Journalist turned "nightcrawler" looking for help

[stewie2552]

Hello everyone!

I'll start off by saying I have a basic knowledge of scanners. I've been using my trusty BC75XLT for the last two years, however agencies in my area have begun making the switch to digital, which will hurt my bottom line I assume.

I just purchased the BCD396XT, however I am having second thoughts after reading more on this site, and hearing about the "Phase 2," which this cannot pick up. I will be returning it to Amazon.

The scanner has been my greatest ally covering breaking news first, so I need to stay ahead of the pack. Two frequencies I have not been able to pick up is Illinois State Police (STARCOM21 Statewide Illinois P25 Project 25 Phase II) and recently Western Illinois University Office of Public Safety.

The second is where my inexperience starts to kick in. Listed on this site, the frequency is listed as 460.1875m DMR Repeater, Color Code=3, voice is decodeable with DSD+. I have no idea what any of that means. I'm assuming it's some type of digital feed, however I do not know if the radio (325P2) will be able to pick up on that.

Other than that, I believe this should fit the rest of my requirements. The only other question I have is how long to the batteries typically last?

Thank you so much guys!

 

[Voyager]

The second is where my inexperience starts to kick in. Listed on this site, the frequency is listed as 460.1875m DMR Repeater, Color Code=3, voice is decodeable with DSD+. I have no idea what any of that means. I'm assuming it's some type of digital feed, however I do not know if the radio (325P2) will be able to pick up on that.

Other than that, I believe this should fit the rest of my requirements. The only other question I have is how long to the batteries typically last?

No Uniden scanner will decode DMR. The batteries should last 6-7 hours.

 

[N9JIG]

Right now there are only 3 real ways to decode DMR:

1) Using the AOR AR-DV1 receiver ($$$)
2) Using a Motorola or other brand's DMR radio of the same type used by the target (probably cheaper than the AR-DV1)
3) Using a DSD dongle or some other type of Software Defined Radio connected to a computer (probably impractical in the field).

If Uniden or Whistler are working on DMR type receivers they aren't talking. Until (if) they do there remains only the above real options for monitoring these systems.

 

[coolderb]

Right now there are only 3 real ways to decode DMR:

1) Using the AOR AR-DV1 receiver ($$$)
2) Using a Motorola or other brand's DMR radio of the same type used by the target (probably cheaper than the AR-DV1)
3) Using a DSD dongle or some other type of Software Defined Radio connected to a computer (probably impractical in the field).

If Uniden or Whistler are working on DMR type receivers they aren't talking. Until (if) they do there remains only the above real options for monitoring these systems.

Another option would be a scanner with discriminator output such as the Pro-668 or PSR-800 connected to a laptop or tablet running DSD. I have used my Pro-668 with DSD running on a 7in tablet to decode DMR, Provoice,etc. Really portable setup.