choosing a uniden scanner

[Akuriko]

May we ask what city he is in so we can check the system(s) in his his area? That helps, as you knows, determine what scanner might serve him best. Then we need to know what he likes to listen to.

Eaton and Ingham Counties

 

[RetiredVolunteer]

Eaton County and Ingham County are both on the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS). Eaton County is utilizing a five site simulcast system and Ingham County is utilizing a nine site simulcast system. Depending on his location, that could impact which scanners may work for him.

 

[K4EET]

Yes, @RetiredVolunteer is right about the large number of Simulcast sites. Simulcast Distortion could really ruin his day without the right scanner. The alternative is to read this document carefully and see if anything mentioned in it mitigates the Simulcast Distortion IF he in-fact is affected by it. I am in a Simulcast area and currently not affected by it due to my house being in just the right spot. However, we are getting a new Simulcast system with more sites that could change that. Time will tell. I may need a Uniden SDS200 before long.

My suggestion would be to read that document a time or two to become a little familiar with the issue. But remember, we are here to answer your questions.

 

[Akuriko]

Thanks im reading this and sending it to my brother as well, seems in some parts of the country a $700 scanner works better then a $300 scanner, lol

 

[K4EET]

Thanks im reading this and sending it to my brother as well, seems in some parts of the country a $700 scanner works better then a $300 scanner, lol

You are certainly welcome. Like I said, location has a lot to do with Simulcast Distortion.

 

[tvengr]

However, we are getting a new Simulcast system with more sites that could change that. Time will tell. I may need a Uniden SDS200 before long.

Because you are some distance from Baltimore County and receive only a few towers, you are able to receive the Baltimore County radio system using your BCD536HP. My BCD536HP is totally useless receiving the Baltimore County system at my home. The SDS100/200 scanners and Unication G4/G5 pagers are the only radios that will work at my location. You will probably experience the same frustration when Anne Arundel County switches to the new P25 simulcast system. Akuriko, i totally agree that the SDS100 and SDS200 are the only scanners that will work reliably in the Lansing MI area. Your brother will be disappointed with anything less. I heard you say that there is not much activity in San Juan County. The file was set up just to receive your local area. As I mentioned earlier, I will be giving you some instructions about using quick keys. You will be able to check if you can receive Skagit, Whatcom, and Island Counties, and WA State Patrol. I am sure that you will have activity on the VHF marine band. I also have amateur radio frequencies for the area. For now, press the System button to hold on the San Juan Co Conv system while it is showing on the screen. Press the decimal point button twice followed by 7 and then E. That will enable the VHF marine band. Then, you can press SYSTEM again to scan both the conventional and trunked systems.

 

[Akuriko]

Thanks for all the help I have a question I got offered to buy another good scanner I was going to make a radio room in my office, I was curious what the difference is as I got offered 2 scanners I can only buy 1 this month, the BCD996P2 or the BCD 996xt, what's the difference, also I know how to use the free scan but how do I program it if I am a premium member to make my life a little easier.

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks for all the help I have a question I got offered to buy another good scanner I was going to make a radio room in my office, I was curious what the difference is as I got offered 2 scanners I can only buy 1 this month, the BCD996P2 or the BCD 996xt, what's the difference, also I know how to use the free scan but how do I program it if I am a premium member to make my life a little easier.

As noted above by RetiredVolunteer, the Eaton County sie is Simulcast, which can be a problem for many scanners, including the two you are interested in. Ingham County's site is also Simulcast. That does not positively confirm that there would be a problem with either of these scanners, but it is a possibility.

That being said, the Michigan statewide system (which covers your brother's area) is capable of P25 Phase II, though it appears, for now, that most, if not all, the current talkgroups are using Phase I. However, I suspect that at some point the system will upgrade to using P25 Phase II. If and when that happens, the 996XT would no longer be of use on that system. On the other hand, the 996P2 can handle Phase II systems, and also can get the DMR & NXDN upgrades should a system of interest switch to that mode. Frankly, with more systems, in more areas, in the process of upgrading to P25 Phase II systems, I would recommend buying a scanner capable of that mode, even if not specifically required at he present time.

 

[Akuriko]

i was talking about the 996 xt or the 996p2 for myself not for my brother, my brother is happy using is R5 cheapie as a scanner and is having a hoot, lol

 

[hexagon_keyhole]

i was talking about the 996 xt or the 996p2 for myself not for my brother, my brother is happy using is R5 cheapie as a scanner and is having a hoot, lol

996P2 is the upgrade to the 996XT. Don’t know if that helps.

BCD996P2 - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[Brales60]

Just an FYI from a new guy. I bought a 996P2 before doing any research on my area. Most of the county is Simulcast. While it works, it's not great and a bunch of garble that's driving us nuts. You really miss a bunch. So, after a ton of research and help from the members here I ordered a SDS200. Excited to get it.

 

[tvengr]

i was talking about the 996 xt or the 996p2 for myself not for my brother, my brother is happy using is R5 cheapie as a scanner and is having a hoot,

The Washington State DOT P25 system has many talkgroups which are Phase 2 which the BCD996XT cannot receive. The Phase 1 talkgroups, including the ferries, could go to Phase 2 anytime in the future. Go with the BCD996P2 which is P25 Phase 2 capable.

