Carroll County & BC355N

[LuckyDog10]

Wicked New Guy

I will be living in Freedom soon. Was wondering if the BC355N would be appropriate for there? Looked at the RR database and don't see trunking there. Or did I read the data wrong?

I am looking to buy a scanner for traveling around and base station at the house.

Do I need P25 now? i.e BC996 or BC396?

Other options?

Thanks, Paul

 

[W8RMH]

Just looking at the data base I see four P25 systems, including the Sheriff.

 

[LuckyDog10]

OK, just looked again and you are correct. There are four P25 modes listed, but no trunked systems.

Guess I was thinking that P25, 800MHz and Trunking all went together. It was a get one, get all mentality. Probably should post so late at night.

Now I see Trunking can be done on any frequency and can be analog or digital. 800mHz can be analog or digital. P25 is digital and can be on any frequency and can be trunked or conventional.

Am I correct so far?

So for Ossippee Valley, what scanner would anyone recommend?

I'm new to the hobby, but understand that A LOT of used scanners won't cut it today. The BC996xt sure looks purty, but for a noob, is that where I should go?

Thanks

 

[jmarcel66]

Wicked New Guy

I will be living in Freedom soon. Was wondering if the BC355N would be appropriate for there? Looked at the RR database and don't see trunking there. Or did I read the data wrong?

I am looking to buy a scanner for traveling around and base station at the house.

Do I need P25 now? i.e BC996 or BC396?

Other options?

Thanks, Paul

You will definitely need P25 if you want to listen to police. Fire is still almost completely analog.

 

[mainetrunk]

Fire-D.O.T--Dpw's, The only analog pd I hear is 155.535--136.5,Exter pd, P.S.N.H, and Meredith--155.370-173.8....Even the --locals-- are mostly analog...But-p25 is taking over..Shux

 

[jmarcel66]

Fire-D.O.T--Dpw's, The only analog pd I hear is 155.535--136.5,Exter pd, P.S.N.H, and Meredith--155.370-173.8....Even the --locals-- are mostly analog...But-p25 is taking over..Shux

Meredith PD has been migrating over to P25 (NAC 117). Most everything in NH is already P25 capable; whether operating analog now or already P25. Even many of the DPW's are getting older generation P25 capable equipment. The only upshot (for now) is NH isn't looking at some new whiz-bang system.

The other bummer is a lot of businesses are now going MotoTrbo or NXDN digital. Need special software and physical modifications to your scanner to get those.

John M

 

[jmarcel66]

The 996/396 models will work fine. They are more complex than older model scanners in that they don't use channels per se. Everything is a slot and zone type concept. The Radio Shack P25 scanners are a little closer to the old channel concept. Unfortunately, there are no more "Noob" level P25 scanners, except for the Home Patrol from Uniden. But that relies on Radio Reference's database which is often outdated here in NH (but currently pretty accurate in Carrol Co.)

Right now, any P25 capable scanner will work in NH. I'm not 100% sure about Nashua's 800Mhz system, but you won't hear that in the Ossipee/Freedom area anyway. Maine is eventually going to some whiz-bang P25 trunked system. But that's aways out. There are trunking scanners that don't do P25; but don't think any P25 scanners that don't do trunking.

John

 

[LuckyDog10]

...Everything is a slot and zone type concept. The Radio Shack P25 scanners are a little closer to the old channel concept. Unfortunately, there are no more "Noob" level P25 scanners, except for the Home Patrol from Uniden. ...

Well, at least I don't have any bad habits to unlearn

Right now, any P25 capable scanner will work in NH. ... Maine is eventually going to some whiz-bang P25 trunked system. But that's aways out. There are trunking scanners that don't do P25; but don't think any P25 scanners that don't do trunking.

John

Thanks John.
The 996/396 are the only two scanners I know anything about.

Are there others scanners that I should consider (as a noob) to start with instead? Just nervous to lay that kind of money out. 996xt - would need to add cable and antenna to start? 396xt - handheld, so I can just program and go.

I'm thinking maybe the BC396xt to start. I can use it mobile, walking, and as a base in the house? I know I would need to add accessories (better antennas). Is this a reasonable start?

I am listening to a 996xt via ProScan Client on the computer. I am really liking the recorder and logging features available on the computer. The down side is I have to listen to things I don't care about and miss a couple freqs that I would like to monitor. This is because I am using the Client and cannot control the nice gentleman's radio

Even my wife (RN) is finding this fascinating. My buddy (EMT) is working tomorrow. I am going to record his entire shift just so I can rib him.

Sorry for all the questions.
Thanks for your patience.

Paul

 

[jmarcel66]

If ya have some knowledge of the 396/996 by ProScan, you should be ok. It'll just take some getting used to programming, etc.

If you can swing the cash, get the latest 396. It has some great features over its previous model. I use the 396 too for the same reason ya said, portability. While I'd like to get something in the house, for the cost, ya kill two birds w/one stone getting the 396.

 

[mainetrunk]

I believe you when you say they are all becoming p25able, just a quick note here, I've been scanning all of N.H but Strafford & Rockingham through these T-storms, and I just heard Meredith analog still---155.370--173.8....Like I said---I dont doubt you, just for now,,,,,,,,,,analog................And looking at Newmarket--155.370-nac-460..........A pro 96 will enjoy that p25 fun, to my knowledge, it don't take NAC's