just how digital is it

[emsnatchr]

hey guys, im new to the site, and iv been reading/ studying just about everything i can about scanning. this site and its members have been allot of help.
i want to buy a trunk tracking scanner ( portable) but i dont know how much of the western WA areas and which agencys digital.
i was looking at a BC246T but now i dont know if i should save up for one that can go digital.
your advice would be appreciated
thanx

 

[lowboy654]

hey guys, im new to the site, and iv been reading/ studying just about everything i can about scanning. this site and its members have been allot of help.
i want to buy a trunk tracking scanner ( portable) but i dont know how much of the western WA areas and which agencys digital.
i was looking at a BC246T but now i dont know if i should save up for one that can go digital.
your advice would be appreciated
thanx

Digital would be a wast of money up here, the military does use digital some what and I am in the north end of the county and I do have a digital scanner and I can not receive anything on that is not encrypted, but as far as the police goes if they where on digital it would always be encrypted, So I would have to say personally don't wast your cash on one.

 

[emsnatchr]

thanx for the reply, what scanner do you have if you dont mind my asking,

 

[lowboy654]

well the pro-36,95,96,97,2051 and more

 

[Stavro35]

I disagree,digital isn't a waste of money in the Seattle area. There are federal agencies that can be monitored with a digital scanner. If you're only a casual monitor,it might be a waste of money. I have five scanners, Pro95,Pro96,Pro97,Pro2006 and Pro2052. Sadly a lot of milcoms have gone to the 380 DoD systems. I don't know how much,if any of that can actually be monitored?

 

[emsnatchr]

thanx for the info stavro. I was about to get a BC246T and thought id be good, guess now i have to save up for a PSR-500 or BCD396T,

 

[AtomicTaco]

After reading this it sounds like King County is planning on going digital in the next few years or so.

 

[eclipsecivic2002]

It would'nt hurt to get one if you have the money. Its better to be ---ready--- for the future. Sometime down the line agencys will be digital.

 

[kellykeeton]

well I would like to disagree with all of you.

@Stavro35 what do you mean, you just stated that most DoD are moving systems and you cant listen to them, and have you gotten 300$ of extra use out of a P25 with milcom? I have never gotten any p25 system to give me real voice

@AtomicTaco yes in 2011+ ( a virtual date at the moment)

@eclipsecivic2002's ready for the future? well with a radio that is stuck decoding p25 in its current state and motrola going crazy for DHS money who says your 2051 will be future proof against what ever final system KC decides on. what about the rest of the state, WSP will likely go encoded IP cant listen to that, and if KC/SC/TC all go to a tri county system it will likely be digital and likely be P25 "version 2" so if you have the money you just gambled it.


there is no reason to buy a digital if you dont care to spend the money for gadgets you dont use. sure if you want the big c0ck on the block there is no reason not to buy a p25 scanner. but a 246 will listen to everything in the county for the next 4 years for sure, after that no one on this fourm can guess what is going to happen other then the guys on interceptnorthwest who are actually working on this future system (and still dont know yet). other then you I will argue that no one can come up with a "good reason " to spend 300$ dollars extra on a P25 scanner if your home base is and will be king county. there is simply no need for it.

 

[lowboy654]

well said

 

[emsnatchr]

right on, guess ill wait a while on getting a GRE-500 and stick with the BC246T for now,
thanx for all of your input guys
-emsnatchr

 

[Stavro35]

It's my understanding that the PSR 500 can track both the 380 mhz DoD and JIWS
trunked systems. I realize a lot of people in this area aren't hard core into scanning like me. And I understand that a lot of people just like to listen to their police or fire services, and that's it. Or in the case of at least one person in the metro area, just milcoms alone. . Me? I like to listen to a little bit of everything. And when making a purchase such as a Radio shack Pro96 or PSR 500. I don't just have monitoring local stuff in mind. I travel,maybe not a lot .But I travel. And the idea of having at least one scanner at my side that can be programmed to monitor OTHER communities communications appeals to me, a lot. There are some communities that are going to 700 mhz. Can the Pro96 or Pro97 be programmed for these systems? NO! The PRS 500 can.


It's not about having the most scanners,It's not about that at all. It's about a hobby I've enjoyed since the early 80's . Keeping up with technology as it develops.

So,for the casual monitor. No the PSR 500 or Pro96, or BC 396T AREN'T good fits for their monitoring needs. For me,the PSR 500 IS perfect for my needs.

 

[lowboy654]

Thats what I thought your kind of new at this .....LOL, I have been on the same radio wave just a little longer I started out With SW radio back in the 60's then CB's and the old Cristal scanner and CB you would have to buy two to hear everyting that went on with what we called one channel, now as far as being hard core, I have been at this for a while now and can not wait to be hard core, I can not even think about how much money that I have spent on this, well as you put it not being hard core, I have brought mine and used them , well all over the world and I try not to talk about stuff that i am not a 100% sure of and if more people whould do the same we all might know a little more, so thanks for helping us all out here. and you might think a little more about what the people had to say before you.

 

[kellykeeton]

It's my understanding that the PSR 500 can track both the 380 mhz DoD and JIWS
trunked systems.

It's not about having the most scanners,It's not about that at all. It's about a hobby I've enjoyed since the early 80's . Keeping up with technology as it develops.

So,for the casual monitor. No the PSR 500 or Pro96, or BC 396T AREN'T good fits for their monitoring needs. For me,the PSR 500 IS perfect for my needs.

so now that you as a professional scanner have the new digital to keep up with technology and have posted your questions about this scanner etc on every bbs that is related to the northwest on the internet....

were you able to pick anything up from the military bases or is it still all quiet on the western front?

 

[Stavro35]

RUDE RUDE RUDE. Next question. ................

 

[kellykeeton]

well that was an effective reply, so im guessing the answer is that the milcom you were trying to find is still not there?

 

[DickH]

Thats what I thought your kind of new at this .....LOL, I have been on the same radio wave just a little longer I started out With SW radio back in the 60's ...

Well, we have the '80s person and the '60s person. How about a '50s person?
I started monitoring the Communist Chinese Army in Korea in 1951. After that, in 1954, we had to re-tune our AM car radios to pick up some Boston area Pol. & Fire on 1.714MHz.
Then it was war surplus Tank radios for the 33 & 46 MHz fire freqs.. Then old taxi 2-way Motorola & G.E. radios for Hi Band and finally, the first scanners.
Boy, have things come a long way! Now you can carry 1000 channels in your pocket.

 

[AtomicTaco]

Regarding the digital channels; I noticed this in NWFD the other day. I don't monitor the SPD so I don't know what this is about.

Seattle Police Department
44880 Criminal Intelligence Digital
44912 ERT / SWAT Digital
44944 Hostage Negotiations Digital
44816 Narcotics Enforcement Digital
45008 Tactical Digital

 

[msaran]

Those talkgroups have always been encripted since the begining.

 

[Stavro35]

Why I got the PSR 500
1. local stuff that's digital, included DoD FEDS
2. I travel plenty of room to program stuff for traveling
3. Because I enjoy the hobby and want to keep current as technology changes.

I am terribly sorry I even bother with this message board any more.