Want to buy Phase 2 scanner.....

[Progline]

My "newest" scanner is a GRE PSR-600, which does great on P25 Phase I. But, the future is seems is Phase 2 trunked systems here in LA County, (for whatever is in the clear). It works great for the LA DWP system, but I want to be able to hear SCE, CRIS, CWIRS, etc. I realize the problems with 'simulcast' systems and non SDS scanners, but the SDS is out of my price range now. Will a BC995P2 or TRX-2 work OK here? I'm line of sight to Oat Mountain and Chastworth Peak, and I'm not sure if simulcast distortion would be a factor for me or not? Do any of these systems use simulcast? The LADWP system is simulcast (I think) and I can hear it great.

 

[FrensicPic]

I'm in the West SFV and use a BCD996P2 on a old Radio Shack VHF quarter wave ground plane at about 20 feet up. While I have not really monitored DWP very much it does receive DWP's Site 1 "Basin Simulcast" just fine. The 996 works fine fine with just about all city and county systems here except Los Angeles City (STRS - Simulcast Trunked Radio System).

I haven't tried SCE yet. I don't monitor CRIS much as I haven't heard much activity yet but it receives Oat and Lukens just fine. As for CWIRS, Castro Peak is the only site I can copy but, haven't listened much there either.

I also monitor KABC-TV's NXDN NEXEDGE 4800 system as well - Sites 1 and 5.

BTW, also use a 325P2 and 396XT as well.

 

[Progline]

Thank you, I also have had trouble with STRS, and gave up with them. But I agree, that Castro would be good for CWIRS and other non-simulcast sites. I think I'll give the 996p2 a try, my antenna setup is the same as yours, so I should have similar results (fingers crossed).

 

[Eng74]

That is the one thing about scanning in SoCal and California in general, there are lots of different systems to scan in small areas. Not one scanner will do everything that is needed. Try looking at the 536HP too. It is a little more than the 996P2 but cheaper than the SDS-200.

 

[Progline]

Does the 536HP offer any specific advantage? I've been in the GRE-world for so long that I'm used to thier programming (Starrsoft program), and I've given up trying to program the PSR-600 by the front panel. Im guessing the 996p2 is similar, so I should probably check out the programming software for ease of use also. A friend of mine uses the 536HP for his stream, but I know he gets frustrated by whatever software he uses.

 

[jaspence]

I have two of the older Whistler/GRE scanners and they have done an excellent job with my simulcast system. I bought a new SDS101 and am using both Butel and Uniden software. Be prepared to spend more than a few minutes getting used to the differences beyond pushing a button to turn on the radio.

 

[brcoz]

For programming software for Uniden 325P2 scanner I went with ProScan. I also used RadioShack scanners and WIN 500 and 97 software.

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

Thank you, I also have had trouble with STRS, and gave up with them. But I agree, that Castro would be good for CWIRS and other non-simulcast sites. I think I'll give the 996p2 a try, my antenna setup is the same as yours, so I should have similar results (fingers crossed).

I am able to pickup CWIRS and STRS system from South part of SoCal with no issues with my Unication G5 radio. Any of my scanner radios will not even pickup these systems from my area at all. I always keep harping on these Unication receivers because they are the best. Hands down.

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

I always see people asking questions about getting radio receivers and then they do not listen and go ahead and buy a scanner radio like the BCD996P2 that is not even the radio to even want to buy anymore. Don't do it. You will be disappointed when it comes to sensitivity and LSM for simulcasting. These radios are horrible with simulcasting. They are great for some trunking systems and digital but if you want to be able to listen from far and track properly on Trunking systems then do the right thing. Plus both of these systems are Harris Systems and the trunking is a bit different and you need to make sure you get the right receiver even if you have to spend a bit more money. Its so worth it when people chime in and give the right 2 cents to the question.

Just remember you always get what you pay for. You pay cheap you will get cheap and then wonder why you are frustrated and not happy with your purchase when people are out there giving you the best advice to save you from making deicsions that will give you a headache.

Plus keeping your fingers crossed is not the right response for HOPE. HOPE was a ship that sank.

 

[Engine104]

I totally agree. From everything I have heard and read Unication receivers are the way to go. They cover both of the primary UHF and 700Mhz bands and systems and handle simulcast really well. The downside of that for me is the cost of around $725. For many of us, the SDS series is above our budget and a Unication way above that, sadly. I'd love to have one, though. Great radios.

 

[Kingscup]

Why can’t the OP save up the money over several months to the point where the SDS becomes affordable? We used to do this as a society and it was called a layaway plan. Does the OP need one right now? Scanners are generally a want and not a need. That’s what I would do. Save up the money to buy it whether it’s $10/20/50/100 a month.

Sorry OP. This is not meant to be an attack on you even if it sounds like it. Just giving you another option to get the SDS that most people don’t think about nowadays.

 

[Progline]

I totally agree. From everything I have heard and read Unication receivers are the way to go. They cover both of the primary UHF and 700Mhz bands and systems and handle simulcast really well. The downside of that for me is the cost of around $725. For many of us, the SDS series is above our budget and a Unication way above that, sadly. I'd love to have one, though. Great radios.

THIS.

