Scanner Newbie

[johnbbean]

Please be forgiving, but I would like to get my first scanner and while I know a little (very) about radios, I can't say that I understand half the jargon and abbreviations used on most forums. I was told on Reddit this forum may be able to help me narrow down my needs and what products might best suit them. So here are the main things I would like in a scanner.

1) portable handheld
2) Ability to receive Dorchester Fire (700mhz), Howard Fire (800mhz), Frederick Fire (800mhz)
3) I know HoCo has trunking
4) HoCo also has P25 systems
5) I'm sure the ability to program a few police and DNR frequencies would probably be wanted at some point.

I'm not afraid to spend money, but don't need absolute top-of-the-line.

Thanks for any help you might be able to offer. Remember I'm a virtual radio newbie, so if you're explaining technical stuff, you'll have to dumb it down to about a 5 grader.

 

[doctordialtone]

I'm not afraid to spend money, but don't need absolute top-of-the-line.

I recommend a Uniden 325P2.

It fits all of your needs and is a current model.

DMR is available as a paid add-on.

Here's a description

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Hi & welcome:
In perusing the Maryland databases I noticed Frederick and Howard Counties' trunked radio systems have simulcast sites. Have a read at the wiki I linked about simulcast distortion, it's one of the most discussed issues on these forums so I'm not going to get into great detail about it here. Unfortunately the only scanners designed to handle tracking these systems properly are the most expensive Uniden SDS100 (handheld) and SDS200 (base). There are a number of workarounds mentioned in the wiki for other scanners but they work for very few people. Dorchester runs a Type-II Smartzone system which if you look at the site map here also appears to contain simulcast cells. So since you requested a handheld I'd strongly recommend the SDS100 to track the 3 systems you mentioned. Otherwise you may get a lot of sputtering, stuttering, missed transmissions, etc

 

[Bjc123]

I personally use a HomePatrol - 2

I guess you can argue that it isn't 100% a portable scanner but, I can bring it in my car and stuff.
I like the touchscreen on the HP-2 I find that it was very easy to setup.

This is the only Trunking scanner that I have ever had so I can not compare it to any others but I like it a lot. I have heard some people say that it doesn't work as well on P25 but I am kinda on the newbie side as well so I don't really notice a difference.

I have listened to the Frederick County system with my HP-2 and haven't had any major issues.

It will also provide you with the PD and MD DNR Talkgroups as well.

Here is a link to the Wiki about the scanner with some more info for your decision making.
HomePatrol-2 - The RadioReference Wiki

Hope this helps in your decision making,
Brad

 

[blee1099]

You threw a bunch of counties out there that you wish to monitor, are you intentions to monitor while traveling? Reason I ask is that most of these systems are so designed that you will often only receive the county you are in or within distance to a tower for an adjoining county.

For radios I'd say SDS100 or 200 depending on your needs. I have a BCD436 & BCD536 and sadly the simulcast system that Howard has misses alot of radio chatter among talk groups that my old Radio shack scanner receives.

 

[jonwienke]

For simulcast, you want a SDS100 or SDS200. Other models may get no reception or only partial reception, depending on location.

 

[maus92]

SDS100 (portable / handheld.) I have personal experience monitoring all these systems: the Howard County P25 Phase 1 simulcast TRS, the Frederick County P25 P1 simulcast TRS, and the Maryland FIRST statewide P25 Phase 2 simulcast / multicast TRS (which hosts Dorchester County public safety entities.) These systems will require a radio specifically designed to monitor P25 digital simulcast like the SDS100 mentioned above. An older design like the BCD325P2 will not work well on these types of systems. Technically it is capable of receiving them, but it will not do so reliably - spend the extra money on the SDS100 - you need top of the line for your use case. As far as the HP-2 is concerned, I ran a HP-2 and a SDS100 side by side, and it was eye-opening as to what the HP-2 missed that the SDS100 had no trouble receiving. The HP-2 is very pretty and easy to use, but it is not a great receiver for P25 simulcast.

As for DNR, on the Eastern Shore, they are also hosted on Maryland FIRST. In Central, NCR, and Southern Maryland, DNR will complete their transition to Maryland FIRST by midyear if all goes as planned. The state police use FIRST on the Eastern Shore, in Frederick County and in Howard County. The Howard County Police use their county's TRS, and the Frederick County Sheriff uses the Frederick TRS. Note that the Frederick City Police, as well as the Dorchester County Sheriff encrypt their transmissions, thus you will be unable to monitor them.

 

[maus92]

Hi & welcome:
In perusing the Maryland databases I noticed Frederick and Howard Counties' trunked radio systems have simulcast sites. Have a read at the wiki I linked about simulcast distortion, it's one of the most discussed issues on these forums so I'm not going to get into great detail about it here. Unfortunately the only scanners designed to handle tracking these systems properly are the most expensive Uniden SDS100 (handheld) and SDS200 (base). There are a number of workarounds mentioned in the wiki for other scanners but they work for very few people. Dorchester runs a Type-II Smartzone system which if you look at the site map here also appears to contain simulcast cells. So since you requested a handheld I'd strongly recommend the SDS100 to track the 3 systems you mentioned. Otherwise you may get a lot of sputtering, stuttering, missed transmissions, etc

The Dorchester Type II SmartNet system is deprecated. They are now on Maryland FIRST.

 

[TailGator911]

Save yourself some grief and time and aggravation and get an SDS scanner if you are dealing with simulcast. Peruse the forums and read what others are saying about the SDS series scanners and simulcast issues. All the information you need to influence your decision is right here for the reading. You might pay a few extra buckaroos for the SDS100/SDS200, but when it comes to simulcast it is the only scanner for the job.