Going Digital

[tmbstn]

I am not really new to RR or scanning, but I am sad to say I am still after a number of years not as educated as one would wish. I Own a Uniden BC 780xlt (My 1st and only scanner) and I am looking at going Digital/Portable. I live in SW ON Canada,(Kitchener) and am very open to suggestions as too my next scanner. Just a few things I wish to take into account:
-Digital/Portable a must
-Reception for the Region where I live
-Volume/Possible ear piece
-$ not too much of an issue as long as the quality is great

I welcome your suggestions and comments. My 780xlt came pre-Set, yet I am willing to take a jump and increase my knowledge and learn programing . I thank-you in advance.

 

[wheelerg]

i use a 396T and a 996T and love them both, i use the RR subscription and just click buttons and download all the freqs i need, i highly recomend the RR subscription for downloading your channels, makes it soooo easy

 

[SCPD]

I would recommend an GRE PSR500 or PSR800. Excellent radios and probably easier to use than the Uniden scanners.

 

[torontokris]

you could look at a 785 with digital card or 796d, they will be very similar to your 780xlt
note they are getting a bit older now and dont have all the features of the newer models also the may not be able to handle all P25 systems (go transit for instance).

other then those i suggest 996XT (base mobile) 396XT (handheld) etc.
or the preprogrammed units gre psr-800 & Uniden Home Patrol hp-1

 

[gmj]

The Grecom PSR-800 is a fine unit, easy to program, great reception and lots of features.

 

[VE3JSO]

I use radio shack pro 106 it is a good radio and the uniden home patrol is also a good scanner

 

[EJB]

you could look at a 785 with digital card or 796d, they will be very similar to your 780xlt
note they are getting a bit older now and dont have all the features of the newer models also the may not be able to handle all P25 systems (go transit for instance).

other then those i suggest 996XT (base mobile) 396XT (handheld) etc.
or the preprogrammed units gre psr-800 & Uniden Home Patrol hp-1

It depends on how much scratch you have Jeremy.
A Home Patrol or GRE PSR8OO are great but you cant really search for frequencies, systems, etc. There is or was a new P25 control channel I and a few other people heard but I only have a Home Patrol scanner and it is generally dependent on the database here.
In a perfect world I would get a 396XT or 996XT and a Home Patrol to give you more options.

And buy it from Kris here. He will even program what you need.

P.S How is your pain these days? I seem to remember you PM'ing me about chronic pain.

 

[acurayyz]

I bought a 396T that arrived in relatively rough shape with a blown speaker (I knew that before buying). I paid a very good price and with the cost of the new speaker/install I got the scanner for just over $250. It works great and suits my needs.

 

[EJB]

A 396T is a great scanner, I miss mine.

The never version of the 396/996 XT lines have Radio Id's and allow you to multi site trunk while the 396T will latch on to the first control channel it hears until it can no longer hear it and no radio Id's.

 

[acurayyz]

A 396T is a great scanner, I miss mine.

The never version of the 396/996 XT lines have Radio Id's and allow you to multi site trunk while the 396T will latch on to the first control channel it hears until it can no longer hear it and no radio Id's.

You are partially right about the 396T. When I HOLD on a channel (say OPS031), it will stay on the control channel until it loses reception and will then scan for it again. If I just have it on scan mode with the OPP GTA group enabled it will bounce between control channels relatively fast (dispatch calls on 1 channel, officer responds in less than a second on another channel). Overall it's pretty good so far. I just have to make sure I have the control channels for the towers I will be near programmed into the system and I'm good.