trunking scanner

[DJBio]

i am looking for a new scanner that will let me scan the trunk codes so i can have them in my live feed
in my local buy sell there is 3 scanners for sale and cant find out if they are a trunk scanner
1.Uniden 220 XLT
2.realistic pro 2037
3.realistic pro 89
and will list the asking price they want for them

scanner
# 1 is $125.00
# 2 is $150.00
# 3 is $100.00
are any of this work the $$$$

 

[ST-Bob]

Google the model numbers and research the features. Took me all of 2 minutes to find the following:
Uniden BC220xlt - 200 channel analog non-trunking scanner
R/S PRO-2037 - 200 channel analog non-trunking scanner
R/S PRO-89 - 200 channel analog non-trunking scanner

If it does trunk-tracking it will be prominently mentioned in the specs

 

[DJBio]

i looked on google but was not sure what all i was reading due to being up for 22 hours

 

[ST-Bob]

As far as I know, only the digital trunking scanners with serial data/programming ports like the top-of-the-line Unidens/Radio Shack/GRE models can display the talkgroup/alpha-tags for live audio feeds. Your budget will probably start at $400 for the low-end used models with these features. The reason, after-all, that used scanners appear on ebay and craigslist is that they're missing some feature the user needs for his local area. The only recently added new features which cause people to switch are lack of P-25 or 700 MHz rebanding capability from my research.

I, personally, would hesitate to put too much emphasis on providing live feed information such as TGID or alpha tags. It seems the entry cost for doing this puts it out of the reach of most people to dedicate a very expensive scanner to a single purpose like providing an Internet feed. Most people just use a simpler scanner which just does the minimum required to receive the system and use their top-of-the-line scanner as their primary home or mobile unit.

I had 2 old portables laying around that could only handle analog conventional systems. I cobbled enough good hardware together to provide a feed for a local town nearby though and it appears to work pretty well. You do what's in your budget to do and follow your own reasoning for how much to spend to provide a feed. For me, the price was 'under $50' but for you it may be more - I dunno.

The price-killers with your request are 1) trunking and 2) text to insert in the feed. These two requirements put the price quite high.

 

[DJBio]

the reason i am looking for a trunking scanner is so i can keep the local EMS and department of transportation in my live feed it dont matter if i can or cant display the talkgroup/alpha-tags

 

[ST-Bob]

Well then there should be plenty of used single or multiple trunking type scanners out there if you know what to look for. What type of trunking system are you listening to? EDACS, Motorola, P-25, SmartZone? If you only need one type, then there should be a used scanner out there with limitations in other areas that will still do what you want. For example, the original trunk-tracking scanners might do only GE/Ericsson EDACS or maybe just Motorola. You pick the one which does what you need.

As to finding out what a scanner does, Googling the model number usually brings up either a review or maybe an owner's manual. Either of these will usually tell you all you need to know about its features and whether it'll do the trunking you want.

Analog trunking scanners are less expensive than newer digital ones but still more expensive than non-trunking ones.

Good luck in your search.

 

[ST-Bob]

Take a look at this refurbished Radio Shack trunking scanner. It will probably do exactly what you want and costs under $100.

RadioShack® PRO-163 Desktop/Mobile Scanner (Refurbished)

It won't do digital nor P-25 but does everything else you'd need.