Dbubs
Member
Hi all,
Im thinking about getting back into scanning- Used to listen a while ago as a kid in a different state and now im getting the bug again after picking up some streams online.
I live in south western Pasco County Florida. Doing some quick research on this site it appears that Pasco is using a EDACS Standard system. The site also mentions that the system will be Re-branded in April of 2010. So before i go out and buy a $500 scanner I need to understand a few more things.
I guess being it is a EDACS system i will not need a digital scanner- But i cant help but wonder - Is there a good chance that this system could go digital in the next few years? So maybe its better to just spend the money now and get a digital- Is that the general consensus?
I am considering the BC15x and the BCD996XT from what i read these are both really good scanners - just analog vs digital. My problem here is that i only have a Mac. Is there any software that can program on a Mac and use the RR database? I havent found any. If not and I must install windows bootcamp for the mac (which i really don't want to do) Does the free scan software work with the premium RR database? Secondly in regards to these two scanners, will the rebranding be a pain to figure out the new frequencies? Am I going to be listening to dead air for a while until someone posts the new frequencies?
And Finally... Antennas. I live in extremely flat Florida in somewhat of a rural setting. There is a Sheriff Sub-station (West Pasco Sheriff) about 15 miles away- Are the chances good that the stock antenna will be able to pick up calls from the second story of my house? How about the aftermarket
800 MHz 2.5db Gain Base BNC Scanner Antenna? would this increase my range. If so, on average by how much? Im really not interested in listening to much outside the sheriff and EMS. I don't want to install an antenna on my roof and drill holes thru my siding.
Cheers!
Dbubs
Im thinking about getting back into scanning- Used to listen a while ago as a kid in a different state and now im getting the bug again after picking up some streams online.
I live in south western Pasco County Florida. Doing some quick research on this site it appears that Pasco is using a EDACS Standard system. The site also mentions that the system will be Re-branded in April of 2010. So before i go out and buy a $500 scanner I need to understand a few more things.
I guess being it is a EDACS system i will not need a digital scanner- But i cant help but wonder - Is there a good chance that this system could go digital in the next few years? So maybe its better to just spend the money now and get a digital- Is that the general consensus?
I am considering the BC15x and the BCD996XT from what i read these are both really good scanners - just analog vs digital. My problem here is that i only have a Mac. Is there any software that can program on a Mac and use the RR database? I havent found any. If not and I must install windows bootcamp for the mac (which i really don't want to do) Does the free scan software work with the premium RR database? Secondly in regards to these two scanners, will the rebranding be a pain to figure out the new frequencies? Am I going to be listening to dead air for a while until someone posts the new frequencies?
And Finally... Antennas. I live in extremely flat Florida in somewhat of a rural setting. There is a Sheriff Sub-station (West Pasco Sheriff) about 15 miles away- Are the chances good that the stock antenna will be able to pick up calls from the second story of my house? How about the aftermarket
800 MHz 2.5db Gain Base BNC Scanner Antenna? would this increase my range. If so, on average by how much? Im really not interested in listening to much outside the sheriff and EMS. I don't want to install an antenna on my roof and drill holes thru my siding.
Cheers!
Dbubs