 

[Progline]

The point of my post was if I NEEDED to have a simulcast-optimized (SDS/Unication) scanner, given my proximity to Oat Mtn (which is usually one of the sites in most simulcast systems here). With a rudimentary antenna, I was thinking that I could easily hear Oat, and null out any other sites to eliminate distortion (this seems to work for CWIRS on the LA Basin simulcast system, in the few times they use P25 phase 1). If that would work overall, then the 996P2 would be an "affordable" option - I have still have the PSR-600, a PRO-163, and a Pro-2005 within reach here in my home office for listening to everything else.

 

[AM909]

Is the problem with <insert_model_here> decoding LSM, or does the problem stem from hearing more than one site at similar signal levels? If the latter, a highly directional antenna (e.g. a 10 element yagi) and some attenuation might help get signal from just one site.

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

I totally agree. From everything I have heard and read Unication receivers are the way to go. They cover both of the primary UHF and 700Mhz bands and systems and handle simulcast really well. The downside of that for me is the cost of around $725. For many of us, the SDS series is above our budget and a Unication way above that, sadly. I'd love to have one, though. Great radios.

Yes they are a bit pricy but not really. If you look back 30 years and the price of scanners and receivers the price was all relative. I have seen some old ad's for BearCat scanners and Regency scanners 30 to 40 years ago and they were alot of money back then too. It's just worth it to pay that just a bit more so you do not have to make any returns if you can and not be frustrated for not buying the right receiver. We just know these Uniden scanners have had no support for a few years now with no firmware upgrades and so on. So sometimes you have to spend just a bit more and buy more of a commerical grade receiver. You will never go wrong especially with the G5 Radio. The 700/800/UHF-2 is the wayt to go for the LA area for sure.

 

[fredva]

The 700/800/UHF-2 is the wayt to go for the LA area for sure.

What if you wanted to scan more than one trunking system at a time? A Unication is great if you are focused on listening to one system. I'm not bashing Unication but their pagers were built with first responders in mind - first responders that needed to monitor their own radio system, not that of other agencies. People talk about how great the reception is with Unications but they often fail to mention that you can't listen to more than one trunking system without turning a knob to switch between systems. Potential buyers deserve to know that.

 

[marcotor]

The Unication G5 is hands down the best 7/800 receiver on my desk with includes APX8000 and 6000 radios, which both go to an Aeroflex once a year. It blows both of them away time after time. It's NOT a scanner in any sense of the word, but for P1/2 receiving it is the best thing short of a subscriber unit. If you need to "scan" across 12 sites, and 647 channels all at once, then it's not something you will like.

But if you are monitoring a trunking system, or a group of conventional/convP25 channels it works GREAT.

 

[Engine104]

What if you wanted to scan more than one trunking system at a time? A Unication is great if you are focused on listening to one system. I'm not bashing Unication but their pagers were built with first responders in mind - first responders that needed to monitor their own radio system, not that of other agencies. People talk about how great the reception is with Unications but they often fail to mention that you can't listen to more than one trunking system without turning a knob to switch between systems. Potential buyers deserve to know that.

I agree. It works great, but can't replace a scanner in terms of monitoring more than one system at a time, etc. I assume it has a better front end, etc, than even the SDS series, as it is aimed at the professional, rather than hobbiest, market, but it's limitations and cost are a no-go for me.

 

[Bob1955]

I always see people asking questions about getting radio receivers and then they do not listen and go ahead and buy a scanner radio like the BCD996P2 that is not even the radio to even want to buy anymore. Don't do it. You will be disappointed when it comes to sensitivity and LSM for simulcasting. These radios are horrible with simulcasting. They are great for some trunking systems and digital but if you want to be able to listen from far and track properly on Trunking systems then do the right thing. Plus both of these systems are Harris Systems and the trunking is a bit different and you need to make sure you get the right receiver even if you have to spend a bit more money. Its so worth it when people chime in and give the right 2 cents to the question.

Just remember you always get what you pay for. You pay cheap you will get cheap and then wonder why you are frustrated and not happy with your purchase when people are out there giving you the best advice to save you from making deicsions that will give you a headache.

Plus keeping your fingers crossed is not the right response for HOPE. HOPE was a ship that sank.

My Uniden Bearcat BCD996P2 (2nd one that I have owned since 2019) just arrived (4) hours ago and almost all P.25 here in Westchester County, NY is simulcasting. That's what the P25 Threshold is for and you also have a P.25 LP Filter. Please look online at Marks Easy To Use Scanner Guide and you can also buy it in printed format too.
Not everyone in this "current" economy has the money to spend ($649.95/$699.95) on the top of the line SDS100/200 scanners.
Have a nice upcoming Good Friday and happy Easter to you and your family.

Bob (KB2GQK)

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

The Unication G5 is hands down the best 7/800 receiver on my desk with includes APX8000 and 6000 radios, which both go to an Aeroflex once a year. It blows both of them away time after time. It's NOT a scanner in any sense of the word, but for P1/2 receiving it is the best thing short of a subscriber unit. If you need to "scan" across 12 sites, and 647 channels all at once, then it's not something you will like.

But if you are monitoring a trunking system, or a group of conventional/convP25 channels it works GREAT.

OMG I didnt realize that somebody else knows that these Unication G5 radios are the bomb too. Honestly I would rather use my Unication G5 hands down over my scanners and my commerical grade Motorola 8000 radio. Pretty weird to say that with owning a 8000 radio but honestly its the truth. I just wish they had more firmware updates and that you could change zones in the middle of an open talkgroup. Very annoying and that's my only complaint. Hopefully they will fix that in time. When you are on a busy system and you just can't change to another system. I just have to take off the antenna so it won't receive and then change systems. haha