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Considering trunking scanner

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ion_op

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Chemtrails
Hi,

I'm new to trunking and currently own a Pro 2003 and Pro 2004. Radio Shack will be starting another sale and the 2055/2096/96/97 will be onsale. I'd like to get a trunking sanncer and I think it's a good idea to have digital since digital is used in Somerset County, NJ and surrounding areas. I've noticed that the 2096 is missing LTR trunking while the 2055 has it. Will I not be able to receive all possible trunking systems if I get the 2096? I hate to have to buy two scanners to cover this overlap. Is the BCD996T a better choice?

Tnx,

Mike
 

Colin9690

Delaware County, OH
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Location
Lewis Center, OH
ion_op said:
Hi,

I'm new to trunking and currently own a Pro 2003 and Pro 2004. Radio Shack will be starting another sale and the 2055/2096/96/97 will be onsale. I'd like to get a trunking sanncer and I think it's a good idea to have digital since digital is used in Somerset County, NJ and surrounding areas. I've noticed that the 2096 is missing LTR trunking while the 2055 has it. Will I not be able to receive all possible trunking systems if I get the 2096? I hate to have to buy two scanners to cover this overlap. Is the BCD996T a better choice?

Tnx,

Mike
If you really need LTR, the BCD996T is a better choice. However, you are not really missing much if you don't have LTR, all you really hear is tow truck drivers yapping about hot girls they see when they are driving, etc. There are no government (Police, fire) agencies using LTR.
 

captclint

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Mountaintop, PA
KCChiefs9690 said:
If you really need LTR, the BCD996T is a better choice. However, you are not really missing much if you don't have LTR, all you really hear is tow truck drivers yapping about hot girls they see when they are driving, etc.
Not strictly true. This is a Nuclear Power Plant in my area that I mapped:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=4635

I have mapped 4 systems in my area, and I have found Utilities, Handicaped Transportation Co's, some security agencies, and even a TV news channel used to setting up live shots.

However, I think your advice is generally true. He should check the RR database for at least 30 mile radius from his home to see if there are any interesting LTR's. However, they tend to be overlooked by most scanner enthusiasts for the reasons mentioned, so it is less likely there will be any identified systems in the RR.

Here's a link that should prove useful for a decision about trunking scanners:
http://myweb.cableone.net/marksscanners/Comparison/comparison.html
 
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Colin9690

Delaware County, OH
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Lewis Center, OH
capt_clint said:
Not strictly true. This is a Nuclear Power Plant in my area that I mapped:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=4635

I have mapped 4 systems in my area, and I have found Utilities, Handicaped Transportation Co's, some security agencies, and even a TV news channel used to setting up live shots.

However, I think your advice is generally true. He should check the RR database for at least 30 mile radius from his home to see if there are any interesting LTR's. However, they tend to be overlooked by most scanner enthusiasts for the reasons mentioned, so it is less likely there will be any identified systems in the RR.

Here's a link that should prove useful for a decision about trunking scanners:
http://myweb.cableone.net/marksscanners/Comparison/comparison.html
Lol, my comments were pretty generalized. In my area, there is nothing interesting like that on LTR, just taxis, tow trucks, warehouse personnel, delivery, etc. Probably the most interesting thing on LTR around here is animal control. :)
 

mike_webb59

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2005
Messages
196
Location
New Braunfels, TX
IMHO monitoring digital and supporting FCC rebanding much more important than LTR. Current popular radios in this category are RS Pro 96 and Uniden 330T and equivalents. I'd also point you the the radio threads here at RR and see if you see any trends around quality and useability for th radios that you like.

Good luck, Mike
 

KT4HX

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Dec 19, 2002
Messages
693
Location
Spotsylvania County, Va
In my area I haven't found much of interest on LTR either. I note that Somerset County doesn't have any LTR systems mentioned in the RR Database. There are a couple in Essex County, but I didn't check any other surrounding counties. I also noted that Somerset does indeed utilize digital in their Mot II Smartzone. So you would want either the 2096 or 996T (or their partner handhelds the Pro-96 or 396T). One has LTR capability, the other does not. It kinda comes down to how important LTR is to you, and if you have a personal preference for one brand over another, and of course cost (the 96/2096 being on sale soon).
 
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