You will need a more capable scanner than the BC355N. That particular scanner will basically limit you to DPS (analog conventional UHF repeaters) and some fire department communications on the fire ground, if you're within a few miles of a fire (analog conventional VHF-Hi, mostly simplex).
Where exactly on the outskirts of Phoenix do you live?
All of the municipal police departments are on one of two 700 MHz P25 Phase I simulcast trunked systems (that will probably be switching to P25 Phase II within the next few years), either the Regional Wireless Cooperative, or the TOPAZ Regional Wireless Cooperative.
The Phoenix FD Regional Dispatch Center and the Mesa FD Regional Dispatch Center are also on the RWC and TOPAZ RWC systems, respectively, for EMS and other non-fire and non-hazmat calls. Rural/Metro FD is analog conventional VHF-Hi, as are the Circle City-Morristown, Wickenburg, Aguila, Tonto Foothills, and Gila Bend FD's.
Note: both Buckeye and Goodyear PD are fully encrypted. If you live in either city, you will not be able to listen to those two PD's. All of the other PD's have varying levels of encryption. For the most part, regular patrol operations are not encrypted, but anything involving detectives, SWAT, and "hot calls" are encrypted. All 3 Indian Community PD's, (Ft. McDowell, Salt River, Gila River), are also fully encrypted, but the FD's are monitorable.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and other county agencies are on an 800 MHz mixed analog/digital trunked system, but they are working on building out and testing a 700 MHz P25 (most likely Phase II) simulcast trunked system that should go live within the next year or two.
There is some unencrypted DPS activity, as well as ADOT and other agencies on the AZWIN 700 MHz P25 Phase I trunked system. Several agencies on that system are encrypted, however, especially in Yuma and La Paz counties.
Luke AFB and the Gila Bend Auxiliary Air Field associated with it has a 380 MHz P25 Phase I trunked system. The Security Forces are encrypted, and the FD (with a few exceptions) and most everything else is in the clear.
You're looking at an expensive upgrade to be able to listen to almost any agency you can think of, unfortunately. You're going to want a scanner capable of P25 Phase II digital reception. They all have a learning curve to understand how to most effectively utilize them, and are most easily programmed via a computer, rather than by hand. Reading and understanding the user manual is imperative. It may sound daunting, but it's not impossible!
I myself use a several decades old Radio Shack PRO-2020 base scanner, mostly for Phoenix FD's analog VHF-Hi channels, but a few other channels as well. I also have another several decades old scanner, a Radio Shack PRO-43 handheld that I mostly use on road trips. My "newest" scanner, is an at least 12 year old GRE PSR-500 handheld, which is P25 digital capable, but not Phase II. And it is a rather poor performer in simulcast enviroments such as the Phoenix Valley, unfortunately.
John
Peoria
