Digital newbie

[funtimeguy]

I've been listening to the police, fire and EMS for years and have several scanners now, but am a newbie when it comes to digital. Since the local public services are switching to an all new digital system in the early fall, I'm looking into getting my first digital scanner (leaning toward the BCD396T). Now for a couple stupid questions -- 1) Is digital used only for trunking systems or for conventional channels too? 2)If used for conventionl channels to, do you program them in differently than an analog channel?

 

[nexus]

Digital is not exclusive to trunking. Digital is simply a mode of transmission. Trunking would be considered the method of transmission. There are a couple of agencies where I live that use APCO25 (ASTRO) on their VHF Repeaters.

You do not program them in any differently. Just program your conventional frequencies into the banks as you would want them, and make sure that you have P25 enabled on your scanner. If the scanner receives a signal that is APCO25 it will automatically decode it.

Keep in mind, you may want to determin what system the local public safety is going to. If it's Motorola then you should be okay. If it's an EDACS system (digital is PROVOICE) then you can forget about it. No scanner made will be able to hear voice on a provoice system. And there are no plans to make one either.

 

[funtimeguy]

Thanks for the info. The county I'm in uses RACOM's EDAC system now, but from what I've seen the county has selected GeoComm Communications Group to help them develop a communications plan and they seem to prefer Motorola P-25, but the county hasn't released any solid information as to what type of system they will be going with.