DC Area Fire Scanning - Possible Via Analog Only?

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HarryWilly

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Hey All!

Hoping to move back to the area where I came from in the D.C. metro area, and I wanted to reinstall a scanner in my vehicle. Of course there is a bit of an issue -

For the past several years, I have gotten by with a BCT15 and a BR330T because the only digital systems in my areas were used by police and I didn't care for police radio traffic. On top of that, almost all departments have a simulcast of the dispatch channel on trunked systems.

Anyway, can I get away with using either one of these scanners (which are more or less the same) to monitor fire in the D.C. area? I was hoping to be able to pick up as many that fall in the COG region (i.e. Montgomery, PG, D.C., Fairfax, Arlington, etc.) but I am worried I may have to step up to a digital scanner.

What kind of experience will I have with an analog only scanner?
 

ka3jjz

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Not very good, frankly. You can research the various communities in our database, but most all of them are now using digital systems. Fire dispatch is often on conventional analog freqs and some are rebroadcasting certain talkgroups (Montgomery County Md. does this) but it's limited - when the dispatcher remembers to open the patch up...

Digital is a big push in our area, and sad to say, you're going to need to make that jump at some point depending on where you're going. Specifically where are you moving to in the DC area? Keep in mind we have separate forums for Virginia and Maryland....get familiar with the stuff in our database, it's pretty accurate....73 (best regards) Mike
 
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HarryWilly

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Moving to Montgomery basically on the beltway, in Bethesda, but all the way west. I should be close enough to pick up Fairfax and D.C. I hope.

I figured you would say I would need a digital scanner. I am working on writing up an advertisement for some of my Moto equipment I won't need anyway to buy one.
 

ka3jjz

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Then jump on over to the Maryland forum for Montgomery stuff, Virginia for the Fairfax stuff. And be prepared for a little sticker shock :.>>

73 Mike
 

HarryWilly

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Will do. Don't mean to spam up the DC thread, but I figured one post in D.C. would be better than splitting amongst all of them. Plus people who know DC would likely know the other areas I am interested in.

I am prepared for the price, just I am trying to decide if I am going to be in my car enough to make with worth while.
 
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