Which scanner to buy

[Pdale915]

I live in Pike county, MS. I believe the McComb PD and the county sheriff have gone digital, as I no longer hear them with my RS PRO-2051. Will I ever be able to pick them up with one of the scanners listed below?
I also want to monitor all the other public service freq. in Pike, Lincoln and Walthall county as well as dis. 9 MS hgwy patrol out of Brookhaven.

Soon I will be buying a new handheld scanner. Trying to decide between the RS Pro-106, currently 299.99 on line, the GRE PSR 500, $529.99 and the Uniden BCD 396XT $549.99 all at Radioshack.com. Is the two that are higher priced worth the extra money over the pro-106.

Thank's for any suggestion's.

 

[SCPD]

I travel that way quite a bit, and have not noticed any issues with McComb PD or Pike SO on their old freqs. You may have reception issues with your current scanner not related to digital. Try another analog scanner to rule out reception issues. As for the best digital scanner, go with the RS Pro-106 or Pro-197. Either unit is very capable of decoding the MSWIN and LWIN 700 systems. Might add, they're pretty simple to operate. Will attempt to monitor Pike SO on 155.430 and let you know what I find.....good luck

 

[Pdale915]

Hugh,

Thanks for the reply. I have decided on the Pro-106. Should have it by next weekend. I already have a new cable, RS 20-546 and a new 800MHz 7" antenna. Will probably use WIN500 as the program. A salesman in the local Radio Shack told me this week, even with one of the new digital receivers, she didnt think I would be able to hear McComb PD or the Pike county SO. Not sure she knew what she was talking about.

Let me know what you find out.

 

[Pdale915]

Hugh,
I just entered freq 155.430 into the pro-2051 and all I hear is a loud constant noise, (Sounds like an air compressor)

 

[bama9999]

I'm sure you'll enjoy your new Pro-106. I've had one for about a couple of years now and I really love it. Great radio. I use PSREdit500 to program it with, and it couldn't be easier!

 

[Pdale915]

Thanks Bama, I may have to check on the program you mentioned

 

[SCPD]

save some money and buy from ebay
I bought a grecom psr500 for 300.00$ and it was like new condition. It was a perfect buy kd5loh

 

[KE5TLF]

Summit IS mentioned by name as one agency that's coming onboard MSWIN. No idea how that relates to what other Pike Co. agencies plans are. I can only assume that if they cange anything at all then it would be joining MSWIN.

The 106 should serve you well in either case.

Look forward to hearing how it works out for you.

 

[Pdale915]

I have ordered th Pro-106. Should be here in couple day's.

 

[SCPD]

Bad news for Pike Co.

looks as if the county and city (McComb)have gone to a VHF-Hi trunk system. whichever system it is, can't be monitor on a digital scanner. bad news indeed, as it appears Magnolia PD is the only local pd that can still be monitored.

 

[SCPD]

in the area right now researching, and this is what I can report:
four freqs. in use 151.685, 153.695, 154.815 and 155.430.
all freqs are xmitting the motorboat sound when they xmit. not sure if it's encryption or just unintelligible to the scanner because of some trunking protocol issue. none the less, my Pro-106 cannot monitor

 

[SCPD]

McComb PD has completely abandoned 453.875 and is apparently using the new system exclusively

 

[KE5TLF]

Well that's disapointing news.

 

[Pdale915]

Thanks Hugh,

Bad news indeed. My RS Pro-106 was delivered this afternoon. I entered the Vscanner folder for my area, VS 11, but theres nothing in my local area, so thats of no use to me. Or did I not enter it correctly? I posted in the software forum today about a problem getting program to download from RR(no replys yet). Since I cant copy traffic from McComb or Pike county, not sure the 106 is worth keeping.

 

[SCPD]

Pro 106

It'll be worth keeping in my estimation simply because MSWIN will be active in that area, hopefully, with the next 12 months. You can also monitor the neighboring sheriff's office and pds, since Pike and McComb are the only agencies on this new system. Also plenty of EMS traffic in that area. So if you got a good deal on the radio keep it.

Thanks Hugh,

Bad news indeed. My RS Pro-106 was delivered this afternoon. I entered the Vscanner folder for my area, VS 11, but theres nothing in my local area, so thats of no use to me. Or did I not enter it correctly? I posted in the software forum today about a problem getting program to download from RR(no replys yet). Since I cant copy traffic from McComb or Pike county, not sure the 106 is worth keeping.

 

[SCPD]

Also the MSWIN freqs. in RR database for the Pike, Walthall and Lincoln county areas are up to date. Incidentally the freq. for Magnolia PD is incorrect in RR database. The correct freq is 154.1075. Also if you press function, then search keys on the Pro 106, you'll see there is a good bit of activity in that area already. Good luck, will continue to research this new system and keep advised.............

 

[Pdale915]

I have decided to keep the pro-106. Would it be ok to put the 800 MHz antenna on the 106 and leave it all time. Would it pick up the lower freq. whereas the standard antenna would or would not be able to get the upper freq.

 

[SCPD]

800 mhz antenna

Stick with the 800 mhz antenna, as it is better than the stock antenna under any monitoring scenario. The stock antenna is basically garbage in my opinion. The 800 is good for 700 & 800 systems and VHF-Hi (150-174mhz). Works fairly well in the 450mhz range as well. Stock antenna works well only in the 150-174mhz range. Neither antenna will work well for MHP's current freqs. in the 42mhz range, for that, you will need the extendable antenna that radio shack sells for around $20 bucks. The extendable antenna also works for all the other frequency ranges as well.