Hancock-Knox Scanner Recommendations

[WLDMTN]

Hello, we are looking for a really good base station digital scanner for our home. State and Local Police, Fire, Ambulance, Life Flight etc..

I would really appreciate honest help here. Yes $ money is an issue so no $200-$600 units.

Thank you for any help. I’m excited to find this website.

Bill

 

[W1KNE]

You asked for a "really good base station" but then proceed to say "no $200-$600 units".

So to answer your question, you're going to be looking for quite a while.

A good digital scanner (the 536HP is a model I really like and does P25 quite well) sells used for around $300.
The 996P2, which isn't as good with digital and has far fewer features, you may see it around $250 if you find a used one somewhere.

 

[MaineDigitalListener]

A good base station scanner that doesn't do digital will be a Uniden Bearcat BC365CRS Police Scanner. This would be under a $200 new. Luckily, the majority of Knox and Hancock counties still broadcasting in analog. A few Police and Fire Departments such as Sullivan an Ellsworth use DMR.

You might be able to get State police off one of their rebroadcast towers. Those are analog. To get a state talk-group off the MSCOMMNET, you will need a scanner that is able to do trunking and P25.

Ambulances activity will vary based upon location and what you want to listen to. They are mixed as well between digital and analog. Lifeflight of Maine is in the 450 band and are analog, but you would have to be near one of their bases to get the transmissions.

As W1KNE mentioned, you can see if you can get a used scanner that does digital(P25 or DMR). As mentioned above, you are in an area that is mostly still analog radio transmissions. The area that I live in, has a mix of Analog, P25 Phase 1 and 2. It has various trunk systems. I am using Uniden SDS 200 and RS PRO-197.

 

[WLDMTN]

Thank you all for the information it is greatly appreciated. W1KNE, you nailed it. After more research I see that I will need to part with some more money.

I know there are cheaper analog but i also don’t way to buy and then realize i shorted myself.

Thanks again. 🙏🏻

 

[WRQI583]

Knox for the most part is analog. Medcomm is DMR however. The Hancock County Sheriff is P25 and Ellsworth is DMR.

I own a BCD996p2 and it does MSCommNet (P25) and DMR perfectly fine.

 

[WLDMTN]

👍 thank you

 

[a727469]

I am in Lincoln county and a used 996p2 would do anything you want very well. I have an sds200 but the 996 is more than adequate…add the dmr upgrade if you need but not necessay.
Send me a private message if any questions