Government is pushing all PD, fire, etc. to go digital for better communications. Our state is went P25 years ago. Some are now encrypted.
choosing a uniden scanner
- Thread starter Akuriko
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tvengr
Well Known Member
For your location, I believe the BCD996P2 will be your best choice. Using quick keys, It is easier to select exactly what you want to scan than the BCD436HP and BCD536HP. It requires fewer button pushes. It is a good basic scanner that will cover everything you need without all of the bells and whistles you may never use. It is essentially a digital version of the BCT15X. I cannot see purchasing an analog only scanner when you are going to need to upgrade to a digital scanner anyway. The BCD996P2 is a base/mobile scanner. If you like how it works, you can purchase another one later for mobile and use the same programming. You will appreciate the simplicity of selecting systems to scan while driving. The BCD436HP and BCD536HP can be good while travelling over a wide area with its nationwide database. For your local area, the BCD996P2 is a better choice.
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Akuriko
Member
i dont drive, i walk so i am looking for base station for now and mobile in 1 to 3 months, whats easier to program without needing to hire someone to program it when i buy it.
Play around with Uniden Sentinel if you decide to go on with the BCDx36HP or the SDS series. BCDx36HPSentinel < UnidenMan4 < TWiki
You can also play around with ProScan for 30 days which supports a lot of different Uniden Scanners.
Hi there,
Akuriko I live not far north of you in British Columbia Canada east of Vancouver. About 20 miles north of Lynden, WA.
I have been listening to radio comms from south of the border for many years, including San Juan county. I particularly like monitoring the Wash State Patrol channel in Bellingham. WSP uses P25 Phase 1 digital mode so it requires a digital capable scanner. I use a handheld Radio Shack PRO-106 for many years with rubber duck antenna cut for 154 MHz. The WSP channels are around 154-155 Mhz.
I very easily monitor Whatcom County sheriff and fire and San Juan county agencies with just the handheld. Skagit and Island counties are somewhat harder, marginal to hear. I currently use a Uniden Bearcat BC125AT handheld for general listening of analog channels. I use the Comet Rh77A whip antenna with it and it works very well.
I still use the PRO-106 to monitor just the Wash State Patrol.
When I want to listen to distant stations reliably I use a Bearcat BC898T analog base station scanner. I use a roof mounted discone antenna and receive comms more reliably all over, Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, and Island counties.
And today we have very hot weather which is good “anomalous” radio wave propagation called Tropospheric ducting. I am right now listening to my PRO-106 and reliably hearing WSP in P25 digital mode in Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Seattle SOuth and North, Bremerton and Port Angeles. That’s Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Kitsap and Clallam counties. Been listening all day with just the handheld and rubber duck. It’s amazing and fun.
I would suggest the digital capable scanner for base station if you want to hear State Patrol in Whatcom and Skagit. I am thinking of getting theUniden BC536HP to use with my roof mount antenna. But These radios are harder to program and you will have to use a computer to program it.
My two cents anyway. And Happy Birthday!
Paul
Akuriko I live not far north of you in British Columbia Canada east of Vancouver. About 20 miles north of Lynden, WA.
I have been listening to radio comms from south of the border for many years, including San Juan county. I particularly like monitoring the Wash State Patrol channel in Bellingham. WSP uses P25 Phase 1 digital mode so it requires a digital capable scanner. I use a handheld Radio Shack PRO-106 for many years with rubber duck antenna cut for 154 MHz. The WSP channels are around 154-155 Mhz.
I very easily monitor Whatcom County sheriff and fire and San Juan county agencies with just the handheld. Skagit and Island counties are somewhat harder, marginal to hear. I currently use a Uniden Bearcat BC125AT handheld for general listening of analog channels. I use the Comet Rh77A whip antenna with it and it works very well.
I still use the PRO-106 to monitor just the Wash State Patrol.
When I want to listen to distant stations reliably I use a Bearcat BC898T analog base station scanner. I use a roof mounted discone antenna and receive comms more reliably all over, Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, and Island counties.
And today we have very hot weather which is good “anomalous” radio wave propagation called Tropospheric ducting. I am right now listening to my PRO-106 and reliably hearing WSP in P25 digital mode in Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Seattle SOuth and North, Bremerton and Port Angeles. That’s Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, Kitsap and Clallam counties. Been listening all day with just the handheld and rubber duck. It’s amazing and fun.
I would suggest the digital capable scanner for base station if you want to hear State Patrol in Whatcom and Skagit. I am thinking of getting theUniden BC536HP to use with my roof mount antenna. But These radios are harder to program and you will have to use a computer to program it.
My two cents anyway. And Happy Birthday!
Paul
Akuriko
Member
The HP536 if I buy it and use the onboard zip code can I get also Whatcom and Skagit, San Juan, Snohomish, King, and Island all by zip code, or is it a must for me to program it?
Whether or not you can scan those other counties using your location (zip code) is going to depend on their distance from the location you are using. When using location control, the scanner uses the range you set (from your location) as well as the range from sites & departments of agencies in the database. If you set your range to, say 20 miles (in the scanner), and an agency of interest to you is 30 miles away, with a range entered as 20 miles, your scanner would try to receive that system. What location based scanning does is look for range overlaps from an agency you've programmed (or if using only the main database, not a favorites list) and the range you're using from your location. If the range circles (the one for your location in the scanner) and the one for the departments & sites overlap, that system would be included when scanning. If your entered range (from your location) does not overlap the range circles from the department and sites, then the scanner wouldn't have that particular system active as one to be scanned.
