what kind of scanner to buy for Dallas, Texas?

[Jlac]

I am totally new and not sure what scanner to buy. Something inexpensive for my first scanner.

I was thinking about radio shack. Hopefully someone can give me some suggestions.

Thanks

 

[KE5BCP]

Welcome to the site!

If you only wish to monitor Dallas public safety, then you can get away with a VERY inexpensive model due the majority of their comms still being conventional. The Uniden BC80XLT or BC92XLT which you can pick up at WalMart for around a $100 will work, or the Radio Shack Pro95 for $149 (it also will trunk-track, and that's a BIG plus for other areas) or their Pro 82 for $100. They also carry the NICE Pro 83 for $119, which also adds the "Signal Stalker" function that will notify you of active frequencies that you are near. These of course are NOT the only ones that will work, but they are a few.

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=5 on this site will have all of the frequency info you need to get you up and running.

Good luck, and please post back your decision of which one you chose to go with!

 

[enginecompany]

well, since Dallas isn't digital or trunked, I would suggest the Radioshack Pro-97, It is fairly cheap and will pick up Dallas just fine. If you have more questions please feel free to send me a private message.



hope this helps

 

[Jlac]

Thank you for the responses.

What's the difference between the 97 and 95?

Do I need any kind of license to listen to the chatter?

 

[hiegtx]

re: Scanner for Dallas

You don't need any kind of license in Texas.

My suggestion for a scanner would be the Uniden BC246T. It's a handheld. It will do trunking, so it would cover Dallas City public safety (conventional), plus the trunking systems used by most of the suburbs. The exception, currently, would be Grand Prairie, which uses digital. Also, as frequency rebanding (channel reassignment) is on the horizon, the 246 will be able to be re-flashed and reprogrammed to cover the most likely changes. The entry model scanners will not. I've had my 246 since January (along with a half dozen older ones). It does most everything I need.

 

[Jlac]

So, none of the Radio shack models could be flashed to allow for the changes?

 

[hiegtx]

re: Scanner for Dallas

In all probability, none of the 'entry' level scanners. Radio Shack has not released their full intentions on rebanding on their upper end scanners as yet. Of course, so far, we do not know for sure exactly how much is going to change and where. There are a number of other discussion threads on rebanding. Uniden feels confident in their ability to re-flash certain units (including the 246). Radio Shack, not being the actual manufacturer, is less commital, as it is dependent on their suppliers.

 

[click23]

You can check out radio shacks comparison chart here:
http://support.radioshack.com/support_tutorials/communications/hand-scanners.pdf

The pro-97 in new and you might have trouble finding the 95.

The pro-83 does not have alpha tags. This is text on the screen that you program to tell you who uses the frequency, which is a deadly sin in my book

According to Todd Sherman's scanner law page he has not found any law in Texas pertaining to scanners. You might want to check out his page here http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/index.html, check out the federal scanner laws.

Robert

 

[Jlac]

That Signal Stalker function seems like it would be a good feature to have. Of course I am so new to all this, (1st day looking) I'm not sure I know what to look for.

I live in north dallas, near preston and beltline if that makes any difference.

 

[hiegtx]

re: Scanner for Dallas

The 246 has Close Call (same function as "Signal Stalker). Here's a link to the features of the 246T:
http://www.uniden.com/productpop/00_productpop.cfm?prd_code=BC246T

Either the 246 or the Pro-97 would cover Dallas. From where you are, you might want to also monitor Addison, Richardson, & Plano. Both would do that. Neither scanner will do digital systems (Grand Prairie or some Texas DPS). The PRO-97's specs show military air band coverage; if you attend an airshow to see the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds, that would be a plus. The 246 does not cover that band.

The PRO-97 has 10 banks of 100 channels each. The 246 has dynamic memory. Way off topic to explain, but I like the 246's setup better. (I have a Uniden 250D with 10 banks of 100 channels, 1000 same total as the 97).

Cost is similar. The PRO-97 lists for $219.99 on RS webpage. Rechargeable batteries & ac adapter are extra.

The BC246T lists for $219.95 from Scannermaster (+ shipping); there is another online seller that shows it at $199.99. It comes with rechargeable batteries (AA's) & an ac adapter.

As far as Radio Shack vs Uniden, my personal preference is Uniden. I've owned both (still do). Others may prefer Radio Shack. Kinda like some people will buy nothing but a Ford, others Chevy. Not necessarily a wrong answer. Just a preference.

 

[KE5BCP]

Since you said, "Something inexpensive", I still think you'd be fine with any of the "cheaper" models IF you only plan to listen to Dallas. Remember, the rebanding will affect TRS's, which Dallas is mainly conventional.

