AYoung2600
Member
I am looking to buy a radio to scan my local FD/PD frequencies and to use on MURS. What would be a good radio to use for that? I would prefer motorola, but I'm open to other brands as well.
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Commercial Radio for Scanning
- Thread starter AYoung2600
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Portable or mobile. Either way you have many to pick from even if you stick with /\/\.
I can't recomend a portable as I don't own one but I do like the CDM1250's and MCS2000's for scanning. You're limited to 16 channel scan list but other than that they make great scanners. You can usually find them reasonably priced. If you got the bucks you can get some newer gear like an XTL or XTS series radio.
I can't recomend a portable as I don't own one but I do like the CDM1250's and MCS2000's for scanning. You're limited to 16 channel scan list but other than that they make great scanners. You can usually find them reasonably priced. If you got the bucks you can get some newer gear like an XTL or XTS series radio.
I use commercial radios for scanning and you really can't beat them if you are monitoring a VHF or UHF conventional system. It takes a bit to get the hang of programming them (it's as easy if not easier then using Unidens Scanner Programming software) and needing a DC power supply but the audio quality and receiver sensitivity is great!!
I also use Motorola CDM, Motorola ASTRO spectras and XTS portables. Kenwood makes a great radio as well. TK790 or TK890 are great and you are not limited to 16 channels in a scan list.
Let me know if you have any other questions and i'll try to point you in the right direction.
Alex
I also use Motorola CDM, Motorola ASTRO spectras and XTS portables. Kenwood makes a great radio as well. TK790 or TK890 are great and you are not limited to 16 channels in a scan list.
Let me know if you have any other questions and i'll try to point you in the right direction.
Alex
AYoung2600
Member
I'm looking for a portable so that I can take it wherever I go. I really like the XTS 5000s but those are a little out of my price range.
W2NJS
Member
The Saber 3 radios have gotten to the point where they can be had for less than $100 on eBay. They have 120 channels in 10 zones but you'll need the special software and programming cables and interface box to get one working the way you like it, all of which means more money. But for analog scanning over one band only they're hard to beat.
jim202
Member
Be somewhat cautious here in what you go after. The reason I bring this up is that many agencies are being forced by the FCC to migrate their VHF (150 to 172 MHz) and their UHF (450 to 470 MHz) radio systems to narrow band operation. The FCC has mandated this move to narrow band operation to gain more channels for additional use. With this move, many of the radios showing up on the used market today are not able to be operated in the narrow band mode or channels.
What this means is that you may or may not have a used radio to even be able to get to some of these channels. If the radio can get to the channels you looking to listen to, the recovered audio level will be low and you will have to turn up the volume control.
Be a careful shopper, as there is a good chance on some of these older radios that are now available, that they will become useless to you in the near future.
What this means is that you may or may not have a used radio to even be able to get to some of these channels. If the radio can get to the channels you looking to listen to, the recovered audio level will be low and you will have to turn up the volume control.
Be a careful shopper, as there is a good chance on some of these older radios that are now available, that they will become useless to you in the near future.
N1SQB
Member
Motorola MTS2000-Highly Recommend!
I have an MTS2000 III with the 403-470 split. It will do narrow band. Let me tell you, I have never had so much fun with any portable radio in my life, and I've had a few. I recommend it highly! The radio has 160 channels. Yes, you are restricted to only 16 channels per zone, but for conventional monitoring, you cannot go wrong with one of these. I have only 4 zones set up for now. Police, Fire, Medical, Ham. The sensitivity is awesome, as well as the loud robust audio. The software is still available I believe from Motorola. I have mine programmed as "receive only" personalities (except Ham stuff) so there is no accidental keying. There in no need for a R.I.B. if you get a cable that has one built in like I did. Even if you get one in good to fair condition (cosmetics) there are refurbish kits still available. I refurbished mine and it is looking and operating like a brand new radio right now. The difference in audio between the MTS and my scanners, is just unbelieveable. I am hooked! Now I will be moving on to a VHF version if I can find a good one. I tried the Kenwood TK-280/380 VHF/UHF radios. They cannot hold a candle to the Motorola radios. The also do not have the solid feel to them that the Moto radios have. Yes sir, love Motorola commercial radios for scanning. Just my $0.2 worth.
Manny
I have an MTS2000 III with the 403-470 split. It will do narrow band. Let me tell you, I have never had so much fun with any portable radio in my life, and I've had a few. I recommend it highly! The radio has 160 channels. Yes, you are restricted to only 16 channels per zone, but for conventional monitoring, you cannot go wrong with one of these. I have only 4 zones set up for now. Police, Fire, Medical, Ham. The sensitivity is awesome, as well as the loud robust audio. The software is still available I believe from Motorola. I have mine programmed as "receive only" personalities (except Ham stuff) so there is no accidental keying. There in no need for a R.I.B. if you get a cable that has one built in like I did. Even if you get one in good to fair condition (cosmetics) there are refurbish kits still available. I refurbished mine and it is looking and operating like a brand new radio right now. The difference in audio between the MTS and my scanners, is just unbelieveable. I am hooked! Now I will be moving on to a VHF version if I can find a good one. I tried the Kenwood TK-280/380 VHF/UHF radios. They cannot hold a candle to the Motorola radios. The also do not have the solid feel to them that the Moto radios have. Yes sir, love Motorola commercial radios for scanning. Just my $0.2 worth.
Manny
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