Best options for 450-470 MHZ NXDN

[galligan122]

Hello,

I have an SDS200 and love it for most my scanning needs. I also just recently just purchased a 996P2 that I been tinkering with, as well as a Radio Shack Pro-106 and an older radio shack analog scanner. My ultimate goal is to have a scanner dedicated to each frequency band that my county uses, so I miss as little radio traffic as possible. Wabash County Indiana.

My question is, the northern part of the county uses an NXDN trunking system for their EMS services (parkview health) found here. Parkview Health Trunking System, Various, Indiana

I want a dedicated radio to monitor this system, and was curious what my best option is. I know my SDS 200 can, but it struggles with NXDN trunking and i’d rather have it doing more work than just that task. Not opposed to using the 996P2 but if there is a better option on the market I’d be interested.

Thanks!

 

[hill]

Your real only base/mobile scanner options are BCD996P2, BCD536, or SDS200 with paid NXDN upgrade.

Going forward would think dedicating a 996P2 to this task would best way for you to proceed.

 

[rbrtklamp2]

Try DSDPlus it's cheaper than a scanner and works great on NXDN

 

[blackbelter]

I have excellent results with a Uniden 160DN which is dedicated to monitor two frequencies of a DMR and an NXDN systems . Both systems are within half a mile from my RF saturated QTH . The 160 DN comes with both DMR and NXDN options installed . The limitations however are not trunk tracking nor identification of talk groups . These results may also be replicated with the mobile version 260DN .

 

[hill]

I have excellent results with a Uniden 160DN

Yes, but a 160DN scanner can't trunk track NXDN. Will have to scan the trunked system as conventional frequencies and may or not work depending how busy it is.

 

[buddrousa]

It will work but it is going to go nuts on a very busy site.
Best option has done been posted 996p2 with NXDN key added.

 

[blackbelter]

As I stated, 160 DN does not track .. my target monitoring stations are comprised of small non busy and requires no tracking.
73,

 

[galligan122]

Thank you for the replies. The system I would monitor is not overly busy. I could probably get by with conventional programming

 

[buddrousa]

Main Trading Company Uniden BCD260DN Price when entered in cart $285. free shipping no tax if you are not in Texas

Scanners, Radios, Shortwave Radios - Uniden - Main Trading Company

www.mtcradio.com

 

[bearcatrp]

Thank you for the replies. The system I would monitor is not overly busy. I could probably get by with conventional programming

The 160DN or base equivalent will work for you With conventional programming. Just put all related frequencies in one bank and scan that one bank. I have done this with my R30 on P25 to where it’s very close to a SDS series when hearing both sides. You may miss one or two conversations. Depends on how many frequencies you put in that bank. Have not used my 160 for NXDN so you may want to research how good this radio is on NXDN with other users to insure it’s good picking up NXDN. From my testing on airband against my other radios, it is a sensitive radio. Some say to sensitive. I did my test using my outdoor discone. Good luck finding the right radio for your needs. If you do get this radio, please post your findings here so others know how good or bad it is. For $249 for the 160DN that comes with NXDN and DMR, hard to beat the cost. Now if you can afford more, take a look at the Icom R15. I don’t have one but others have posted how good it is. I have a R30 so don’t need it.

 

[garys]

I'm surprised you didn't have good experiences with the SDS scanners on NXDN. There were several NXDN trunk systems in MA when we lived up there. There were three or more ambulance services on different ones and I had no problems copying them on my SDS200 mobile or my SDS100 when I was home.

That said, you might want to consider the 325P2. I have one with DMR and it works very well, so I expect that it would work fine on NXDN as well.

 

[hiegtx]

I'm surprised you didn't have good experiences with the SDS scanners on NXDN. There were several NXDN trunk systems in MA when we lived up there. There were three or more ambulance services on different ones and I had no problems copying them on my SDS200 mobile or my SDS100 when I was home.

That said, you might want to consider the 325P2. I have one with DMR and it works very well, so I expect that it would work fine on NXDN as well.

When several of the smaller Dallas County suburbs near me were using NXDN trunked systems, my 325P2 handled receiving them very well. They have now migrated to a regional P25 Phase II system.

 

[garys]

The ambulance services were all private services, with only one doing emergency responses as I recall. There were a lot of school bus companies on there, as well as cement, landscaping, heating oil, etc. I don't know of any public safety, but there were a couple of private security companies.

All of that traffic was easy to copy.