him, I worked for Gannette News Service as a spare job shooting Crash Fire Rescue as well as doing overflow work for the Advertising Department But my Primary Job was Firefighter and i was already a ham so i had radios out the ying ying un like now where i have them out the ying ying ying's.

tbreaves · #7 (**permalink**) 01-10-2013, 10:41 AM

I would like to be able to pick up traffic from all of Cabarrus County.

Newshound · #8 (**permalink**) 01-12-2013, 5:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbreaves

I would like to be able to pick up traffic from all of Cabarrus County.

When I lived in the area, I used a Bearcat 396 with an outside antenna mounted on my news cruiser. It worked very well. I also kept the rubber duck antenna in the glove compartment in case I needed to go mobile with it. York Co., SC was just starting their digital system, and my setup worked well with it.

In Cabarrus Co, you should be able to pick up Rowan and Mecklenburg if you have the proper setup. I haven't been in the market for five years, so I am not up on what systems are digital.

jsncrso · #9 (**permalink**) 01-14-2013, 12:07 AM

The 396XT is a great scanner, but is not as easy to program and set up as a PSR-800 since that scanner comes with the USB cable and software, whereas the 396XT has no software and only an RS232 serial cable.

KE4ZNR · #10 (**permalink**) 01-14-2013, 6:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsncrso

The 396XT is a great scanner, but is not as easy to program and set up as a PSR-800 since that scanner comes with the USB cable and software, whereas the 396XT has no software and only an RS232 serial cable.

And the PSR-800 is not as easy to program as the Uniden HomePatrol HP-1.
And the 396XT has many free or paid software packages available.
Add in the fact that the 396XT and PSR-800 are in 2 totally different radio
categories trying to compare them is foolish.
But just like Coke and Pepsi it comes down to personal preference.

Marshall KE4ZNR

N2PYS · #11 (**permalink**) 01-14-2013, 10:01 AM

And also if he really only wants 2 or three counties initially installed places like ScannerMaster for about 150$ will set it up and have it running flawlessly before shipping the unit to the customer or he can even buy the unit elsewhere and most places will program it for a fee, this is in the case of course should he opt for a BCD396XT from UNIDEN.