Christmas gift- help

[Mbeall2]

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to find a handheld scanner for my brother for Christmas. They live in Augusta county and Waynesboro Virginia . It looks like they are on phase 2 now. Don’t know much about how that all works or if a scanner needs to be programmed in order to work and if so how do I go about that. Looking for options around 150-300

Any help would be greatly appreciated I don’t know where to begin and it’s all so overwhelming.

 

[cptinsano918]

The Uniden BCD325P2 can do p25 phase 1 and 2 and they have them for $400 at this link: Digital P25 Phase II Scanners (scannermaster.com). That's the cheapest phase 2 capable one I could find.

 

[TJX400]

They are not using P25-II. Based on the database, they're still using analog repeaters. The only digital use is in Staunton, who's using conventional DMR. The 325P2 recommended above is a great option, it will also receive STARS, which is the digital trunked radio system state agencies (such as VDOT SSP and VSP). You will have to pay $75 extra for the DMR upgrade if he wants to monitor anything law enforcement related from Staunton.

 

[hiegtx]

The fee for a DMR upgrade for a 325P2, or other Uniden scanner, is $60; NXDN is $50, when either, or both, are purchased directly from Uniden. If you, instead, have your dealer purchase the upgrade for you, at the same time you are buying the scanner from them, then the usual charge when handled by your selling dealer is at least $75 for any upgrade purchased. I've seen notes in the past about one dealer that was charging $99.99 each. (I just looked. They are still at $99.99 for DMR, $89.99 for NXDN.)

Nor would I pay the dealer for programming. That 'service' is overpriced, and all they will do is load the same systems that show in the database. In almost every case, unless you are purchasing a scanner to be used in the same area as the dealer, they will not have any knowledge of what is, or is not, being used locally. There are a ton of videos on how to program this scanner, as well as any of the Uniden or Whistler scanners. If you still feel you need programming assistance, then ask, specifically, for that help in your local forum. You may find someone whi will create a starter file for you, free of charge, or for a modest fee such as buying lunch, or a six-pack or so of their favorite beverage.

Amazon is currently at $340.00 for the 325P2.

Amazon.com

That's a listing from Police Scanner Outlet, the 'Amazon Marketplace' moniker used bt Bearcat Warehouse.

 

[Mbeall2]

They are not using P25-II. Based on the database, they're still using analog repeaters. The only digital use is in Staunton, who's using conventional DMR. The 325P2 recommended above is a great option, it will also receive STARS, which is the digital trunked radio system state agencies (such as VDOT SSP and VSP). You will have to pay $75 extra for the DMR upgrade if he wants to monitor anything law enforcement related from Staunton.

I don’t think they would be interested that much in Staunton. Is there just a good analog one that would work for the surrounding areas?

 

[RidgeHollowRadioactive]

I don’t think they would be interested that much in Staunton. Is there just a good analog one that would work for the surrounding areas?

Amazon has 325's for around $340 https://amzn.to/3WpZaNP and even though you can ( Amazon.com ) I personally wouldn't bother with an analog-only scanner these days esp after watching Shenandoah county go P25 after being analog for decades. I think P25 is the way all municipalities in Virginia will eventually go.

 

[sallen07]

I don’t think they would be interested that much in Staunton. Is there just a good analog one that would work for the surrounding areas?

If you don't think they will care about Staunton PD then a Uniden BC125AT should work fine for them. The other option is a BCD325P2 with the DMR upgrade if they *do* want to listen to Staunton PD. (This is assuming you want a hand-held scanner.)

Augusta County put out an RFP for a P25 Phase II system earlier this year, so my guess is that within 2-4 years everything in the county will move to P25, including Staunton PD. Rockingham/Harrisonburg and Albemarle/Charlottesville both moved to Phase II TRS systems within the past couple years as well.

Those two systems are both simulcast, and my money is on the new Augusta/Staunton system being simulcast too. While it is true that the BCD352P2 is the cheapest P25 Phase II scanner available, in general it does not handle simulcast well -- or at all. Chances are very good that the only scanners that will be able to monitor the new system are the Uniden SDS100/200, which are quite expensive.

