Which scanner for Ft.Worth area??

[txscan]

Hello all

Been out of the scanner regime for several years and looking to get another one. Which scanner would be ideal for the following areas:

Ft.Worth system
Johnson County(Cleburne,JCSO,Burleson,Keene)
HEB area
Weatherford, Parker County
Arlington


Thanks so much in advance
Gregg

 

[mfn002]

Because of its high channel capacity, I would recommend the Bearcat BC996D digital scanner for a desktop, and the BC396D digital scanner for a handheld.

 

[UPMan]

You might also want to visit the DFWSCAN Yahoo! group. Lots of local files and scanning discussions.

Oh, those are my two picks, too, but if you don't need digital (Grand Prairie, Mansfield, TSA, JRB), then you could go with the BR330T or BCT15.

 

[mfn002]

...then you could go with the BR330T or BCT15.

In case you don't really know about these scanners, the 330 is the analog-only version of the 396. The 15 is the analog-only version of the 996. Both have the same memory features as their digital counterparts. They are both cheaper than the digital versions. You can get a really good bargain on these scanners at www.universal-radio.com

 

[mam1081]

In case you don't really know about these scanners, the 330 is the analog-only version of the 396. The 15 is the analog-only version of the 996. Both have the same memory features as their digital counterparts. They are both cheaper than the digital versions. You can get a really good bargain on these scanners at www.universal-radio.com

Not really. The analog-only counterparts are more limited in memory capacity. Other features are similar. Only glaring difference I can think of is the 330 has a wide receive range (down in HF, although it's only FM).

 

[Linn]

Greg,

Johnson County will soon be making changes to its radio systems and going with a VHF passport trunking system. All public safety in the County other than Burleson will eventually be on the system. There are not currently any scanners that monitor passport.

As others have mentioned the BC-396 and BC-996 are digital and will do what you want. I would go with a digital radio just because agencies are slowing migrating to digital.

Linn

 

[UPMan]

(down in HF, although it's only FM).

I think you meant AM (as in no SSB).

 

[hiegtx]

Hello all

Been out of the scanner regime for several years and looking to get another one. Which scanner would be ideal for the following areas:

Ft.Worth system
Johnson County(Cleburne,JCSO,Burleson,Keene)
HEB area
Weatherford, Parker County
Arlington


Thanks so much in advance
Gregg

Even if Grand Prairie or Mansfield don't interest you, you would need a digital scanner within the next few months, a year probably at the most, to hear Texas DPS. This region, last post I saw, was scheduled for conversion to digital late spring, early summer. Their whole statewide system is converting, region by region. One note: The Radio Shack digital scanners, Pro-96 handheld & Pro-2096 base/mobile, are good scanners. But neither one will handle LTR systems. Parker County is an LTR system (not Passport like Johnson County is installing). The Uniden digital and analog mobiles suggested will all do standard LTR systems.

 

[TXEMT]

Castle Hills Robbery

Castle Hills PD is working a bank robbery with SAPD but CHPD is having to look on there MDT's for details or go through a Sgt. who is with an City Sgt. to relay info. I remember the good ole days of motorola where Castle Hills had two city radios and they would know everything as soon as city did. I guess SAPD thinks they are the FBI now and won't even let other PD's who border them monitor anymore..what a shame

 

[ce2576]

Linn, Gregg,.et,al

Careflite use a LTR Passport system for their Air and Ground Ops in the DFW area and it's scannable. You can't scan it in trunked mode however. You have to program in the control channel as a conventional freq.

If the VFH Passport system in Johnson County is anything like LTR Passport then it should be scannable. At least it would seem that way. I could be wrong though.

Chris Easley
Cleburne

 

[Blaine]

If the VFH Passport system in Johnson County is anything like LTR Passport then it should be scannable. At least it would seem that way. I could be wrong though.

Here in Flower Mound, the Careflite Passport system is easily heard by monitoring one conventional frequency on the system, or "home" channel. I can hear all Careflite tone outs for all air units just by monitoring 463.300.

If we're in luck, Johnson County will be the same. Once we find the common or "home" channel, we should be able to hear just about everything I would assume. I wonder how well the coverage will be though outside of the county. In other words, will the system be powerful enough for those of us on the north side of the metro to hear it?

I know Parker Co.'s LTR 800 can't be heard from my location, even with the outside antenna.

 

[Linn]

Chris & Blaine,

Maybe I should have worded my earlier post better. There are not currently any scanners that will trunk track Passport, but it can be monitored just not in trunking mode. The system should be similiar to the Passport system CareFlite uses just on VHF. CareFlite ground in Johnson County is on a regular LTR system which some scanners can trunk track.

As far as coverage we will see. There is supposed to be an 450 + ft tower in Cleburne and a shorter tower in Alvarado.

Linn