Need a good handheld scanner for Sarasota Sheriffs feed

[matthewhinton74]

I am looking to purchase a handheld scanner so I can start hobby listening to the Sarasota county sheriff's department in Sarasota, Florida. Can anyone recommend a good handheld? I don't know if the sheriff's system is digital, encrypted, trimmed, etc. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[N1XDS]

Any regular type of scanner will do to pick up the Sarasota Sheriff's office. Any Uniden or GRE is the best to buy...It's just user preference.

 

[c1mf]

If you dont wanna break the bank try the radioshack pro 164 i use it easiest scanner to start out with iv found it cost 150 for the radio your gona want recharable batteries for it as well as an upgraded antenna to

 

[6Paul21]

Before all is said & done you will need a Digital that will decode P25, they just don't know what format yet on the P25

 

[shadcall]

You will need a scanner capable of receiving P25 digital signals. A look at the talkgroups listed in the database shows the sheriff's department and the city of Sarasota police are completely digital. Other talk gropus are a mix of analog and digital. You will need something like Radio Shacks Pro 106 which is a handheld scanner. I don't know the current price, but at times they come on sale and sometimes you can get a good used one for a fair price.

 

[matthewhinton74]

Thank you for all the replies. I looked at all the suggested scanners and I like the pro-106 the best. It's a little outside my budget but just will need to save a little more. Thanks again for all the help.