Digital and Trunking and Scanners OH MY!!

[ia_teacher]

Hi all

This will probably be a fairly long post with several questions. I apologize in advance. I used to have a scanner way back before trunking came along and it was so much easier. Anyway, I would like to get back in and see if I still enjoy it so I have some questions I hope someone can help me with,

First, I visited my local Radio Shack and the gal there tried to sell me this $500 scanner. I'm not sure I want to drop that much cash on something I don't even know yet if I am going to stick with. So, I went home and did some research.

First thing I found was this site which shows this page as the frequencies in my area: Muscatine County, Iowa (IA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference Now IF I am reading this correctly this is telling me that the PD and FD in my area do NOT use trunking - is that correct? How can I find out for sure?

Next I found this scanner on the Radio Shack web site: Uniden BC95XLTB 200-Channel Scanner with 800MHz Coverage - RadioShack.com So, IF my area is not using trunking will this one work for tracking the PD, FD, etc? or is there an 800 MHz that is analog and an 800 MHz that is digital. The Radio Shack gal said we are digital so I wasn't sure on that....


Thanks bunches folks!!

 

[N8IAA]

Your state is part of a larger trunked system. Your county is not a part of it, yet. Fortunately, and unfortunately, the system is Pro Voice mixed with analog. Polk county has some digital talkgroups, but the system uses Aegis. This type of digital signal can not be decoded by any of today's scanners. As to what the the RS salesperson said, doesn't surprise me in the least. Most know just enough to be dangerous The BC95 will do what you want.
Larry
Just a postscript: Any frequency can be digital, not just 800mhz. The Racom sytem just happens to be 800mhz.
Larry

 

[ia_teacher]

Clarification...

Just a postscript: Any frequency can be digital, not just 800mhz. The Racom sytem just happens to be 800mhz.
Larry

That's what I'm worried about. When I looked up my county online both the local PD and FD show a mode of P25 which someone told me means it IS digital and can only be picked up on a digital scanner.... So, it seems you are telling me the opposite that the BC 95 WILL be able to pick up those frequencies??

Sorry to be so ignorant, I just don't want to spend the money on a scanner and then have it not do what I want.

Eric

 

[BaLa]

Well you wont be listening to City of Muscatine Police or Fire UNLESS you get a digital scanner.
If you want to listen to Muscatine PD or FD the salesperson WAS right.

 

[N8IAA]

Well you wont be listening to City of Muscatine Police or Fire UNLESS you get a digital scanner.
If you want to listen to Muscatine PD or FD the salesperson WAS right.

This info was found where? What is shown here on RR does not show Muscatine County as part of the Racom system. Maybe, an update to the database is in order.
Larry

 

[BaLa]

This info was found where? What is shown here on RR does not show Muscatine County as part of the Racom system. Maybe, an update to the database is in order.
Larry

It is not part of it as far as I know; You were right about that.
If you look at the Page he linked to
Muscatine County, Iowa (IA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
Scroll Down to City of Muscatine...PD and FD are P25 Conventional 800.

You prolly just missed it

 

[BaLa]

You could get a used cheaper scanner, to see how you like it I guess..It's hard to jump into something like this (hobby) with a $500 scanner.
I would not get a scanner without Text Tags for sure.

 

[qlajlu]

By the way, ia_teacher, welcome to RR.com. As you can see we have members that are ready, willing, and able to answer your questions. This question could also have been asked in the Iowa Discussion Forum. The local folks would have many of the answers you seek. The trick is do not cross-post. In other words, do not ask the same question in both places. You now have enough information that a post in the Iowa Forum might be advisable.

Also, I urge you to return to your User CP (the left side of the second blue bar from the top of any page if you are logged in) and edit your profile to include your location (city and state) as you were requested to do in the material e-mailed to you when you registered. Once you fill in your location it will automatically show in each of your posts. Many of the questions you will have, and their answers, are going to be location specific and without having your location showing you will be asked over and over again what it is. So fill it in now and be done with it.

 

[N8IAA]

Yep. P-25 for FD and PD. Look for a RS Pro-96. It will do the digital P-25 quite nicely. Always someone selling one here on RR, or, E-bay. Easy to program with Win96. Bought a Pro-106 last November. Now I just use it for base and mobile. Used to take two scanners because the 96 didn't do LTR. 96 is easy to use for someone just getting into digital scanning. Still use mine to find new TGID's on my most listened to systems. Ask some questions in the Iowa forum. Surely more informed scannists there to help you get up and running.
Larry