Newb

[hookem202]

Ok Im a newbie here and looking for my first scanner. I go to school in Huntsville and looking for a scanner to pick up the local PD and University PD.

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&ctid=2758



I know my hometown still uses Analog system but i wanted to get a scanner that will work for both. I know digital scanners cover both analog and digital freqs but i was wondering if just a Radio Shack Pro97 would be sufficient?

 

[rattlerbb01]

According to recent information, NO. For about the next couple of months, you can pick up HPD on 155.895 DPL 351 and UPD on 155.550 PL 107.2. Also, Countywide Fire on 154.205 PL 100.0 and EMS Dispatch on 155.265 PL 100.0. The Walker County SO has already moved to the Starnet P25 digital system (http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=4563) and Huntsville PD and SHSU PD are probably going to join them after the start of the new year. You will need a full digital scanner, seeing as that will put WCSO, WCEMS, HPD and UPD on a P25 digital system, not to mention DPS (159.2175) being conventional digital. If you fancy a GRE/Radioshack scanner, then wait on the release of the PSR500 later this year, but no GRE/RS will trunktrack 700 MHz at this time, and that is a problem because in the last few days Starnet has been rolling out new 700 MHz sites around Houston. The Uniden BCD396T and BCD996 will trunk track digital in the 700 and 800 bands just fine already, that is what I am planning to buy now myself. Just to reassure you, I have been scanning and wandering around Huntsville for years now.

 

[mfn002]

Welcome to Sam!!! I am a Junior there, and I use (and have been using for the past year or so) a 396, and it will be a good idea to obtain one of these scanners. This will be an especially good idea since there are four STARNET sites (Site 20 (Analog), Site 21 (Analog), and Site 103 (P25) and 104 (P25)). There is also an Entergy TRS site, as well as an LTR TRS site. Oh, and don't forget to include the TDCJ Prison freq's in you list.

 

[hookem202]

thanks for the replies. So in reality i will need to take the digital scanner plunge??? Sorry for the lack of knowledge but everyone needs to start somewhere. It would be great to be able to listen to all those pesky DPS officers near College Station on my way home. Plus if/when the rest of huntsville switches over i will be able to sacn their freqs. Not to mention i like to know when those pesky HPD and UPD cops are out on thursday nights. One of my C.J. professors was informed by her husband which is the DA. That atleast once a month they have a DUI/DWI crack down and actually have 2 fulltime judges that stay at the jail to issue court orders for blood test.

mfn002 Im a sophmore at Sam so im sure you will be a valuable sorce of info. Do any of yall know if and where i can find a BCD396T unit for a fairly decent price?

 

[scanfan03]

thanks for the replies. So in reality i will need to take the digital scanner plunge??? Sorry for the lack of knowledge but everyone needs to start somewhere. It would be great to be able to listen to all those pesky DPS officers near College Station on my way home. Plus if/when the rest of huntsville switches over i will be able to sacn their freqs. Not to mention i like to know when those pesky HPD and UPD cops are out on thursday nights. One of my C.J. professors was informed by her husband which is the DA. That atleast once a month they have a DUI/DWI crack down and actually have 2 fulltime judges that stay at the jail to issue court orders for blood test.

mfn002 Im a sophmore at Sam so im sure you will be a valuable sorce of info. Do any of yall know if and where i can find a BCD396T unit for a fairly decent price?

DPS Bryan is still analog.

 

[rattlerbb01]

It would be great to be able to listen to all those pesky DPS officers near College Station on my way home. Plus if/when the rest of huntsville switches over i will be able to sacn their freqs. Not to mention i like to know when those pesky HPD and UPD cops are out on thursday nights. One of my C.J. professors was informed by her husband which is the DA. That atleast once a month they have a DUI/DWI crack down and actually have 2 fulltime judges that stay at the jail to issue court orders for blood tests.

Please enjoy the hobby, but remember that they aren't pesky if you aren't breaking the law. Most people on this forum will agree that using a scanner to avoid police detection is why our hobby is looked down by police and others. Be careful on Highway 30, first responders here in Grimes County know it all too well. Also, scanfan03 is right, DPS Bryan is still on 155.460 analog, pl 162.2.

