Do I need to upgrade scanner for NYC?

[BK87]

Hello,

I have a Uniden BC245XLT Trunk Tracker II since high school for 15 years. I haven’t done much scanning after college and want to get back into it. I feel like something has changed and my scanner isn’t picking up frequencies well for FDNY, poor reception especially outside of my borough, weird pauses every second when they communicate. NYPD channels are much better though.

Another problem is I forgot what channel I programmed for each precinct and special units, so I can’t navigate the scanner fast. So what can I upgrade to to give me good reception for FDNY and what scanner could make my channel organization and navigation easy and intuitive, preferably with name characters? Is a base scanner always better for reception than a handheld?

 

[w2lie]

Hi BK, welcome back into the hobby.

The reception on the UHF side of FDNY isn't what it used to be on VHF. There is a large difference in reception - especially where I am out in eastern Nassau County.

The new UHF frequencies use a 6.25kHz spacing and I believe the BC245XLT does not work on that step, so it is 'correcting' the UHF frequencies to match the 12.5kHz band plan. This means your ever so slightly off center.

Your weird pauses every second or so might be due to the fact you have a priority turned on. Make sure that is disabled.

If all you are tryign not do with that scanner is scan NYPD and FDNY, why not set it up so that each borough has it's own bank. This might help you set it up so you can find what you want to. Or - set it up so each precinct is in the memory location for that precinct, so that might also make it easier to jump right into what you want to listen to.

 

[GTR8000]

@w2lie is correct, the BC245XLT will not tune to 6.25 kHz steps, which are required for the FDNY UHF channels. Your reception is always going to be subpar if you're not tuned on-center.

Is a base scanner always better for reception than a handheld?

No. With everything else being equal, there would be no perceivable difference in reception between a base/mobile vs handheld model.

If your primary focus is scanning conventional analog like FDNY and NYPD, I would recommend the Uniden BC125AT. It allows you to label channels, which you can organize into 10 banks, with up to 50 channels per bank. The scanner currently retails for around $85 on Amazon. Note that it is not capable of receiving digital channels or trunked systems, as it is a very basic scanner that would be the modern day equivalent to your BC245XLT.

BC125AT - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[ansky]

@w2lie is correct, the BC245XLT will not tune to 6.25 kHz steps, which are required for the FDNY UHF channels. Your reception is always going to be subpar if you're not tuned on-center.

That's only part of the problem. I have an SDS200, which has the correct steps, and they still sound pretty bad. My understanding is that they are using simulcast which scanners don't handle well on analog.

 

[ryan433pk]

That's only part of the problem. I have an SDS200, which has the correct steps, and they still sound pretty bad. My understanding is that they are using simulcast which scanners don't handle well on analog.

You're referring to digital simulcast. Analog simulcast has no negative impact on scanners. Your SDS200 should do well with the stock antenna and fantastic with an external one mounted in a good spot.

 

[BK87]

@w2lie is correct, the BC245XLT will not tune to 6.25 kHz steps, which are required for the FDNY UHF channels. Your reception is always going to be subpar if you're not tuned on-center.
No. With everything else being equal, there would be no perceivable difference in reception between a base/mobile vs handheld model.
If your primary focus is scanning conventional analog like FDNY and NYPD, I would recommend the Uniden BC125AT.

BC125AT - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

So I’ll need a digital model to get correct tuning into 6.25kHz? Is it true that all Staten Island precincts operate on digital frequencies and not analog like all other boroughs?

 

[w2lie]

NO. Just a newer analog scanner to tune to 6.25kHz. Staten Island is still analog.

 

[Bob1955]

Hello,

I have a Uniden BC245XLT Trunk Tracker II since high school for 15 years. I haven’t done much scanning after college and want to get back into it. I feel like something has changed and my scanner isn’t picking up frequencies well for FDNY, poor reception especially outside of my borough, weird pauses every second when they communicate. NYPD channels are much better though.

Another problem is I forgot what channel I programmed for each precinct and special units, so I can’t navigate the scanner fast. So what can I upgrade to to give me good reception for FDNY and what scanner could make my channel organization and navigation easy and intuitive, preferably with name characters? Is a base scanner always better for reception than a handheld?

BK87, FDNY I now using UHF on narrow banding. All scanners made after 2006 required this change by the FCC so you would have to purchase a new one. The spacing is different then the older Bearcat scanners made prior to 2006. NYPD still uses wide-banding but I'm hearing that they will be going off the 476.00Mhz area by 2021.
And yes, a BASE scanner is better. I would suggest a Uniden Bearcat BCD-996P2 as it's is digital (P-25), also trunking and conventional scanning/analog too. And it has been out since 2015 with no software issues like the BCD-536HP/SDS-200. I'm located in Southern Westchester County, NY about 16 miles North of Manhattan so private message me anytime. I have been into this hobby since 1973.
Hope you had a good Summer and a nice up-coming Fall too.

PS: If you don't want to spend the extra money now on digital scanner(BCD-996-P2), Phil from W2LIE also said that a analog scanner will be fine. My recommendation would be the Bearcat BCT-15X that does basically everything that the other unit I mentioned less P-25 digital. It is well made and a QUALITY constructed base unit. In Westchester County, NY New Rochelle Police went P5 digital, Greenburgh, White Plains, and Tarrytown are digital too. Also, log onto www.radioreference.com and look at frequency database, then click on New York, then look for all the boroughs in the city for the Bronx.

