Picking a scanner for the Lansing area

[Batt91]

I'm having one hell of a time trying to figure out what to buy. I'm not crazy about spending the money for a digital capable scanner like a BC 396, PSR500, or 600, but I also don't want to miss the boat on anything and regret it later. What around Lansing uses digital besides MSP? I'm not so much interested in listening to the cops, I'm mostly going to use it for IC EDACS, CC EDACS, analog fire departments, and railroads. Rdale, EMTRoberts, can you guys weigh in on this? Maybe I don't need the digital aspect at all? Side bar question: What system does Livingston Cty use? I'm in eastern IC, could be potential to listen to them as well.

 

[seamusg]

Side bar question: What system does Livingston Cty use? I'm in eastern IC, could be potential to listen to them as well.

MPSCS.

 

[emtroberts]

scanner

if you want to hear livingston county you need a digital scanner. if you just want to hear ingham, eaton and clinton counties you need an analog scanner like a 246t or 330t.

 

[BuiltonAsus]

I would highly recommend the Pro-96, even though it doesn't offer the features that even the BCD396 offers. The PSR500 is very new and very pricey. You can find the Pro-96 being sold below $300. I bought mine for $285. Great deal, and I listen to it everyday.

 

[i5adam8]

I would highly recommend the Pro-96, even though it doesn't offer the features that even the BCD396 offers. The PSR500 is very new and very pricey. You can find the Pro-96 being sold below $300. I bought mine for $285. Great deal, and I listen to it everyday.

I agree,I have owned alot of scanners,the Rs-pro-96 is my favorite,and where you live in eastern Ingham you will be covered on both ends...liv. and Ing.

 

[Batt91]

Differences?

Is there a big difference between the Pro 96 trunk tracking and the Uniden "triple tracking?" I thought I read somewhere that it makes a big difference. Also, I'm not very familiar with the Radio Shack line of scanners. Which ones (base and handheld) are "digital, trunking" scanners? And are there any particular features I should be looking for?

 

[Skud]

Just remember that the Pro 96 will not trunk in the 700 area. It will do conventional in the 700. The PSR-500 and BC396T will trunk in the 700. We have no idea when the 700 will hit the MPSCS system, could be in a year could be in 3 years. The Pro 96 is a nice scanner and cheap. Also the uniden triple trunk is not a digital scanner. So it will not pick up the MPSCS system. The Triple Trunk is like the Pro 97 or GRE 300. Here is what the scanners =

GRE = Radio Shack = Uniden

PSR-500 = Pro 96 = BC396T (Digital) (Handheld)
PSR-300 = Pro 97 = BC246T (Triple Trunk) (Handheld)
PSR-600 = Pro 2096 = BCD996T (Digital) (Base)
PSR-400 = Pro 2055 = BCD15 (Triple Trunk) (Base)

There are some replacements comming out from Radio Shack on some of the scanner above I have seen and I just listed the quick ones I remembered off the top of my head

 

[Batt91]

I think I got it

I think the more I read on, the more I am leaning towards the PSR-500. It will trunk everything (meaning the upcoming 700 MHz MPSCS), is digital capable, what more should I need, right? Anyone in the area have any complaints about the PSR-500 yet?

 

[rdale]

No complaints, it's my scanner of use. I keep the 396T for the tone-out feature and when I'm actually out and about due to the smaller size, but the 500 hangs around the house and slips into the car.

 

[Skud]

only other thing you need is a copy of Win500 from Starrsoft or PSREdit
Check this out here on both of them
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91071