Anyone live in Maricopa, AZ / Pinal County?

[coachbrian]

I'm currently shopping for a handheld scanner and was wondering if anyone on the forums is from my city.

If so, what scanner recommendations do you have for our area.

I'm currently comparing the BCD436HP & SDS100. Both seem like quality units.

Anyway, just wanted to reach out.

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Foresigt]

You might want to go scour the database a bit more. It looks like the City of Maricpoa PD and Pinal County Sheriff is virtually all encrypted. Fire and DPS are about the only public safety things you can listen to. Of course, there are always other lots of non public safety things to listen to in that area.

Unless you really want to listen to the fire non hazard response calls, a good old analog scanner might serve you better and it is hundreds cheaper. Others may have a different opinion.

 

[coachbrian]

Excellent points. Very much appreciated!

 

[cfsimmont]

I'm currently shopping for a handheld scanner and was wondering if anyone on the forums is from my city.

If so, what scanner recommendations do you have for our area.

I'm currently comparing the BCD436HP & SDS100. Both seem like quality units.

Anyway, just wanted to reach out.

Thanks,
Brian

I recently moved from the area and the SDS100 worked great (as it should for the price). Pinal County SO has been fully encrypted for years as well as Maricopa PD, Casa Grande PD, and Apache Junction PD. From what I know still plenty of VHF activity with the local fire departments out there (Florence FD is VHF P25) You can still hear Fire for Maricopa dispatched by Phx on a couple of sites (South Mtn, Sim C, and others depending on your location. Maricopa County SO is mostly in the clear as well as DPS both on AZWINS and UHF. Your conventional reception will greatly depend on your antenna situation, even a repurposed old TV antenna will do better than a handheld antenna.

 

[coachbrian]

I recently moved from the area and the SDS100 worked great (as it should for the price). Pinal County SO has been fully encrypted for years as well as Maricopa PD, Casa Grande PD, and Apache Junction PD. From what I know still plenty of VHF activity with the local fire departments out there (Florence FD is VHF P25) You can still hear Fire for Maricopa dispatched by Phx on a couple of sites (South Mtn, Sim C, and others depending on your location. Maricopa County SO is mostly in the clear as well as DPS both on AZWINS and UHF. Your conventional reception will greatly depend on your antenna situation, even a repurposed old TV antenna will do better than a handheld antenna.

Ah, ok. To clarify, your sds100 picked up the encrypted agencies you mentioned? I saw it's a Phase 2 P25... but just want to be sure.

 

[GlobalNorth]

No scanner can decrypt public safety encryption. The SDS100 and SDS200 are manufactured to ignore encrypted transmissions and to bypass them.

 

[KOK5CY]

I recently moved from the area and the SDS100 worked great (as it should for the price). Pinal County SO has been fully encrypted for years as well as Maricopa PD, Casa Grande PD, and Apache Junction PD. From what I know still plenty of VHF activity with the local fire departments out there (Florence FD is VHF P25) You can still hear Fire for Maricopa dispatched by Phx on a couple of sites (South Mtn, Sim C, and others depending on your location. Maricopa County SO is mostly in the clear as well as DPS both on AZWINS and UHF. Your conventional reception will greatly depend on your antenna situation, even a repurposed old TV antenna will do better than a handheld antenna.

I lived in east mesa till 2013 and Apache junction pd and pinal co so was not encrypted , just wanted to clarify that both were on vhf

 

[coachbrian]

No scanner can decrypt public safety encryption. The SDS100 and SDS200 are manufactured to ignore encrypted transmissions and to bypass them.

Got it. Thanks a bunch!

 

[cfsimmont]

I lived in east mesa till 2013 and Apache junction pd and pinal co so was not encrypted , just wanted to clarify that both were on vhf

Yeah those days are long gone. Apache Junction is on the Mesa Topaz system, Pinal County moved to their own P25 system and most everything is encrypted. You can still monitor some FD radio traffic in the Mesa/Apache Junction area by listening to the VHF frequencies listed in the DB. They refer to those channels as "B-Deck" and are used only for hazard calls (fires and anything requiring a SCBA) much like Phoenix RWC does with their "A-Deck".

 

[mbnv992]

Chandler PD and Gilbert PD are some of the only East Valley PD’s without thier main channels being encrypted. I’m sure that will change very soon though.

I’m actually shocked the Phoenix PD main dispatch channels are still in the clear.

 

[brcoz]

I had a BCD325P2 when I moved here and that is what I use. I do use an old RadioShack 106 also.
I really wanted the SDS100 and with all the E increasing I just did not want spend that much. I did buy another BDC325P2.
One in the car with a GPS.

Enjoy what you get.

​

 

[ScanRafael]

I had a BCD325P2 when I moved here and that is what I use. I do use an old RadioShack 106 also.
I really wanted the SDS100 and with all the E increasing I just did not want spend that much. I did buy another BDC325P2.
One in the car with a GPS.

Enjoy what you get.

​

My BC125AT is the cheapest scanner I own and it's the first one I reach for when I want to monitor DPS or the A-Deck.

 

[ScanRite]

I'm in Maricopa and I own the 436 and 536. Simulcast hasn't been an issue as Maricopa has a Sim C simulcast tower, but we're far enough from the rest of Sim C to not be a problem. Like others have said, most law is encrypted. You can monitor Fire, dispatched off of PHX. DPS you can monitor channel 5, Casa Grande. AZWINS seems to be really picking up, so definitely want to have a P25 radio. All of their dispatch channels are unencrypted. Message me for more details of the area if you want.

 

[KG7PTP]

I'm currently shopping for a handheld scanner and was wondering if anyone on the forums is from my city.

If so, what scanner recommendations do you have for our area.

I'm currently comparing the BCD436HP & SDS100. Both seem like quality units.

Anyway, just wanted to reach out.

Thanks,
Brian

I actually have both of the SDS 100\200 base\handhelds.....while others pointed out there is some encrypted action & no scanner will allow monitoring, I have noted that I often hear MCSO, PCSO, many of the P-1 & P-2 APCO25 & even analog voice Border\Customs quite frequently...when they aren't discussing specific names, addresses & other sensitive info, they still use analog voice quite a bit.....AZDPS still simulcasts most of its stuff on the 460.XXX group & it's always a great, action packed listen around the valley & state.....so these 2 or the HomePatrol 2 with a decent outdoor antenna will get you most of what's out there if you aren't a hardcore listener. I have the Icom ICR8600 & it's great for finding unlisted stuff or verifying active listings I pull from RR...

 

[ScanRafael]

I often hear MCSO, PCSO, many of the P-1 & P-2 APCO25 & even analog voice Border\Customs

What frequencies do you hear border/customs on?

 

[GlobalNorth]

What frequencies do you hear border/customs on?

P25e	Federal
173.6125	RM	310 NAC	CBP VS5c	Vote Scan 5 - South Mountain