Looking to start out

[sk337sk337]

I live in Bradley Co and would like to purchase an entry level scanner. I have an app on my phone that has a scanner on it but it's slow and the audio is horrid. I'm trying to stay under $250 if possible. Any suggestions would be awesome!

[shadcall]

It appears your county is made up of conventional frequencies and at this time nothing is on a trunked system in the county (it is in adjoining Hamilton Co.). A good choice would be the Pro 163 (desktop) or Pro 164 (handheld). Both are sold by Radio Shack. For your county it would be easy to program.

[nick1427d]

you looking for a handheld or a base/mobile?

[sk337sk337]

Originally Posted by shadcall

It appears your county is made up of conventional frequencies and at this time nothing is on a trunked system in the county (it is in adjoining Hamilton Co.). A good choice would be the Pro 163 (desktop) or Pro 164 (handheld). Both are sold by Radio Shack. For your county it would be easy to program.

Great thanks for the input.
Any suggestions on any others because I do visit Hamilton Co frequently and would love to be able to take it with me.

Originally Posted by nick1427d

you looking for a handheld or a base/mobile?

Mainly a handheld


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[sk337sk337]

Originally Posted by shadcall

It appears your county is made up of conventional frequencies and at this time nothing is on a trunked system in the county (it is in adjoining Hamilton Co.). A good choice would be the Pro 163 (desktop) or Pro 164 (handheld). Both are sold by Radio Shack. For your county it would be easy to program.

Great thanks. Are those compatible with Hamilton too?

Originally Posted by nick1427d

you looking for a handheld or a base/mobile?

Handheld mainly

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[CFD288]

Originally Posted by sk337sk337

I live in Bradley Co and would like to purchase an entry level scanner. I have an app on my phone that has a scanner on it but it's slow and the audio is horrid. I'm trying to stay under $250 if possible. Any suggestions would be awesome!

sk, Bradley Co TN has both conventional AND trunked public safety. Bradley Co Sheriff, EMS and Fire is still on conventional freqs but Cleveland Police is trunked under the TVRTS. In addition, Bradley Co Sheriff and Fire both have assigned trunked talkgroups under the TVRTS and do use them some (mostly for admin type traffic) and Bradley Co EMS has just started using the TVRTS trunked system for EMS to Skyridge ER traffic. I use both the GRE PSR800 and Uniden HP-1 digital scanners and enjoy them both...but their cost is about double your $250 target.

The Bradley Co agencies that are still on conventional freqs all have talkgroups assigned to them under the TVRTS so they <could> go over to trunked operation at any time. If you can save up a little more $$$ you might want to go ahead and get a digital scanner.

My $.02 cents worth....

Scotty

[sk337sk337]

Originally Posted by CFD288

sk, Bradley Co TN has both conventional AND trunked public safety. Bradley Co Sheriff, EMS and Fire is still on conventional freqs but Cleveland Police is trunked under the TVRTS. In addition, Bradley Co Sheriff and Fire both have assigned trunked talkgroups under the TVRTS and do use them some (mostly for admin type traffic) and Bradley Co EMS has just started using the TVRTS trunked system for EMS to Skyridge ER traffic. I use both the GRE PSR800 and Uniden HP-1 digital scanners and enjoy them both...but their cost is about double your $250 target.

The Bradley Co agencies that are still on conventional freqs all have talkgroups assigned to them under the TVRTS so they <could> go over to trunked operation at any time. If you can save up a little more $$$ you might want to go ahead and get a digital scanner.

My $.02 cents worth....

Scotty

I have more money to spend but I was just hoping to stay under $250. I believe I'll get the PSR800 because it seems very easy to use and will work in both Bradley and Hamilton Co. I have found a few on ebay for $419. Do you think that's a good price?

Also, I'm assuming you work for the Fire Dept by your user name?

[ButchGone]

I have a Uniden 396t in very good condition that I am selling that works analog and digital to support what is used now and in the future when other agencies join CPD on the digital system. It's also well in your price range. It's also already programmed for everything in eastern TN. If interested send me a private message.
BG..

[sk337sk337]

I can't use PM's yet but I am very interested!

[milf]

Being that he is still in moderation, he PM's and other functions will not work for him yet. If you want to conduct business, best bet is vias e-mails.

[sk337sk337]

Originally Posted by ButchGone

I have a Uniden 396t in very good condition that I am selling that works analog and digital to support what is used now and in the future when other agencies join CPD on the digital system. It's also well in your price range. It's also already programmed for everything in eastern TN. If interested send me a private message.
BG..

