DC Metro returning to scanning

[suzukirider]

Ten years ago when i first got my own scanner, a Uniden BCT-7 I had a blast with it...i didn't know much about scanning at all and i was happy to listen in to Montgomery County Fire/Police transmissions as well as airport approach frequencies whenever i could grab them on my basic setup....

I moved around some, Boston, Philly, and now i'm back in Montgomery County...and i'm older...perhaps no wiser...but, considerably richer than i was back 10 years ago.

which isn't saying much [heck i was only 18!] except for that i can now afford more scanner than my past experience can utilize.

scanning has come A LONG WAY from when i was listening to local happenings.

so...i've learned what trunking is...but now i am reading this site and hearing about DIGITAL TRUNKING, APCO25, CTCSS, and other various and sundry acronyms and initialisms.

and this begs the question...

I'm a noob, just getting back into the scanning game, and i want to HEAR IT ALL!!!

Most importantly, local PD and Fire for the DC Metro as well as medevac, gen and com aviation...

i'd like to be able to program philly, ny, and boston pd and fire as well for when i travel...as well as state police for highway stuff.

computer control would be nice provided the program is easy to interpret and get the most out of.

i've been looking at high end scanners like the PRO-96 and BC996T but i'm intimidated by their seemingly limitless capabilities compared to my little BCT-7. they seem so capable that it would be all too easy to get lost in all the various banks, talkgroups, channels, frequency steps, and other "user-selectables." my uniden has been absolutely trouble-free for the last 10 years...so i am leaning toward them as a brand...but convenience features and user-friendliness are VERY important considerations.

can anyone recommend a few good first steps to familiarize myself with the current scanning environment in the DC Metro area...and possibly provide some tips/pointers for selecting a good "local-compatible" unit????

PLEASE???

Beer is on me.

Abe

 

[Newark777]

Just taking a glance at the DC page, it appears the main trunked system in DC is a Motorola Type II with Analog and APCO-25:

http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=234

And looking through the page, a good number of the talkgroups are indeed APCO-25, so you would need one of the digital trunking scanners to listen to most of it. There are also a good number of other trunked systems in the DC area that are probably interesting to listen to.

Although the newer, advanced scanners may seem intimidating, one of the best ways to learn is just diving right into it. I've been scanning since 8th grade, and I went from not knowing anything about radios to being pretty good at working with trunked systems by just buying a trunktracking scanner and learning through practice.

And if you get confused, there's always here to ask for help.

 

[Dubbin]

i've been looking at high end scanners like the PRO-96 and BC996T but i'm intimidated by their seemingly limitless capabilities

If you think those have a lot of features then take a look at the Uniden digital radios BCD996T and the BDC396T.

Also if you want to learn more about trunking then HERES some reading for you.

 

[ampulman]

If you think those have a lot of features then take a look at the Uniden digital radios BCD996T and the BDC396T.

Also if you want to learn more about trunking then HERES some reading for you.

As previously stated, a digital scanner will be necessary (Philly police/fire are digital).

If you have specific questions on trunking, try Google. You will find much useful information. In deciding which scanner to buy, download the user manuals and study them (repeatedly). This will help you make an intelligent choice. Then, re-read the manual until you understand the workings of your chosen unit.

Before I decided on my 396, I studied the manual several times until I felt comfortable. This enabled me to program it 'out of the box' without software (really not a big deal).

AM

 

[suzukirider]

Thanks guys...

i did mean the BCD996T

is there a handheld equivalent to the BCD996T? is that the 396?

i like the mobile/base type...because it's designed for AC/DC power. i am skeptical of the long term reliability of a battery operated handheld unit esp if used with DC power. not to mention havnig no experience with the rubber duckie/handheld unit reception.

my mobile setup is/was a bct-7 with a generic magnet mount 36" antenna.

will a HH unit be as durable as a mobile/base? will it be as good for reception?

i'm trying to keep it Uniden because of brand experience and the Close Call feature.

abe

 

[hankv]

Most importantly, local PD and Fire for the DC Metro as well as medevac, gen and com aviation...

Here is Montgomery County http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=2142 I recommend you don't even try for anything more till you get a feel for it. There is just too much in the DC Area for one person to scan.

i've been looking at high end scanners like the PRO-96 and BC996T but i'm intimidated by their seemingly limitless capabilities compared to my little BCT-7.[/guote]

BCD396T is the handheld equivanent to the 996. If you travel that might be better.

can anyone recommend a few good first steps to familiarize myself with the current scanning environment in the DC Metro area...and possibly provide some tips/pointers for selecting a good "local-compatible" unit????

Try this for a start http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Trunking_Basics

 

[Dubbin]

is there a handheld equivalent to the BCD996T? is that the 396?

For the most part, yes.

 

[freqhopping]

A 396T will cover everything in the DC area, including the new 380mhz Federal/DOD systems that continue to grow.

