Cheap scanner wanted to monitor Columbus PD, DelCO SO, etc

[CVPI4Ever]

MODS/ADMINS: This is NOT a wanted ad. I am just trying to get opinions so please DO NOT move it to the Wanted section


A guy I know who is in charge of a Security company who wants to put a scanner in the control center. He wants to monitor Columbus PD, Columbus FD, Delaware County Sheriffs Office, etc. Basically, the area public safety forces.

He doesnt have money in the budget to spend hundreds and wants a base/desktop. What is a good cheap scanner I can recommend? Thanks for all the help!

 

[Bentley]

As long as trunking and digital are not an issue THIS is an excellent scanner for the price.

If trunking and more channel storage is an issue then I'd reccomend the PRO2055 its an EXCELLENT scanner and is on sale now at $149.99

He can always go with THIS HANDHELD for under 70 bucks.

They will all pick up 800MHz traffic.

(Just my 2 cents!) good luck!

 

[Colin9690]

Don't go with the PRO-83 because CPD/CFD are trunked, and Delaware County Sheriff is on the new APCO-25 system.

If he doesn't want to spend hundreds on a scanner that will pick this up, I'm afraid he's out of luck. The PRO-2096 (digital), runs for $450. He can look on ebay for a PRO-2096 in good condition and expect to pay $300 more or less. If digital is not absolutely necessary, I recomend the PRO-2055 or PRO-97, which are both $149 new.

If he wants a used, non-digital trunking scanner, he can look on ebay for a used PRO-95 or 93 for about $20-70. There are many used scanners to buy that will pick up Columbus area stuff, but I have only listed a few.

I hope this helps,

 

[CVPI4Ever]

As long as it picks up CPD/CFD, DCSO, etc etc.

So basically, without spending hundreds, he is SOL?

 

[Colin9690]

If he REALLY needs to listen to Delaware County, then yes, he is SOL. But if you just say screw it to Delaware County (digital), you can get a decent used scanner for a bargain price on ebay that will pick up Motorola Trunking, which is what CFD/CPD, FCSO uses.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

Ok how about a scanner just to pick up CFD and the Columbus area agencies (except Delaware County)?

 

[Colin9690]

Ok how about a scanner just to pick up CFD and the Columbus area agencies (except Delaware County)?

If he wants to buy used, he can look on ebay for a scanner that tracks Motorola Type II systems. There are SEVERAL scanners that can do this. Some base models are the PRO-2053, 2067, 2052, 2051, 2055. You can find any one of these scanners in decent condition for about $30-100 (exept the 2055 because it's newer).

 

[CVPI4Ever]

ebay is out b/c its not enough time to get approved, get the PO #, etc. Also, how about a Uniden to serve the purpose of the previous question.

 

[Colin9690]

ebay is out b/c its not enough time to get approved, get the PO #, etc. Also, how about a Uniden to serve the purpose of the previous question.

You can check out Uniden's web site, I'm not familiar with which Uniden models do trunking and which ones don't, I've never had a Uniden. When you find a model you are interested in (Radioshack or Uniden) you can always post in the "Wanted Forum", and see if anyone on this site has that scanner for sale.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

So if he just wants to listen to CPD/CFD and the area he would have to get something like a Radio Shack PRO-2055?

Can the Uniden people chime in with their model?

This has to be new, NO HANDHELDS and reasonably priced. Thanks!

 

[CVPI4Ever]

Any Uniden suggestions?

also, will the PRO-2055 scan MARCS?

 

[Colin9690]

Any Uniden suggestions?

also, will the PRO-2055 scan MARCS?

No, the 2055 is analog only, it won't scan MARCS. You might want to check out these Unidens: http://uniden.com/products/productlisting.cfm?cat=Scanners&filter=TrunkTracker

 

[CVPI4Ever]

The BC780XLT will pick up CPD/CFD? How?

If thats the case, I will let him borrow mine when I upgrade to the BCD996T

 

[radioscan]

The BC780XLT will pick up CPD/CFD? How?

If thats the case, I will let him borrow mine when I upgrade to the BCD996T

Yes, it will pick up the CPD/CFD as they use an analog Moto Type II system.
It will not pick up MARCS as that system is digital.

If listening to CPD/CFD is ALL that is needed than the 780 will work perfectly.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

Yes, it will pick up the CPD/CFD as they use an analog Moto Type II system.
It will not pick up MARCS as that system is digital.

If listening to CPD/CFD is ALL that is needed than the 780 will work perfectly.

no matter how many times I read that damn 780XLT manual or the advice on here I still cant program tg's. It might as well be in Chinese.

 

[wdz]

780 is pretty straight forward, I'd suggest maybe buying butel programing software as its top notch!

 

[CVPI4Ever]

780 is pretty straight forward, I'd suggest maybe buying butel programing software as its top notch!

Where can It be bought?

For programming CFD/CPD, all I got to do is enter TG's?

 

[radioscan]

Where can It be bought?

For programming CFD/CPD, all I got to do is enter TG's?

http://www.butel.nl/


The 780 is not that hard to program manually, granted the manual
may be lacking given the way it is written. I don't understand why you find it
so difficult. If that is the case, then the 996 will probably completely overwhelm you.

As was suggested earlier, you definitely need to get the ARC780 software if you cannot program it by hand.

 

[CVPI4Ever]

radioscan, supose you tell me button by button what to push.

When I get the 996, I plan on getting software.

Also, whats wronmg with Unidens software for the 780XLT?

http://www.uniden.com/store/itemdetail.cfm?item=ES200DL&tabid=1

 

[radioscan]

When I get the 996, I plan on getting software.

Also, whats wrong with Unidens software for the 780XLT?

http://www.uniden.com/store/itemdetail.cfm?item=ES200DL&tabid=1

I tried using the free edition once, it was clunky to use and time consuming.
Long enough to know I would not pay $20 for it.

I actually prefer a freeware program called AFS780 that is very straight forward
and easy to use. I suggest contacting ka3jjz here on the forums and ask him.
He has done extensive testing and reviewed a ton of different software packages.
He also created the software page on the Wiki here.

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Radio_Control_Software