Need help

[rescue1017]

Hey all I have had scanners for a long time even when I was in high school and had an old bearcat that used the crystals I an fairly new to this site and I have got some good info here but what I was wanting to know is what is APCO-25 card there is alot more stuff that I dont know even having scanners for as long as I have right now I have a BC100XL a
PRO-74 with 800mhz a BC 55xlt and a relistic PRO-57 I know it is all old stuff and I am looking at upgrading soon I hope some one can help with my question I enjoy this site very much and look foward to learning alot more that I know now.

 

[hiegtx]

APCO-25 is a digital standard for communications. One of the first Uniden scanners that could receive those type systems was the BC250D. But to do so, you had to buy the APCO-25 card separately, at a cost (when they first came out) almost as much as the scanner.
The later scanners, like the BC296 & BC796 have a card, but it was supplied with them. The 396 does not have a separate card. APCO-25 decoding is built into the scanner.
You'll see BC296 & BC796 scanners listed on Ebay as 'with APCO-25 card". I've seen 396's on Ebay listed that way. That's all smoke & mirrors. The seller probably used to be a used car saleman.
If you are looking to get a digital capable scanner in the Uniden line, concentrate on on either the BCD396T, the BC296, or BC796. The 250 & the 785 can have a digital card installed, but even with a card cannot handle a pure APCO-25 trunked system. The difference is in the 9600 baud control channel, which is beyond their capability.
For Radio Shack models, I believe their digitals are the Pro-96 (handheld) or Pro-2096 base/mobile.
You may not have a trunked APCO-25 system in your listening area yet, but that is subject to change. We know that TX DPS is in the process of converting to digital on a region by region basis, so eventually, to hear them you will need the capability.