So my recommendation to you would be to get the BC125AT and let them listen to all the analog traffic. All of the Fire/EMS traffic in Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro is analog, as is the county sheriff and Waynesboro PD. There are also patches from the fire dispatch group on theTRS systems in Augusta and Albemarle over to an analog channel so they can monitor those too if close enough. If they fall in love with the hobby then they can get an SDS100 in a couple years when the new system is up and running, and use the BC125AT for monitoring other things (ham repeaters, air, rail, etc.).

And no, I do not live there, but my father does, and not only do I go visit him (and bring my scanners) but I gave him a scanner of his own!

 

[Mbeall2]

If you don't think they will care about Staunton PD then a Uniden BC125AT should work fine for them. The other option is a BCD325P2 with the DMR upgrade if they *do* want to listen to Staunton PD. (This is assuming you want a hand-held scanner.)

Augusta County put out an RFP for a P25 Phase II system earlier this year, so my guess is that within 2-4 years everything in the county will move to P25, including Staunton PD. Rockingham/Harrisonburg and Albemarle/Charlottesville both moved to Phase II TRS systems within the past couple years as well.

Those two systems are both simulcast, and my money is on the new Augusta/Staunton system being simulcast too. While it is true that the BCD352P2 is the cheapest P25 Phase II scanner available, in general it does not handle simulcast well -- or at all. Chances are very good that the only scanners that will be able to monitor the new system are the Uniden SDS100/200, which are quite expensive.

So my recommendation to you would be to get the BC125AT and let them listen to all the analog traffic. All of the Fire/EMS traffic in Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro is analog, as is the county sheriff and Waynesboro PD. There are also patches from the fire dispatch group on theTRS systems in Augusta and Albemarle over to an analog channel so they can monitor those too if close enough. If they fall in love with the hobby then they can get an SDS100 in a couple years when the new system is up and running, and use the BC125AT for monitoring other things (ham repeaters, air, rail, etc.).

And no, I do not live there, but my father does, and not only do I go visit him (and bring my scanners) but I gave him a scanner of his own!

I want to make sure I am understanding this currently , if I go with the bc125at, they will be able to listen to Waynesboro pd and Augusta county sheriff until they switched systems. And if I did get the BCD352P2 so they could use longer, it wouldn’t really matter because it doesn’t pick up simulcast which would require them to upgrade to SDS100?

 

[Mbeall2]

Amazon has 325's for around $340 https://amzn.to/3WpZaNP and even though you can ( Amazon.com ) I personally wouldn't bother with an analog-only scanner these days esp after watching Shenandoah county go P25 after being analog for decades. I think P25 is the way all municipalities in Virginia will eventually go.

If they are in the Augusta county area and I got the one you mentioned, would they be able to listen to Shenandoah county as well?

 

[sallen07]

I want to make sure I am understanding this currently , if I go with the bc125at, they will be able to listen to Waynesboro pd and Augusta county sheriff until they switched systems. And if I did get the BCD352P2 so they could use longer, it wouldn’t really matter because it doesn’t pick up simulcast which would require them to upgrade to SDS100?

Yes. None of us know for sure since the system doesn't exist yet, but chances are very good that a BCD325P2 won't be able to pick up the new system due to simulcast distortion. So spending the extra money *would* let them listen to Staunton PD (and school buses) now, but probably wouldn't give them the ability to listen to the new system once it's in use.

The BCD325P2 will work just as well as the BC125AT for everything else but not any better.

 

[sallen07]

If they are in the Augusta county area and I got the one you mentioned, would they be able to listen to Shenandoah county as well?

Looks like Shenandoah is still all analog as well (except for school buses) but due to the distance that's going to be a challenge using a hand-held scanner with the supplied antenna, especially since all of their frequencies are UHF, and UHF doesn't in general propagate as far as VHF. A lot will also depend on terrain. If it's a straight shot down the valley, then maybe.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to program the Shenandoah frequencies in and give it a try.

Oh, and a different scanner (BCD325P2 or even SDS100) won't change that ... it all has to do with frequencies in use, distance, terrain, and antenna.

 

[LeSueurC]

Looks like Shenandoah is still all analog as well (except for school buses) but due to the distance that's going to be a challenge using a hand-held scanner with the supplied antenna, especially since all of their frequencies are UHF, and UHF doesn't in general propagate as far as VHF. A lot will also depend on terrain. If it's a straight shot down the valley, then maybe.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to program the Shenandoah frequencies in and give it a try.

