Beginner in Anderson

[blizzard105]

Hello I'm interested in getting into scanning. I'd like to listen to local PD, Fire, EMS, and county sheriff. I live in Anderson, IN. Could anyone please recommend a good starting scanner. I have no idea how to program a scanner. Also, I keep seeing stuff about P25 I & II. Don't know if the locals use this here. So any suggestions and/or recommendations would be very helpful. Oh I more thing budget is some what of a concern.

 

[bearcatrp]

Best to ask in your home state forum for better recommendations. They will tell you what you should buy.

 

[hiegtx]

Hello I'm interested in getting into scanning. I'd like to listen to local PD, Fire, EMS, and county sheriff. I live in Anderson, IN. Could anyone please recommend a good starting scanner. I have no idea how to program a scanner. Also, I keep seeing stuff about P25 I & II. Don't know if the locals use this here. So any suggestions and/or recommendations would be very helpful. Oh I more thing budget is some what of a concern.

Looks like most of the agencies in your county are on this system:

Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency (MESA) (Formerly IDPS) Trunking System, Indianapolis, Indiana

Metropolitan Emergency Services Agency (MESA) (Formerly IDPS) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

But you also have a statewide system:

Indiana Project Hoosier SAFE-T Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State

Indiana Project Hoosier SAFE-T Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Both of these are P25 Phase I scanners. However, the site for the system your county apparently uses the most is Simulcast. That can be an issue for many scanners. But one point in your favor is that your city, Anderson, is very close to one of the transmit towers, and occasionally that can help with reception.

Someone in your state may be able to give you more insight on what will, or will not, work.

 

[blizzard105]

Thank you very much!!

 

[INDaviation]

Madison County uses MESA full time. You'll want a simulcast-capable scanner. The talkgroups on SAFE-T are used as a backup only.

 

[JethrowJohnson]

I would recommend a Uniden Homepatrol 2 since it's a bit easier to use, but you might have simulcast issues with that one, so, if you have a friend or someone who's experienced in scanners and could help you program it, then I would recommend a Uniden Bearcat SDS100. But that one isn't as easy to figure out at first, it took me a while to understand trunking and all that stuff, but when you have any questions just ask and we'll help you get it sorted out, okay? I hope this helps. 🙂

 

[west-pac]

As a newbie, you'll simply just want a scanner that works. You don't want to buy a $300-$500 scanner, plus a beam antenna, coax, coax adapters, etc...and have your beam antenna laying across your table, desk, or bookcase.

The best solution for you, since your county uses a "simulcast" radio system, would be to buy a Uniden SDS100 (handheld) or a Uniden SDS200 (desktop) scanner.

The SDS100/SDS200 scanners are the only two scanners that were designed to combat "simulcast" radio system.

Those who are more advanced (or experienced) scanner enthusiasts (who likely already have outdoor antennas, coax, additional parts, pieces, etc...already laying around) may opt to try a non-SDS scanner and use a more complicated external antenna system to combat "simulcast" issues, but for a newbie (who doesn't have the extra parts and pieces laying around) by the time you buy a non-SDS scanner + extra components + learn how to put it all together + configure it in the correct orientation, it would've been less expensive, time consuming, and aggravating to just buy an SDS100 or SDS200 that does all the "simulcast" work for you.

 

[sonm10]

Here's a thought.... and before anyone jumps on me, yes requires computer skills....not for beginners...


How good are you with computers? Another option to consider is SDR (software defined radio). Requires a lot of technical ability. SDRs handle simulcast well.
SDR requires 2 things: hardware receiver and software.
Hardware - I recommend Airspy, RTL SDR, or Nooelec
Software - I recommend DSD+, SDR Trunk, or Unitrunker

 

[west-pac]

Here's a thought.... and before anyone jumps on me, yes requires computer skills....not for beginners...


How good are you with computers? Another option to consider is SDR (software defined radio). Requires a lot of technical ability. SDRs handle simulcast well.
SDR requires 2 things: hardware receiver and software.
Hardware - I recommend Airspy, RTL SDR, or Nooelec
Software - I recommend DSD+, SDR Trunk, or Unitrunker

You forgot to tell them SDR receivers are as cheap as $25.

 

[afdscan]

Hello I'm interested in getting into scanning. I'd like to listen to local PD, Fire, EMS, and county sheriff. I live in Anderson, IN. Could anyone please recommend a good starting scanner. I have no idea how to program a scanner. Also, I keep seeing stuff about P25 I & II. Don't know if the locals use this here. So any suggestions and/or recommendations would be very helpful. Oh I more thing budget is some what of a concern.

I am in Anderson. For a beginner, I would recommend the Uniden Home Patrol 2. You can find them on Amazon. You can program the radio yourself within just a few minutes by entering your zip code. Then you can add or delete any channels that you don't want to listen to. The HP 2 works fine with the MESA System 4 that all of Madison County police, fire, and EMS use.

 

[hiegtx]

I am in Anderson. For a beginner, I would recommend the Uniden Home Patrol 2. You can find them on Amazon. You can program the radio yourself within just a few minutes by entering your zip code. Then you can add or delete any channels that you don't want to listen to. The HP 2 works fine with the MESA System 4 that all of Madison County police, fire, and EMS use.