 

[loumaag]

...Do any of yall know if and where i can find a BCD396T unit for a fairly decent price?

For a new scanner, just about all of the Internet dealers can supply you with one in the $520 range. Look for the best deal, don't forget to check on shipping, etc. The idea is for you to spend about $520 or less shipped to you.

 

[hookem202]

Are there any cheaper digital units?

 

[W5JLF]

Hookem202:

It would be very nice if one of "those pesky DPS officers near College Station" were to stop you and introduce himself. This would be an outstanding opportunity for you to ask and receive first-hand details about the workings of the Texas Department of Public Safety radio system. I am sure he would welcome the chance to explain how you might best use a scanner to avoid any encounters with a law enforcement agency.
Good luck and have a great day.

 

[loumaag]

Are there any cheaper digital units?

The used market. The current RS models (96/2096) are $500 (but you will end up paying tax on them) and they will not trunk track in the 700 MHz range. So the short answer for a new scanner for your situation is, no.

 

[hookem202]

To all i appretiate the advice.

Im torn between a RS 2096 that i can get used for $325 and then a BCD396T for $499.

As for the pesky DPS officer comments i really didnt mean anything by it. I just had one bad experience where one was very un-professional and i will leave it at that. Heck i even have 2 friends that are State Troopers in Walker County and Bexar county so im not making the generalization that all officers are pesky. After all im studying criminal justice at the second best CJ school in the nation so im learning what is acceptable and what is not. My future goals are to join the armed foreces after graduation and then train as a helicopter pilot and then incorporate that with an FBI agent or Customs and Border Patrol.

 

[rattlerbb01]

The RS2096 wont trunk 700 MHz, so if any of the towers in that area start using 700 MHz frequencies, you will be in the blind. You are best off going ahead and spending for the 396 or 996, JMO. As for your career choice, I had a friend that didn't make it through Iraq from Huntsville that was following much the same path as you, only I think he would have rather been a Medical Copter pilot.

 

[hookem202]

Rattler sorry to hear about our friend. Yes thats my ultimate goal but i think im going to join the coast gaurd bc supposibly they have one of the best rotary wing schools in the nation. Also thanks for the advice. I think im just going to sit on my money for the time being untill i find a good deal or maybe some new device come out in the near future. Anyword on anything new?

hey bight idea my "tax refund"...... but thats kinda a long way away.

 

[scanfan03]

Rattler sorry to hear about our friend. Yes thats my ultimate goal but i think im going to join the coast gaurd bc supposibly they have one of the best rotary wing schools in the nation. Also thanks for the advice. I think im just going to sit on my money for the time being untill i find a good deal or maybe some new device come out in the near future. Anyword on anything new?

hey bight idea my "tax refund"...... but thats kinda a long way away.

GRE's coming out with a handheld/base which sounds to be awesome. The model number is PSR-600/PSR-500.

 

[hookem202]

UPDATE:

Ok im about to pick up a used BCD396T from another forum user. $420 all factory assessories included and lastest update.

Did i make a good purchase????

 

[rattlerbb01]

Yes. Good purchase. I am torn between a 996 and a XTS VHF handheld right now for my next purchase. In all likelyhood, Navasota PD will probably be going digital soon here on their current frequencies. I am trying to decide whether I am fine just listening to them with a scanner or making the good purchase so that the audio is top quality. But if I were looking for a portable scanner on the current market, the 396 would be the only choice. Once again, good price. Hopefully your seller has taken good care of it.

 

[hookem202]

"Yes it has all the accesseries that came with the radio plus the ARC396 basic CD. You can download the latest version (2) from Butel and it will take the same key. You do not need to install the old version first. "


"Very clean is in excellent working order. No scratches no nothing. Has the lastest firmware version 1.13.
You can check my ebay feedback if you want to (JWM1999). The only reason why I'm selling it is because my computer died (wasn't worth fixing) and I was forced to get a new one."

Talked to him on the phone and he seems pretty nice and willing to go out of his way to ship it as soon as my paypal payment goes through.

Here's the read of his for-sale add:
http://radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81255

Also here is his Ebay feedback:
http://myworld.ebay.com/jwm1999/