Buying a New Scanner

[Bjc123]

Hello,

Hope everyone is doing well..

I currently have a Homepatrol-2 for Montgomery County. I want to get another base scanner. I was looking at either the BCD536HP or the 996P2.

I was just curious if anyone had some recommendations or if anyone in MoCo uses these scanners and could let me know if they have had any issues with simulcast distortion.

Thanks
- Brad

 

[maus92]

Be really careful with a P25 Phase 2 systems that have high site densities - it basically sets you up for simulcast distortion unless you are lucky. Whatever you buy, make sure it has a free returns policy. I had a 996p2 that was unsat on the FIRST system at my office, but the 536 does well with the system. The SDS is pretty much flawless on both FIRST and the Montgomery County system.

 

[Mr_Boh]

Have used both in Montgomery. They suffer bad, and depending on where you are, they may basically be deaf.

Your best bet is to do an SDS, G4/G5, or P25RX. Just depends on what you want to listen to and what you goals are. A P25RX is cheaper than either of the ones you mentioned, so you'd have budget to pick up something like a used BCT15X for the rest of the scanning functionality.

 

[ka3jjz]

Csreful, now - the BCT15X doesn't do digital. A lot of folks make that mistake. It will work fine for things like milair, but with so much public safety in this area being Project 25, it doesn't make any sense not to buy a radio that is at least Phase 2 capable if that's what you want to hear. And with simulcast issues, your options are somewhat limited, as noted above.

We have a wiki article for the P25RX box, as well as a dedicated forum for it ... viz.

BlueTail Technologies P25RX - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[jtwalker]

Csreful, now - the BCT15X doesn't do digital. A lot of folks make that mistake. It will work fine for things like milair, but with so much public safety in this area being Project 25, it doesn't make any sense not to buy a radio that is at least Phase 2 capable if that's what you want to hear. And with simulcast issues, your options are somewhat limited, as noted above.

We have a wiki article for the P25RX box, as well as a dedicated forum for it ... viz.

BlueTail Technologies P25RX - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

I believe @Mr_Boh's suggestions was a P25RX and a BCT15X.

 

[Mr_Boh]

Correct. Idea is, P25RX if you are only going to be in range of MoCo's P25 system (or only care about it, and plan on keeping it base) then use the BCT15X at the same time to make up for what you would be missing conventional, discovery, etc. wise. Point of suggesting both is your total cost would be lest than the 536HP or 996P2.

The other benefit is P25RX is software defined. With things like TDMA control channels around the corner, odds are strong that the BlueTail is going to be able to support those sorts of things where a 536HP or 996P2 may not. SDS100/200 is software defined as well.

 

[Bjc123]

Thanks everyone for the input!

Sorry that I didn’t respond early I was super busy.

Thanks