I would not necessarily recommend the HP-2. It does not do well with simulcast, unless you are lucky enough to be very close (say a quarter mile) of one of the transmit towers, In some cases, if something such a cluster of taller buildings, or hills, block signals from the other subsites, it may work there. In other cases, metal siding on a house, or foil backed insulation in the walls, can reduce the issues significantly, but that's not a guarantee. Among other scanners, I also have an HP-2. It does not work well on the simulcast system that Dallas, and Dallas County, are switching to. Yes, the HP-2 is simple to set up using your location and a range, but that does no good if it cannot deal with the simulcast site. Simulcast can be so location dependent that in some cases, moving a scanner a few feet one way or another can be the difference between working, and almost useless. More on simulcast can be found in the Wiki.
Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

Here's the site map for the Madison County's simulcast site. Each of the blue pins represent one of the towers.

Madison County uses MESA full time. You'll want a simulcast-capable scanner. The talkgroups on SAFE-T are used as a backup only.

The SDS series scanners handle simulcast systems. Unfortunately, many other scanners do not.

As a newbie, you'll simply just want a scanner that works. You don't want to buy a $300-$500 scanner, plus a beam antenna, coax, coax adapters, etc...and have your beam antenna laying across your table, desk, or bookcase.

The best solution for you, since your county uses a "simulcast" radio system, would be to buy a Uniden SDS100 (handheld) or a Uniden SDS200 (desktop) scanner.

The SDS100/SDS200 scanners are the only two scanners that were designed to combat "simulcast" radio system.

Those who are more advanced (or experienced) scanner enthusiasts (who likely already have outdoor antennas, coax, additional parts, pieces, etc...already laying around) may opt to try a non-SDS scanner and use a more complicated external antenna system to combat "simulcast" issues, but for a newbie (who doesn't have the extra parts and pieces laying around) by the time you buy a non-SDS scanner + extra components + learn how to put it all together + configure it in the correct orientation, it would've been less expensive, time consuming, and aggravating to just buy an SDS100 or SDS200 that does all the "simulcast" work for you.

I would agree with west-pac. Some of the tricks mentioned, such as using a directional antenna, might, if you're lucky, for use at a fixed location, like your home. All bets are off if you take the scanner with you & drive around in the area.

Hello I'm interested in getting into scanning. I'd like to listen to local PD, Fire, EMS, and county sheriff. I live in Anderson, IN. Could anyone please recommend a good starting scanner. I have no idea how to program a scanner. Also, I keep seeing stuff about P25 I & II. Don't know if the locals use this here. So any suggestions and/or recommendations would be very helpful. Oh I more thing budget is some what of a concern.

Should you decide to roll the dice and see if an HP-2, or another scanner (except one of the SDS scanners) works, purchase it from a dealer that does not penalize you if you find that it simply won't work at your location.

The SDR dongles can work, but as noted, it does require certain skills, that not everyone has, to set up & run. Plus, since that requires a PC as well as the SDR, that's not a moveable solution for most people,

Other possibilities include the Blue Tail Receiver (see this forum for discussions on these), or one of the Unication pagers. But neither of these are true scanners, and you cannot simply program without the aid of a PC. While the Unication pagers do work well (from comments I've read; I do not own one), you are limited as to how much you can listen to at one time. You can program a selection of talkgroups & sites into the device, but only monitor a single site, and no more than 64 talkgroups at a time. If you have more than one set of sites and talkgroups, you can switch between them, but only listen to one at a time.

 

[afdscan]

I would not necessarily recommend the HP-2. It does not do well with simulcast, unless you are lucky enough to be very close (say a quarter mile) of one of the transmit towers, In some cases, if something such a cluster of taller buildings, or hills, block signals from the other subsites, it may work there. In other cases, metal siding on a house, or foil backed insulation in the walls, can reduce the issues significantly, but that's not a guarantee. Among other scanners, I also have an HP-2. It does not work well on the simulcast system that Dallas, and Dallas County, are switching to. Yes, the HP-2 is simple to set up using your location and a range, but that does no good if it cannot deal with the simulcast site. Simulcast can be so location dependent that in some cases, moving a scanner a few feet one way or another can be the difference between working, and almost useless. More on simulcast can be found in the Wiki.
Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

Here's the site map for the Madison County's simulcast site. Each of the blue pins represent one of the towers.
View attachment 131455


The SDS series scanners handle simulcast systems. Unfortunately, many other scanners do not.

I would agree with west-pac. Some of the tricks mentioned, such as using a directional antenna, might, if you're lucky, for use at a fixed location, like your home. All bets are off if you take the scanner with you & drive around in the area.

Should you decide to roll the dice and see if an HP-2, or another scanner (except one of the SDS scanners) works, purchase it from a dealer that does not penalize you if you find that it simply won't work at your location.

The SDR dongles can work, but as noted, it does require certain skills, that not everyone has, to set up & run. Plus, since that requires a PC as well as the SDR, that's not a moveable solution for most people,

Other possibilities include the Blue Tail Receiver (see this forum for discussions on these), or one of the Unication pagers. But neither of these are true scanners, and you cannot simply program without the aid of a PC. While the Unication pagers do work well (from comments I've read; I do not own one), you are limited as to how much you can listen to at one time. You can program a selection of talkgroups & sites into the device, but only monitor a single site, and no more than 64 talkgroups at a time. If you have more than one set of sites and talkgroups, you can switch between them, but only listen to one at a time.

I live in Madison County. I have the HP-2 installed in my truck, and I have traveled the entire county without any issues. It works flawlessly with the MESA System 4. Again, I recommend it for a newbie based on my personal experience.