Oh, and a different scanner (BCD325P2 or even SDS100) won't change that ... it all has to do with frequencies in use, distance, terrain, and antenna.

That's a negative on Shenandoah County, they just switched a month or so ago to P25 Phase 2

 

[sallen07]

That's a negative on Shenandoah County, they just switched a month or so ago to P25 Phase 2

My bad. I *thought* I'd read a thread about a new P25 system for Shenandoah County, but when I looked at the main database page there isn't any reference to it yet. If I'm not mistaken, they are still transitioning over, correct? Or is the database just not up-to-date?

Sorry @Mbeall2 didn't mean to give you bad info.

If Shenandoah County does end up leaving an analog channel patched over to the Fire/EMS dispatch (as other counties have done) it *might* be monitorable from Waynesboro, but that would be it.

 

[LeSueurC]

My bad. I *thought* I'd read a thread about a new P25 system for Shenandoah County, but when I looked at the main database page there isn't any reference to it yet. If I'm not mistaken, they are still transitioning over, correct? Or is the database just not up-to-date?

Sorry @Mbeall2 didn't mean to give you bad info.

If Shenandoah County does end up leaving an analog channel patched over to the Fire/EMS dispatch (as other counties have done) it *might* be monitorable from Waynesboro, but that would be it.

click on the Trunked Radio Systems on the right and you'll see it

 

[fredva]

Shenandoah County's new system is in the database: Shenandoah County Trunking System, Shenandoah County, Virginia There is also a pretty long thread in the VA forum with posts from people listening to it sharing info.

OP, the dilemma you are in is that if you buy a scanner in your price range now, it might not work so well when Augusta upgrades. So your choices are a less expensive, short-term solution, or spending significantly more money for a scanner that is better prepared for the future - gambling that encryption won't take away your brother's listening preferences when the new system comes online.

 

[sallen07]

click on the Trunked Radio Systems on the right and you'll see it

I already knew that, thanks. But there is nothing on the main page for the county that indicates that traffic is now using that system, which is how I missed it. Compare that to (for example) Rockingham or Albemarle, where the first entry on the main page for the count is a link to the TRS.

Is the system in full production yet? Or still testing or in transition?

 

[LeSueurC]

I already knew that, thanks. But there is nothing on the main page for the county that indicates that traffic is now using that system, which is how I missed it. Compare that to (for example) Rockingham or Albemarle, where the first entry on the main page for the count is a link to the TRS.

Is the system in full production yet? Or still testing or in transition?

Read through the VA forum.

 

[sallen07]

Shenandoah County's new system is in the database: Shenandoah County Trunking System, Shenandoah County, Virginia There is also a pretty long thread in the VA forum with posts from people listening to it sharing info.

Yes and I should have gone and looked for that thread (that I had seen but not read) before I posted. My mistake. But as I said, there is no link on the main page.

OP, the dilemma you are in is that if you buy a scanner in your price range now, it might not work so well when Augusta upgrades. So your choices are a less expensive, short-term solution, or spending significantly more money for a scanner that is better prepared for the future - gambling that encryption won't take away your brother's listening preferences when the new system comes online.

I totally agree, but the choice is between BCT125AT and SDS100. The BCD325P2 is not likely to work on the new system once it exists.

Also keeping fingers crossed as far as encryption goes. I know a number of counties in Virgina have gone that way, but at least so far neither Rockingham nor Albemarle have, so in my mind at least there is hope that Augusta won't either.

 

[sallen07]

Read through the VA forum.

OK I just read the whole thread, and it would appear that the analog frequencies are no longer in use and all traffic is on the TRS, but there are still some unidentifed TGs. If that's the case, then I would opine that the main page for the county needs to be updated to reflect the new reality. Do you disagree?

 

[LeSueurC]

OK I just read the whole thread, and it would appear that the analog frequencies are no longer in use and all traffic is on the TRS, but there are still some unidentifed TGs. If that's the case, then I would opine that the main page for the county needs to be updated to reflect the new reality. Do you disagree?

submit the change then to the DB admin.