A more complete explanation of how location based scanning works can be found here: How it Works: Location, Location, Location
If you put those other counties in a Favorites list, which is not using location control, then they would be scanned regardless of the range and location that you entered for your scanner. Just using a larger range on the scanner does not guarantee that the system will be accessed. Generally, I use Favorites lists based on what I know I can (and cannot) receive. Several local trunked systems are well within expected range, but due to the way their system is set up, I cannot receive a signal, even though they appear to be in range. Similarly, there are other systems, at a longer range than I would use, that I can receive. so they are in a Favorites list that does not use location control, and I can monitor them.
Akuriko
Member
well i will be in a apartment so a basic antenna is what i will be using, currently im getting just the local fire, ems and sheriff on a pro 97, i just thought with zip code i can program it fast and be done.
tvengr
Well Known Member
If you go with the BCD536HP, I prefer setting up favorites lists with my local systems. It gives you a lot more control over exactly what you want to scan. The zip code feature is good for travelling. If taking a long trip, adding a GPS receiver in your vehicle is even better. It will automatically switch systems on and off so that you will be able to monitor everything in your area without touching the scanner. No need to worry about finding and entering zip codes!
Akuriko
Member
you mean setting up with the sentinal software?
tvengr
Well Known Member
That is correct. You can create your favorites lists using Sentinel. The nationwide database is available in Sentinel to use for creating your favorites lists. You can include only what you want to monitor. I do all custom programming and create my favorites lists from scratch using the info in the database.
Akuriko
Member
i down loaded sentinal software, it keeps blocking me from installing it, says windows as blocked it, is there a way around it, and do i need the scanner to use the software first?
tvengr
Well Known Member
Here is the site you should use to download Sentinel: BCDx36HPSentinel < UnidenMan4 < TWiki Did it download OK? If not, who is your internet service provider? If problems installing, try running as administrator. If it still does not install, you probably need to enable the Net 3.5 Framework in Windows. Net 3.5 includes Net 2.0 which is required for Sentinel.
Enable the . NET Framework 3.5 in Control Panel
Enable the . NET Framework 3.5 in Control Panel
- Press the Windows key. on your keyboard, type "Windows Features", and press Enter. The Turn Windows features on or off dialog box appears.
- Select the . NET Framework 3.5 (includes . NET 2.0 and 3.0) check box, select OK, and reboot your computer if prompted.
Akuriko
Member
Thanks i will try to install it, when i do, do i need the scanner or can it wait, i wana look over the software while i wait for the scanner.
tvengr
Well Known Member
You do not need a scanner to install Sentinel. You can create favorites lists without a scanner also. Sentinel is fully operative without a scanner. For the BCD436HP and BCD536HP scanners, you need to go to the Tools tab in Sentinel and set the Target Model to BCDx36HP. That will make the settings available applicable to those scanners.
Akuriko
Member
does sentinal work for the 996 or 325?
tvengr
Well Known Member
No! For the BCD325P2 and BCD996P2 you can use FreeSCAN unless you program DMR or NXDN systems. That software is FREE! If you purchase the DMR or NXDN upgrades for those scanners, you will require ARC-XT or ProScan software. Those are paid programs. I use Butel ARC-XT Basic to program my BCD325P2 and BCD996P2. For the BCD436HP and BCD536HP, Sentinel supports DMR and NXDN. You still need to purchase the DMR and NXDN upgrades to use those modes on those scanners also. I don't see any DMR or NXDN public safety in your area.
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Akuriko
Member
Thanks, i looked over the software, now i just wait for the scanner, once i get it how easy is it to transfer favorites over to the scanner.
If you are seriously considering purchasing the BCD536HP, I would upgrade to the flagship SDS200 scanner with the price difference right now between the two models being less than $100. Right now for the BCD536HP Amazon is charging $500.24 (plus applicable sales tax for your location) and Scanner Master is charging $519.95 (plus approximately $20 for UPS ground shipping).
You can purchase a brand-new SDS200 on sale right now from Main Trading Company for $594.99. You simply add the SDS200 to your shopping cart and the price changes from the regular price of $699.99 to the sale price of $594.99 and that price includes FREE shipping and no sales tax is charged unless you are shipping to Texas. You will not find that $594.99 fully-delivered price for the SDS200 anywhere else right now so if you seriously would like one I would purchase immediately before the great deal disappears.
FYI the SDS200 uses the same exact Sentinel programming software as the BCD536HP and the SDS200 also can scan by using zip codes like the BCD536HP. Lastly if you listen to any radio systems that have (or develop in the future) simulcast issues, you will be all set with the SDS200. FWIW
tvengr
Well Known Member
What did you need to do to install Sentinel? In Sentinel, go to the Edit tab and click on Edit Profile. Under the Service Types tab, enable all of the service types for now. When you create favorites lists, under the Scan Selection tab of the profile editor, you will need to set Download and Monitor both to On for each favorites list you want to use. Download sends the favorites list to the scanner. Monitor enables it to scan. Click on the X in the upper right corner of the page to close the profile editor. Go to the File tab and click on Save.
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