It has enough memory to store nearly everything (short of every business freq) within at least a 70 miles radius of D.C. Even then I still had enough room to add everything along the route for my trip to Maine.

 

[suzukirider]

Cool, there are some rumblings that teh PRO-96 is a much better unit in terms of scan speed and reception...is that well-founded or just jockeying by owners?

i'm sure both are better than what i have...but these websites are full of my X and better than your Y!

abe

 

[suzukirider]

do u guys get together over beers ever?

i know for my biker site it happens all the time...wondering...

abe

 

[hankv]

Cool, there are some rumblings that teh PRO-96 is a much better unit in terms of scan speed and reception...is that well-founded or just jockeying by owners?

i'm sure both are better than what i have...but these websites are full of my X and better than your Y!

abe

Some Equipment Reviews:

http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtfirstlook-bcd996t.pdf
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtbcd396t.pdf
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtrspro2096.pdf

 

[Newark777]

i like the mobile/base type...because it's designed for AC/DC power. i am skeptical of the long term reliability of a battery operated handheld unit esp if used with DC power. not to mention havnig no experience with the rubber duckie/handheld unit reception

I've had handhelds since I started, and I've had no reliability issues with them, even though I use them with the AC adapter a lot. You just have to make sure to buy one rated for the correct voltage and amperage if not using one designed for the scanner.

As for reception, I always buy better antennas for mine, and if you get an external antenna you can still plug it into the BNC plug on the scanner.

 

[jonny290]

many modern handhelds (including the 396) use SMA connectors which are much more physically stable than BNC

power jacks are better, too

 

[Newark777]

many modern handhelds (including the 396) use SMA connectors which are much more physically stable than BNC

I forgot about those, I'm just used to my scanners which are all BNC.

 

[suzukirider]

i think i'm leaning toward the 396 for it's handheld, close call, and ready-to-go (cables and software included) features.

plus it's small.

abe

 

[loumaag]

i think i'm leaning toward the 396 for it's handheld, close call, and ready-to-go (cables and software included) features.

plus it's small.

abe

I own both the BCD396T and the Pro-96. For ease of use and flexability I prefer the 396. The Pro-96 does a couple of things better, but they don't make up for all the things that the 396 does better IMHO.

 

[suzukirider]

thanks...i'm not too hardcore. my likely setup would be a CB and a scanner in the car...and scanner at home and for to-and-fro type stuff like the airport etc.

is there any store in the dc metro area that actually STOCKS these units [bcd396t] ???

my other question is what comes in the box....computer cable? dc cord for the car? ac adapter? programming software?

all the descriptions on the web show different box contents...some have the cable, some dont.

abe

 

[Dubbin]

thanks...i'm not too hardcore. my likely setup would be a CB and a scanner in the car...and scanner at home and for to-and-fro type stuff like the airport etc.

is there any store in the dc metro area that actually STOCKS these units [bcd396t] ???

my other question is what comes in the box....computer cable? dc cord for the car? ac adapter? programming software?

all the descriptions on the web show different box contents...some have the cable, some dont.

abe

You can find the manual HERE It will tell you everything that comes with it. I think you are making the right choice by going with the 396. I had both the 396 and the 96 at one time, I sold the 96.

 

[rescue161]

BC396T comes with:
1) Rechargerable batteries
2) Charger
3) Computer cable

Pro-96 comes with non of those three things.

 

[Paris]

Wash metro Area Scanning

I have the Pro 96 and the BCT 396. They are both great scanners, with advantages in different areas. The BCT 396 is smaller, and far easier to program effectively with its dymnamic memory allocation. The Pro-96 is noticeably more sensitive (it hears more), but you're limited to programming in banks of a pre-determined size. That means that all Fairfax County talkgroups & etc., for example, cannot be put into one bank. However, the Pro 96 comes supplied with the D.C area ferquencies, talkgroups, and IDs, already pre-programmed, so, out of the box, it's quite easy to be up and running with the Radio Shack product.

I have the BCT 996 and the Pro 2096 also, and the same comments apply to these. Interestingly, the Pro 2096 and the BCT 996 are exactly the same size. I have one or the other mounted in my car, and I swap them in and out of the same bracket with the different power leads on pigtails. Again, aside from what I noted earlier, the 996 and the 2096 have different advantages as a mobile scanner. The BCT 996 "hold" and "scan" buttons are far easier to locate while driving, but the service searches and weather bands are likewise easier to operate on the Pro 2096 without scrolling, as required on the BCT996. On balance, I think the Pro 2096 is a slightly better choice for mobile because of its better sensitivity.

The BCT 396 and the BCT 996 can be bought over the counter at HRO in Woodbridge, Virginia, which is just across the street from a well-stocked Radio Shack where you'll find the Pro 96 and the Pro 2096.