 

[Akuriko]

just a short update I still hear my scanner very little on the island, I think for my official recommendation a handheld or a base station 15 x would have done the job, I took my radio shack pro 97 I got in 2007, and my hubby gave it as a birthday present, to Skagit county, the thing was chirping or talking like crazy, so before I made a statement I want to say for say an island like a san Juan islands, I recommend a Uniden 15 x for home and at 125 at for on the go as well as a bear car 75 xlt, the 30C can work too, any analog would work great, the digital works but not much chirping not much at all. anyways I still love this hobby I am happy I got to listen to my scanner while plugged into earphones while my roommate did her shopping in Anacortes and we went the next day to mount Vernon, so, all in all, wasn't a bad report so far, will keep you all informed.

It's fun plugged into headphones while sipping on a star bucks coffee,

 

[K4EET]

Thanks for the update @Akuriko. In the long run, I think the Uniden BCD536HP scanner will be your best bet. Time will tell. Meanwhile, enjoy the ride!

 

[Akuriko]

well so far i havnt had much chirps however next time i leave the island i have to go to digital areas so i hope i can use the sentinal software and use my new 436 out and about as well.

 

[Akuriko]

So my bother finally asked me a question, he wanted to know more about the following as hes intrested in buying these but was curious if you have any info on the models.

1. uniden bc365crs
2.uniden bc355n
3.bcd996p2
4.bcd325p2

he doesn't want the 436 or 536 hp however he does like the SDS 100 or 200 but cannot afford them, so he wanted to start somewhere since he has now an income he wants to expand his hobby, any suggestions?

 

[tvengr]

Skagit and Whatcom Counties use mainly conventional frequencies. Did you see my post about enabling the VHF marine band in the file I attached for your scanner? I also included the frequencies for Skagit, Whatcom, and Island Counties as well as WA State Patrol and amateur radio. You may be able to receive some of the transmissions from the mainland since they are over water. I will give you the instructions how to enable and disable them. What is your brother's city and county. The WA State DOT P25 system is not simulcast using the Skagit and Whatcom County sites. If in either of those 2 counties, the BCD996P2 should serve him nicely. It is less expensive than the BCDx36HP and SDS100/200 scanners.

 

[Akuriko]

yes i have it all programed from the sentinal channel, currently i dont pick up just san juan as skagit and islands to far a way, my window has a basic antenna still, brother is on the boarder of 3 countys in michigan he has digital only but he is on the 3 boarders, hes in lansing as i said he wants to move up to a basic scanner he is not a bank as hes a penny pinching miser, lol, his county is semicast. i will check back in later got to be on a zoom call in 15 min, so i will check back soon,

 

[Akuriko]

Hopefully, here is the final file. Island County has been added. I also found the Whidbey approach/departure frequency for aircraft coming to and leaving Friday Harbor Airport. Please use the previous instructions in post #102 for importing the file into Sentinel. Here is the updated department quick key list for the San Juan Co Conv system:

DEPARTMENT QUICK KEYS:
0. San Juan Co Govt/Misc
1. San Juan Co Fire/EMS
2. San Juan Co Law
3. Skagit Co
4. Whatcom Co
5. Island Co
6. WA State Patrol
7. VHF Marine Band
8. Amateur Radio

yes i have all these and for the reference the files for the rest of you if curious is on page 6.

 

[hiegtx]

So my bother finally asked me a question, he wanted to know more about the following as hes intrested in buying these but was curious if you have any info on the models.

1. uniden bc365crs
2.uniden bc355n
3.bcd996p2
4.bcd325p2

he doesn't want the 436 or 536 hp however he does like the SDS 100 or 200 but cannot afford them, so he wanted to start somewhere since he has now an income he wants to expand his hobby, any suggestions?

Eaton and Ingham Counties

While the BC365CRS and BC355N might be acceptable to the conventional channels in your area, if these are suggestions for your brother, neither would be useful to him in Michigan. Both Eaton & Ingham counties, in Michigan, use the statewide MPSCS system, which is digital. Neither if those models are capable of monitoring digital signals, and neither can be programmed for trunked systems.

The 325P2 & 996P2 are capable of receiving digital trunked systems, either P25 Phase I or Phase II. His statewide system is capable of Phase II, but for now, it appears they are using Phase I. The MPSCS system's sites in both Eaton & Ingham counties are simulcast, which can be a problem for scanners other than the SDS series. While the 325P2, as well as 996P2, can receive the Phase I talkgroups on the system, neither of them handle simulcast well. The 436HP and 536KP are somewhat better at simulcast than the P2 scanners, but they are not bulletproof. The 436HP & 536HP are database scanners, which means that they have the entire RadioReference database stored on memory cards, and can be used to scan using the main database, along with a location and range, without a lot of programming. Long term, creating Favorites lists for just what is wanted to be monitored is more satisfactory than relying on the database, and trying to juggle location, range, & service types to narrow down what your hearing.

Simulcast systems can be a pain, but is very dependent on your actual location. If you are at the 'right spot', where terrain (hills & low spots). a cluster of taller buildings, or something in your house (metal siding or foil backed insulation in the walls) leads to the scanner only receiving a single sub-site of the simulcast, then either of the P2 or x36HP scanners might work satisfactorily. Scanning from a fixed location, such as a residence, you might be able to use a directional antenna to narrow your reception down to a single site. But there is no guarantee as to whether any of these methods might work. Reception can be so location specific that moving the scanner a foot or more to a different spot in the house may make the difference between reception, or only hearing a garbled mess, if anything at all. Of course, those potential work-arounds are only effective when at a fixed location. If you are out and about, with the scanner in your vehicle, then you may well lose the system entirely.