I wanted to know if say, I bought a Motorola radio like that of my local police department. "Department has moto smartnet II 800mhz" if I could have it programed to their frequncies? If so, would it be better in any way than just an average scanner?
Ok. Here's some helpful little factoids, in no particular order....
* Programming a Motorola radio requires software that will either be expensive (for a current product) or impossible to obtain
legally (for discontinued products).
* Said software requires a data file (called the system key) to program trunking systems into the radio. Without the system key, the programming software will not allow programming trunking system data into the radio.
* System keys are considered by
MOST system administers to be confidential, and are held close.
*
Reputable service shops who have legal access to system keys
WILL NOT program a radio to a trunking system to anyone who asks, without something from the system administrators authorizing said programming.
* It's possible to create system keys, but if you have to ask how here, you're in over your head.
* Most Motorola radios need to affiliate with the system, which means it will transmit. When it transmits, the system administrator can gain the knowledge that your unauthorized radio exists, and can remotely disable it.
* It's possible to program and/or otherwise make the radio NOT transmit. If you have to ask how here, you're in over your head.
* The performance of the radio will be orders of magnitude better than a scanner in terms of RF and AF performance - more sensitive, immunity to interference, better quality audio.
* The performance of the radio will be orders of magnitude worse than a scanner in terms of functionality - number of talk groups held in memory, scan rate, ease of programming, lack of potential legal issues.
* The bottom line is generally this: If you're a tech type, have access to the software, can create a radio that won't be a problem to the system administrators, and are more interested in the RF performance than fancy displays and other goodie-bobs, using a commercial radio is fun, educational, and can be a satisfying technical challenge. If you're more of a non-technical consumer who just likes the idea of a Motorola radio like your local police department has, it'll be expensive, time consuming, frustrating, and at the very least, will get some doors slammed in your face, and phones hung up on when you inquire about getting it programmed.
That about sums it up. Good luck!