When I first started scanning about 4 years ago, I had a RS Pro50 that was a mere 20 channel conventional scanner without alpha tags, and I cut my teeth on listening to Dallas.

And as hiegtx said, "Not necessarily a wrong answer. Just a preference." Amen to that! You're gonna find this to be very common amongst scanner listeners. But some will defend a certain brand/model to the death, while others are more open-minded and realize that all models and brands have there perks as well as shortcomings.

You just need to decide on how much to spend for your first model, and what you want to listen to.

Good luck!

 

[Jlac]

Here's a new question. I see some of them see MURS/FRS/GMRS. Can you also talk to users as well?

 

[hiegtx]

re: scanner for Dallas

You will not be able to talk to anyone with a scanner. It's listen only.

 

[Jlac]

Ok, this has been some really good info.

I found some places where I can listen online to Dallas police but all the links are broken. Anyone have some good links?

 

[Jlac]

Where can I buy the bc246t in Dallas? I found it at Fry's but it was $249.00. Any ideas?

 

[KE5BCP]

I believe the only other place in Dallas that you could find one would be at Bonnie and Clyde's on Harry Hines, but I would guess that they would be even higher than Fry's. I looked at a BC245XLT there a couple of years back and they wanted over $300 for it.
I think the general consensus would be that you order one off of the internet, and thus getting cheaper prices.
http://www.bearcatscanner.com/staticpages/BC246T.htm
seems to have the best price currently at $199.99 + $8 shipping.

 

[Jlac]

I'm not sure I want to spend that as my first scanner. Maybe I'm better off with a 95 for $149.00

I just spoke to Bonnie and clyde. They beat fry's rpiceby 10.00. I guess $239.00 and Bearcat is a better way to go than pro-97 and have to buy adapters?

 

[nexus]

Jlac I commend you on coming in here and asking a bunch of questions before buying...

IMHO I would buy the Uniden BC-246T. It's very compact, has alpha numeric display (meaning you can title each channel with a text name) so instead of having to remember who is 462.5675 and 462.5565 and so forth you can add names to each memory channel. Another thing I like about the 246T is the new feature called Dynamic memories. Up until the 246's creation all scanners worked in static memory banking. Meaning that there is a set number of memory channels per bank and you couldn't modify that number. Say you had a 200 memory channel scanner. That would mean you would typically have 10 banks of 20 channels each. Let me put it like this...

Let's say you want to seperate police and fire and ems by bank. So bank 1 would be Dallas PD which has 5 working channels, so in bank 1 you load all 5 of their channels. Then in Bank 2 you put Dallas FD which has 3 working channels, and so on. Well you've just WASTED all of those extra memory channels. What about 6 through 20 in bank one? and 24 through 40 in bank 2????

Dynamic memories allow you to specify how many channels you want per bank. So now you can create a 5 channel bank and 3 channel bank and 100 channel bank and so on. I think the Pro97 has something like that but from what I've read it's not the same thing, or its limited in ability.

The 246t also has Close-call which is the same thing as signal stalker II. It's like having an active frequency counter. Any RF signal near you (within usually 500 feet) is picked up you'll have the frequency displayed on your radio. The PRO-97 and the BC246T are in the same price range, they're the latest (non digital) trunktracking scanners. Both are about 220 dollars.

I guess if you don't mind having a slightly larger portable and need it soon, or can't order online then the PRO97 is the fastest way to go. I personally would still go with the Uniden.

You can look at pics and specs of it here:
http://www.bc246t.org/
http://www.uniden.com/productpop/00_productpop.cfm?prd_code=BC246T
http://www.rigpix.com/bearcat/bc246t.htm

Good luck on your research and hope you enjoy the hobby... If you're curious to hear digital trunking hop on over to my online scanner and you can listen in to the agencies in my area, link in the signature.

 

[Jlac]

I'll go the 246 route. I have to admit I am a little nervous about setting it all up. My guess is that I will get it all home and all I will have is a bunch of static and a nice backlit screen, $200.00 for the static and $39.00 for the screen. I have ZERO clue how to use one of these things but it fun to listen to the one's online.

I guess when I look at lists like this, it's a little mind blowing.
http://www.bensware.com/scandfw/dfwlist.txt

 

[hiegtx]

Jlac, you're not going wrong with the 246. It will come programmed for Dallas, plus your neighboring suburbs in your home area, Richardson, Plano, & Addison. (Addison, Carrolton, & Farmer's Branch are all on the same, preloaded, system). As I noted in a previous post, I've had my 246 since early January. It's my grab & go scanner. Fits in a pocket pretty well also.

I carry mine with me on my daily commute; listening to the radio traffic reporters gives me early warning & can keep me from sitting on I-35E so long.