New emergency radio system launches
Hi j-d-w,
Sorry I didn't see this thread any sooner but now that I have I wanted to make you aware of a few things. If you read the article above it will show you that Talbot County has plans to move away from the UMESC system and onto the MD FIRST system. Once they do that I'm not sure what Caroline and Queen Anne counties will do, but I think they will probably eventually also move to the same system. The reason I'm mentioning this is that the MD FIRST system is a Project 25 phase II system and the Radio Shack PRO-651 will not be able to monitor it.
Also, since the PRO-651 is a portable radio, I assume you may want to use it mobile. If so there are several local systems that are already on the MD FIRST system, for example... Kent County, Bay Bridge Police, Maryland State Police (although they currently can still be heard on the UMESC system).
You may want to monitor the Maryland forum in Radio Reference to keep yourself up to date about changes taking place in Maryland.
Although I have several Radio Shack scanners myself and really like them a lot, I do think they tend to take advantage of their customers with scanners. The PRO-651 is a Radio Shack branded version of the Whistler WS1040 which sells for about the same price elsewhere (Radio Shack charges a premium for it). But Radio Shack makes you pay extra for the programming cable and power supply both of which come standard with the Whistler models.
If you had asked for my recommendation before purchasing the PRO-651 I would have recommended the Whistler WS1080. Even though it's about $100 more expensive than the PRO-651 it comes with everything you need, including software for programming it. You don't even need a premium account with Radio Reference since the entire Radio Reference database is included on an SD card in the radio and the included software allows you to update it at any time. It also monitors Project 25 phase II systems.
Sorry if I'm sounding like a spoil sport, it's that I just wanted to make you aware. Radio Shack does have a good 30 day money back guarantee, just something to think about.
On the good side, the PRO-651 does an excellent job of monitoring the UMESC system.
And one last thing, since you and me are practically neighbors (I'm in Greensboro) if you ever need help programming any of these systems, I'd be glad to offer some help.