 

[BK87]

Is it already confirmed that NYPD will be transitioning into all encrypted signals or still unconfirmed rumors? I don't mind updating to a more expensive scanner to future proof as long as I know the features will be useful. An SDS won't be useful if in few years NYPD is encrypted etc.. As far as I understand Trunked and P25 is not used by local agencies?

 

[n2nov]

Is it already confirmed that NYPD will be transitioning into all encrypted signals or still unconfirmed rumors? I don't mind updating to a more expensive scanner to future proof as long as I know the features will be useful. An SDS won't be useful if in few years NYPD is encrypted etc.. As far as I understand Trunked and P25 is not used by local agencies?

I live and work on SI. How can I help? My email address is n2nov@n2nov.net

 

[dave3825]

You asked, Is a base scanner always better for reception than a handheld? You did not mention your preferred method of scanning. Some people want handheld for portability and some like a base because they have no desire on taking the scanner outside. I have not noticed any difference between base and handheld, while using the same antenna source.

If you do not need portability, you could get indo sdr. With a 20.00 dongle and some free pc software, you can be up and running in no time. There is also windows and linux software for decoding digital voice and its mostly free.

 

[ansky]

I have the SDS200 scanner and it performs terribly in the 460-480 band. There is a ton of intermod on the NYPD frequencies and they are very painful to listen to.

I don't think anyone here knows the timeline for NYPD going digital or what frequencies will be encrypted. There are thousands of radios throughout the department that need to be switched over. The entire process will likely take many years.

 

[Bob1955]

Is it already confirmed that NYPD will be transitioning into all encrypted signals or still unconfirmed rumors? I don't mind updating to a more expensive scanner to future proof as long as I know the features will be useful. An SDS won't be useful if in few years NYPD is encrypted etc.. As far as I understand Trunked and P25 is not used by local agencies?
It is confirmed that NYPD will be vacating the 476Mhz area by 2021 and having to comply to narrow banding. I don't think they will be going encrypted but not sure about the digital. I'll ask my friend who's son is on NYPD. I know they were getting all new walkie-talkies soon. I remember the days way back when they were on simplex VHF high band.

 

[Bob1955]

From what I'm told, they will be going off the 476Mhz band as now, they have NOT complied to the FCC narrow banding rules but by 2021, they must comply. This will take time for sure. I don't really listen to them but my sons friend is on NYPD and I'll ask him.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

 

[GTR8000]

From what I'm told, they will be going off the 476Mhz band as now, they have NOT complied to the FCC narrow banding rules but by 2021, they must comply. This will take time for sure. I don't really listen to them but my sons friend is on NYPD and I'll ask him.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Narrowbanding doesn't apply to T-Band, nor is there any narrowbanding deadline in 2021 (the deadline was Jan 1st, 2013), so that doesn't make any sense. NYPD isn't going anywhere, except from analog to P25 secure on the existing frequencies. You're getting all mixed up between narrowbanding and the looming potential T-Band giveback, which is being fought against hard by agencies like the NYPD.

 

[BK87]

I ended up getting BC125AT and programmed it with software. All channels are loud, clearer and FDNY is much better in clarity than my old bearcat model. I programmed NYPD in 2 banks :all precincts in bank 1 and all citywide and tac channels in bank 2. All FDNY and some EMS in 3rd bank. I’m trying to figure out best setting to scan all banks optimally. So far I’m liking this compact unit and should have updated years ago! My old bearcat is a brick compared to this.

 

[GTR8000]

Yup, it's a nice little handheld analog model, perfect for monitoring FDNY and NYPD conventional analog. Having the correct tuning steps for the FDNY channels is key to receiving them clearly. Your older scanner was trying to tune them slightly off-frequency, now you're in much better shape. Enjoy!

 

[ansky]

I programmed NYPD in 2 banks :all precincts in bank 1 and all citywide and tac channels in bank 2. All FDNY and some EMS in 3rd bank. I’m trying to figure out best setting to scan all banks optimally. So far I’m liking this compact unit and should have updated years ago! My old bearcat is a brick compared to this.

It's hard to scan NYPD because there is so much activity on every channel. Your best bet would probably be to put the NYPD frequencies for each borough in a separate bank and then narrow your scanning to a specific borough. I usually end up just holding on a specific precinct - my favorite being BK 73/75 (476.9875).

 

[BK87]

How do I stop priority scanning when I’m holding a specific channel without having to go through function, priority settings to turn it on and off each time? Is there one button to stop all and priority scanning?

 

[Bob1955]

Narrowbanding doesn't apply to T-Band, nor is there any narrowbanding deadline in 2021 (the deadline was Jan 1st, 2013), so that doesn't make any sense. NYPD isn't going anywhere, except from analog to P25 secure on the existing frequencies. You're getting all mixed up between narrowbanding and the looming potential T-Band giveback, which is being fought against hard by agencies like the NYPD.

Ok, your point well taken GTR8000 but we all know that NYPD at some point will be going P-25.
FDNY is not as a strong powerful as it used to be on 154.19/154.25/154.37/154.430 but it still comes in fine here on my Bearcat BCD-996P2/Baofeng GT-5TP.
I'm sure that inside building penetration is MUCH better on UHF, especially on fireground frequencies.