Need scanner recommendation

I just dusted off my old scanner to do some testing. I discovered the Prince William County has transitioned to trunked radio. Can anyone recommend a good quality hand-held scanner that will monitor Northern Virginia public emergency and service trunked radio communication? Thanks.

How about one of these:

Uniden Bearcat BCD325P2 Police Scanner?
Whistler TRX-1 Police Scanner?
Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital Handheld Scanner?

Is one better than the others in terms of reliability, performance, and ease of use?

Thanks.

In looking at your area, you definitely need digital P25 Phase II capability and also DMR (aka TRBO). All 3 of the scanners you list have those capabilities (and analog) although DMR is an extra $60 option for the Uniden models.

For ease of use, it is hard to beat the Whistler TRX-1 and Uniden BCD436HP models. They contain the entire RadioReference U.S. and Canada frequency and talk group database. Just enter your location (or ZIP code), choose the types of services to monitor and you are monitoring! These models also can record audio to a built-in SD card. They both include free software that periodically downloads updates to the RadioReference database without requiring a paid subscription. This same software also allows you to enter custom frequencies that may not be in the RadioReference database (local ham repeaters for example).

The Uniden BCD325P2 is a more traditional model. While you *could* program it by hand, you typically need to program it using software and a paid subscription to RadioReference. In many cases you could use the free FreeSCAN programming software, if you want to monitor DMR systems, you will need to pay for the programming software.

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2893

Do these same recommended scanners also work in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County area?

1hank1 said:

Do these same recommended scanners also work in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham County area?

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The Harrisonburg/Rockingham County area has a little analog in it as shown below.
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2899

However most of the Public Safety agencies (fire, polices, sheriff, rescue, etc) appear to be operating in digital mode using a EDACS ProVoice trunking system.
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=5937

For hand held scanners, this type of system can only be monitored by the Uniden BCD436HP or BCD325P2 models and then only after paying $50 for the ProVoice upgrade software option.

SteveSimpkin said:

The Harrisonburg/Rockingham County area has a little analog in it as shown below.
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2899

However most of the Public Safety agencies (fire, polices, sheriff, rescue, etc) appear to be operating in digital mode using a EDACS ProVoice trunking system.
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=5937

For hand held scanners, this type of system can only be monitored by the Uniden BCD436HP or BCD325P2 models and then only after paying $50 for the ProVoice upgrade software option.

Click to expand...

SteveSimpkin is 100% correct.

just warning you in advance, there will be an OP on here who will recommend you get an HP1 and hook it to some tool belt or tape it to your wrist, or some nonsense and pretend it is an actual handheld. LOL. first off, he does NOT own the scanner he advises, just talk...

I suggest the 435HP, great scanner. if you only need phase 1, u can use the 396xt. i have two of those. small size, color screen, etc. but, if i had to own only one handheld, it would be the 436HP hands down. just my advice, others have their opinions also. there is a learning curve, but if you are new, there always is. having someone help you will make things easier, and YOUTUBE videos.

tglendye said:

SteveSimpkin is 100% correct.

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yep, steve is correct. he always is. great advice and info.