DFW Rebanding Question?

[txscan]

Hello all

I am in the DFW area and looking to buy one of the following 3 radios:
pro-97
bc246t
pro-96

I know the pro96 is a digital radio, but besides that which one of these radios will be affected by the rebanding coming down the pipe? Which radio would I be smarter to buy and why?

Thanks in advance
Gregg

 

[Al42]

The 97 will not survive rebanding.

The 96 is digital, the 246 isn't - your choice. (Uniden's 396 is digital and, when you add in everything you have to buy with the 96 - batteries, AC supply, computer cable [the 396 comes with them, and a real belt clip]), the prices are pretty close, with some suppliers selling you the 396 for less than a 96 with accessories. The 396 also does fire tone-out alerting, it's flash upgradable by downloading a file (the 96 has to be sent back to RS) and Uniden has a representative right here on RR who responds to users (and he's not a low-level employee).

 

[jpm]

Looking at your data base I myself would either go with the GRE/RS pro96 or the Uniden BCD396T scanners. Most of your counties/cities are analog now and you would be able to trunk the digital stuff too. Both scanners are said to be upgraded via firmware, but here my understanding is that you have to send the GRE/RS scanners into the shop. The EDACS and LTR systems you just reprogram the frequencies in. My $.02 worth.

 

[jpm]

Plus your digital seems to be APCO 16 compliant. The true APCO you just reprogram as well.

 

[hiegtx]

Gregg,
See the rebanding thread for full details on which radios will work and which won't..
The Pro-97 will not be able to handle trunked Motorola 800Mhz systems after rebanding. It is not updateable. It will still handle EDACS and LTR systems, as well as conventional
frequencies. It also covers mil-air. It is not digital.
The Pro-96 is digital, and also does mil-air. While it's firmware cannot be reflashed without a trip back to Radio Shack, it may be updateable to work after rebanding. See the voluminous notes in the rebanding thread on how.
The BC246T is not digital, and does not do mil-air. However, once rebanding takes place, Uniden expects that they will be able to release a firmware update for this scanner to handle the changes without a return for service. I have a 246 & it's an excellent scanner.
Both the Radio Shack scanners are on sale (the Pro-97 is $179.99). The cheapest online price I've seen for the 246 is $199.99, plus $8 shipping. But with the 96 & 97, batteries, ac adapter, & pc control cable are all extra cost items. Rechargeable batteries, adapter, & the cable come with the 246. Programming software for any of these is extra.

If you want or need digital, consider the BCD396T. Besides digital, reflashable for rebanding, and covers mil-air, it also will handle 700Mhz trunked systems. Some public safety agencies are moving to that band. The 96 does not cover it. I also have a 396.
The 396 comes with rechargeable batteries, ac adater, and a pc control cable. Uniden also offers programming software as a free download. So while a Pro-96 on sale looks to be about $70 cheaper than a 396, by the time you add the batteries, adapter, & cable, you're at about the same cost. And you'll still need to buy programming software if you want it.

Whether you really need digital is your call. TX DPS is converting to digital. Not trunked, but still digital. As for digital trunked systems, there's not too many within range of you currently. Possibly Mansfield and Grand Prairie, but they may be a bit far for reliable reception. That can always change, though, as agencies upgrade their systems.
I would get the 396 both for digital & the 700Mhz capability. If you wanted to hold off on the digital, get a 246.

Steve

 

[CLTX11]

while on the topic, will the BCT 8 be able to switch over?

 

[nd5y]

The North Central Texas Council of Governments has been sponsoring meetings for
800 MHz rebanding (and other things) in the DFW area and has some info on their web site
http://www.nctcog.org/hs/radio/index.html#nextel

 

[hiegtx]

Accordind to comments in the rebanding thread, it will be able to be re-flashed. This is from Uniden.

 

[aguyindallas]

Am I understanding that pretty soon my Pro-97 will be useless?

 

[rdale]

RS says you may need to send it back to them for a new CPU.

 

[n4voxgill]

Accordind to comments in the rebanding thread, it will be able to be re-flashed.This[/URL] is from Uniden.

You better read the fine print at the bottom which says:

This statement is based on the current rebanding plan, as accepted by FCC and industry. Future changes to this plan could affect Uniden’s response or its ability to respond. Nothing in this statement should be construed as any type of promise or warranty. Uniden reserves the right to make changes to its rebanding response policy at any time.

 

[Linn]

Gregg,

You may want to go with a Uniden radio, they do LTR trunking which is what careflite is on in Johnson County. Cleburne Fire recently got a grant for a radio system. One rumor is that Cleburne Fire and the county VFD's will be going to an LTR system in the not too distant future.

Linn

 

[scanfan03]

Gregg,

You may want to go with a Uniden radio, they do LTR trunking which is what careflite is on in Johnson County. Cleburne Fire recently got a grant for a radio system. One rumor is that Cleburne Fire and the county VFD's will be going to an LTR system in the not too distant future.

Linn

The Pro-97 tracks LTR. Along with the BC 246T.