good scanner

[rafale01010]

I am looking to get a different scanner. What i would be looking for is one that has alpha tagging to know whos talking and has ct/dc tone decode, trunking is not a priority but will take it. Shoot some ideas, base or handheld. Thanks

 

[hydrolocked]

if you dont need P25 - look at a BC780.

 

[tampatracker]

If you're going to go, go big: get the BCD396XT

 

[SCPD]

I would say got with a pro163. I bought mine from this guy on ebay for 100 and love it.

PRO-163 Desktop Scanner Triple Trunking 1000 Ch - eBay (item 370209936852 end time Jun-06-09 17:00:00 PDT)

 

[fmon]

I am looking to get a different scanner. What i would be looking for is one that has alpha tagging to know whos talking and has ct/dc tone decode, trunking is not a priority but will take it. Shoot some ideas, base or handheld. Thanks

Pro-96 will alpha tag and ct/dc tone decode. Not sure but the BC 350 may also.

 

[N1BHH]

The best place to look is right here: Category:Radio Models - The RadioReference Wiki
Nearly all modern models have more than their fair share of features.

 

[kendrik578]

A pro-106 all the way.It's exspensive but well worth it.:lol:

 

[SquierStrat]

since you posted this in the GRE section, i think the psr-300/400 would be appropriate for you.

 

[SquierStrat]

Not sure but the BC 350 may also.

that scanner will do neither

 

[tonsoffun]

rafale01010

Please do not cross post your thread, your question was probably better suited in the General Scanning forum

Edit: Moving

Thanks

 

[W4ELL]

Any of these Uniden models would meet your requirements.

Available now:

Handheld:
BC246T - Analog only
BC346XT - Analog only
BR330T - Analog only (Discontinued but still available)
BCD396T - Digital
BCD396XT - Digital

Mobile:
BCT15 - Analog only
BCD996T - Digital

Available later this summer:

Mobile:
BCT15X - Analog only
BCD996XT - Digital

You can find information about all of these scanners by searching the Wiki using the model numbers.

 

[benbenrf]

I wouldn't get any of the above - I'd buy a used Watkins Johnson (which won't cost you much, or any more).

Use it as your main rf front end and do all the DeMod work from the IF output (digitise the IF with an A/D converter to process through your pc - there are loads of software programs to accomodate all types of com's).

The point is, this approach gives you:

- a top class/mil spec rf front end (way way ahead better than ANY consumer type receiver/scanner)
- provides a more or less future proof receiver
- enables you to get started on the digital route.

Why?
Within the next 5 - 10 years (10 years at very most I would think) the demand on rf bandwidth is going to result in 90% plus of all rf com's going digital.

The only way I see amatures been able to keep up is having as good an rf front end as they can afford (which is going to mean buying used mil spec receivers/tuners I suspect), and using them as a "feed" for a dedicated pc, where all processing is done, and on which one builds up a library of DeMod software patches.

The sooner you set youself up to digitise all received rf, and deal with digitised rf, the greater and better your coverage ability is going to be.

To get a basic idea of going down the digital route offers you - take a look at Wavecom (WAVECOM, the reference in data decoding).

....... and if anyone is seriously interested, I have both a Wavecom 41 & 51 for sale (both in as new condition, with full software and working 100%) - serious enquries only please guys - at about 25% - 30% of what they cost new (I,m now using a 61LAN). There isn't a standalone receiver on the market that comes anywhere near what this hardware/software combination offers amature enthusiasts

 

[mtonto20]

I disagree with the above poster. In Nevada the won't be able to upgrade the Nevada EDACS analog system to ProVoice because it is not APCO-25 compliant. You will not recieve Homeland Security dollars unless you are APCO-25 compliant. With the economy and state budgets the way they are I don't see a massive rush to digital happening for awhile. In Nevada they just got the EDACS system up a few years ago. They would have to replace all that equipment to go digital and APCO-25 compliant. Bad news for the EDACS guy. Great news for scanner buffs in the Silver State. Get a Pro-95 on eBay. It does the alpha decoding. Also look at a Pro2052 base unit. They are fully computer controllable and with the Pro2052 software you can get Alpha tags and store 10,000 freqs instead of 1,000. Just my two cents worth from Reno.

 

[benbenrf]

Don't agree (?) - you mean with the degree to which I think rf com's will become digital over the next 5-10years?

 

[mtonto20]

A friendly disagreement on digital yes. In Nevada we are lucky that the state can't go digital unless it upgrades from the current EDACS to get federal Homeland Security Dollars,or they pay to go to ProVoice out of the state budget. With a 3 Billion dollar deficit I don't see this happening. . I know that digital is coming, but in certain areas of the country a Pro 94, 95, 2052 would be a great scanner for at least 10 years still. I think we are really 15-20 years from 90 per cent digital across the country. Just my thoughts from Reno

 

[N8IAA]

Perry, ???? City, county??? State??? We can point you in a better direction if you say where.
Larry

 

[benbenrf]

A friendly disagreement on digital yes. In Nevada we are lucky that the state can't go digital unless it upgrades from the current EDACS to get federal Homeland Security Dollars,or they pay to go to ProVoice out of the state budget. With a 3 Billion dollar deficit I don't see this happening. . I know that digital is coming, but in certain areas of the country a Pro 94, 95, 2052 would be a great scanner for at least 10 years still. I think we are really 15-20 years from 90 per cent digital across the country. Just my thoughts from Reno

that's a fair comment ... i am speaking from a European perspective primarily, where rf densities are 2 x 3 x higher than they are in the USA - and here the move to digital is fast. Within the next couple years there will be no more analouge TV in the UK, and I think within the next 5 there will be no more analoge/POTS content (landline telephone).

Police/Fire/Ambulance ect ect .. (utilities and publice services) are all now digital (excepting a few remote iolated island communities) - and if its not digital now, it will be within a couple years.