Sent you a Pm

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[jimg]

Originally Posted by sk337sk337

I have more money to spend but I was just hoping to stay under $250. I believe I'll get the PSR800 because it seems very easy to use and will work in both Bradley and Hamilton Co. I have found a few on ebay for $419. Do you think that's a good price?

Also, I'm assuming you work for the Fire Dept by your user name?

If you decide to go with the GRE PSR-800, you may want to consider ordering it from Scanner Master and asking them to update it so it will receive the TDMA Phase II, before they ship it to you. I think $419 is also their price, but you can check by clicking on their advertisment here on RR. I think this is important because, as I undersand it, the PSR 800 is the only scanner that will receive TDMA Phase II, and, that is what the new TROOPNET system is reportedly going to be using.

[milf]

Correct, the PSR-800 is currently the only scanner that will do P-25 Phase II TDMA, with the updated software. Uniden may be putting something new out soon though. Also correct in that the magority of TroopNet traffic will be TDMA, though the whole system must be able to also handle agencies using FDMA from the TVRTRS

[doctree2]

A good choice for now. I am still a keyboard junkie but if you get used to the 800 it has a good reputation. Speaking of which any reasonable rumors on when Uniden might have a new release that might include TDMA II, MotoBro and Nexden? Last I heard GRE is down and may be out.

[CFD288]

sk, you're getting excellent advice from the other posters on here. I can highly recommend the PSR800 but you may get a better offer from ButchGone on his Uniden 396t . Depending on your location in Cleveland you should be able to receive a large amount of traffic from Chattanooga/Hamilton Co as well as North Georgia (Dade/Walker/Catoosa) on the TVRTS trunked system.

Yes I am with Cleveland FD.

Scotty

[sk337sk337]

Originally Posted by CFD288

sk, you're getting excellent advice from the other posters on here. I can highly recommend the PSR800 but you may get a better offer from ButchGone on his Uniden 396t . Depending on your location in Cleveland you should be able to receive a large amount of traffic from Chattanooga/Hamilton Co as well as North Georgia (Dade/Walker/Catoosa) on the TVRTS trunked system.

Yes I am with Cleveland FD.

Scotty

Yeah, I think that's what I'm going to do. At least try one out and see how well I like it and if I like it as much as I think I'll move up the ladder so to speak. I'm right in the middle of town near Logan's so I think I should be able to pick up a good bit of chatter.

I know a few fire fighters that work for city & county. Ross & Billy (city) and then Creech & Keasler (county) don't know if you know any of them or not but they're good guys.

[CFD288]

sounds like you're in a pretty good spot in Cleveland for reception....whichever radio you wind up with you may have to experiment where to place it (at least at home) for best reception. Digital reception can be tricky and the others on here can expain it better than I can but...the digital signal is either there or it's not. Kinda like falling off a cliff. It's not like VHF or UHF where the signal can be either strong and clear or weak and static-filled. If the radio does not receive the signal well enough to decode you will receive either nothing or what's known as digital distortion. Took me a while to get my head around this.

[sk337sk337]

Originally Posted by CFD288

sounds like you're in a pretty good spot in Cleveland for reception....whichever radio you wind up with you may have to experiment where to place it (at least at home) for best reception. Digital reception can be tricky and the others on here can expain it better than I can but...the digital signal is either there or it's not. Kinda like falling off a cliff. It's not like VHF or UHF where the signal can be either strong and clear or weak and static-filled. If the radio does not receive the signal well enough to decode you will receive either nothing or what's known as digital distortion. Took me a while to get my head around this.

Thanks for the advice. Hopefully, I hear from Butch soon!

[jascet45]

I live just south of Decatur in Meigs County about 17 miles from Cleveland and I don't have any trouble picking up Cleveland/Bradley County at all. I'm using a PSR500 with the stock rubber duckie antenna. Picking up Hamilton, Rhea, North Georgia counties, and some of McMinn is no problem either. Good luck...Bob

[sk337sk337]

Originally Posted by jascet45

I live just south of Decatur in Meigs County about 17 miles from Cleveland and I don't have any trouble picking up Cleveland/Bradley County at all. I'm using a PSR500 with the stock rubber duckie antenna. Picking up Hamilton, Rhea, North Georgia counties, and some of McMinn is no problem either. Good luck...Bob

Great thanks!

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