Needing advice

[Dmarcin]

I am ready to purchase my first scanner. no where near an expert. I just want to receive local police, fire, ems, aircraft, etc. will have to be digital and phase 2. Really don’t want something that takes a phd to program. SDS200 at $700 is to expensive for just a novice to start with And seems to complicated to deal with. It will be used in middle Tennessee and Florida. Would like a base station with mobile capabilities.
Good audio is a must. Am I dreaming or is there such an anima?

 

[trentbob]

Give your exact hometowns, counties and states that you will be using your new radio in. Be specific and people can look it up in the database and see if you will need a simulcast capable radio or even more important, to see if your home town is encrypted. This is essential in picking out a scanner.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Since you don't tell us what systems you plan to monitor I can only make generic comments. If any systems are simulcast you will need a SDS series or Unication G4/G5, you really won't find anything new for under $500, all new scanners seem complicated to deal with until you learn the programming with favorites, talkgroups and sites. As for sound quality, you can always upgrade to an external speaker if you aren't satisfied.

If you want cheap try a SDR dongle and DSD+ or Unitrunker, under $100 and capable of Phase 2.

 

[Dmarcin]

Thanks all. I am in northern Tennessee. County sumner. In Florida the Panama City area.

 

[marksmith]

Unfortunately if you have simulcast systems to monitor, SDS100 or SDS200 are the only capable scanners and are EASY to program.

If the systems you want to monitor are simulcast, lower cost and less capable scanners will be frustrating.

If you have no simulcast issues to deal with, the lowest cost option might be something like the Uniden BC325p2.

 

[iMONITOR]

Thanks all. I am in northern Tennessee. County sumner. In Florida the Panama City area.

Last I checked it's illegal to have a scanner in your vehicle in Florida.

 

[freqs]

Unfortunately if you have simulcast systems to monitor, SDS100 or SDS200 are the only capable scanners and are EASY to program.

If the systems you want to monitor are simulcast, lower cost and less capable scanners will be frustrating.

If you have no simulcast issues to deal with, the lowest cost option might be something like the Uniden BC325p2.

his county in TN phase II SDS is best

 

[Reconrider]

Last I checked it's illegal to have a scanner in your vehicle in Florida.

I believe if you have your ham license you can have it in the car. But don't quote me on that - I don't live in FL

 

[HavenBTS]

Last I checked it's illegal to have a scanner in your vehicle in Florida.

Oh brother!

 

[wtp]

Chapter 843 - 2018 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate

www.flsenate.gov

843.16 Unlawful to install or transport radio equipment using assigned frequency of state or law enforcement officers; definitions; exceptions; penalties.—
(1) A person, firm, or corporation may not install or transport in any motor vehicle or business establishment, except an emergency vehicle or crime watch vehicle as herein defined or a place established by municipal, county, state, or federal authority for governmental purposes, any frequency modulation radio receiving equipment so adjusted or tuned as to receive messages or signals on frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to police or law enforcement officers or fire rescue personnel of any city or county of the state or to the state or any of its agencies. Provided, nothing herein shall be construed to affect any radio station licensed by the Federal Communications System or to affect any recognized newspaper or news publication engaged in covering the news on a full-time basis or any alarm system contractor certified pursuant to part II of chapter 489, operating a central monitoring system.

(3) This section does not apply to the following:
(a) Any holder of a valid amateur radio operator

(4) Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

so it is OK if you have a ham license.

 

[wtp]

well.
i live here and have a license just for this reason.

 

[GlobalNorth]

SDS200. For what it does, it is actually inexpensive. Yes, like any piece of computer gear that needs programming, there is a learning curve, but it isn't trying to 'code Python' difficult.

A Technician class license is simple to obtain. 35 questions and you're done.