Do I need Digital?

[1150RT-P]

Please bear with me ....

I've been doing my searching/database/FAQ Reading like every good Noob should ... but I'm still missing something on scanner selection.

I want a scanner that works with the BC-RH96 Remote Head. From my research, that leaves me 3 options:

1) BCT15 - Will this do everything I want it to do in LA and san bernardino counties?

2) BCD396XT (or BCD996T) - Digital - Do I really NEED Digital?

3) BR330T - I'm guessing this is a non-digital version of the 396? True or False? It it worth double the BCT 15?

Here is want I want to do:

-ICIS (LAPD, ec) (appears to be analog from my reading in the database)
-CHP (ICIS?)
-san bernardino county sheriffs, etx

- I would love Santa Monica PD, as I live in SM, but it appears thats a no-go. No big deal.

Anyway, any help is much appreciated. I think once I have one of these scanners in my hands I'll be able to figure it out much better!

*I'm sorry if this is mis-categorized . I figured since this was a local type question, this would be the correct forum. Mods, please feel free to move as needed.

 

[brandon]

If you plan to monitor ICIS and LAPD, then YES you want digital.

If you just want to monitor LASD, CHP, SBSO then you can get by with a BCT15 (for now).

Santa Monica is a no go as they're encrypted.

If I were in your position I would opt for the digital scanner.

 

[1150RT-P]

Thank you very much for the reply Brandon - I think that narrows it down a bit for me.

One last question if I may:

BCD396XT vs. BCD996T .... any advantage to going with the base station type 996? I have several vehicles and will only be installing the Remote Head in one of them. I like the portability aspect of the 396, but if performance would suffer ....? (for the record, either way I will be using an external antenna)

Thanks again!

 

[brandon]

The 396XT is newer than the 996T. The updated base version (996XT) should be out later this summer. I prefer base units but unable to compare with the 396XT as I don't own any of the Uniden digital handhelds.

 

[1150RT-P]

Thanks again Brandon. I think I decided on the 396.

 

[operator5290]

I have a Uniden BC250D with digital card if you're interested, it has the majority of those departments already programmed.

 

[1150RT-P]

I'll keep that in mine ... I'm looking for something compatible with the RH96 remote head, but since its been discontinued, we'll see how that goes. Thanks!