I would personly want the XTS5000 because it has 1,000 channels and that is alot of channels for what I want. I dont really need 14,000 channels. Although I do like how the Harris can do more modes than the XTS5000. I am more on the fence.
Well.....The "14,000" channel is a nice comfort to have.
You have the frequencies of the agencies that pertain to you ( Public Safety ). Then you have the frequencies of the ajoining area you need in case of mutual aid. THEN you go outside that area and you have agencies that have a lot of responsibility ( chemical plants - manufacturing facilities...and the lot ).
It is nice to have those frequencies to listen to. The outlying areas for Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, Office of Emergency Services ( local - and state level ), Hazardous Material Teams, Medical frequencies and Medevac Frequencies.
Some time ago.....near my "locale" there was a plant explosion. Then there was another plant that had a chemical leak ( consideration to amount of chemical leak and wind direction ) that was a consideration to where I was at. SOOOO having a radio with a lot of channels, even though I may not respond, keeps me and my co-workers updated for a possible emergency at MY location. Chemical leak------> a vapor release of a toxic substance------> do we need to start an evacuation, or can we beat the telephones and radios and start a "Shelter in Place"?
Local Law Enforcement is on VHF-High analog and P25 UHF. Local Fire and EMS is on VHF-High. State Police is Low Band , VHF-High ( Interstate Patrol ) and north of where I am at...uses UHF. Ajoining county to my west.....is UHF. County to the south of me.....Is UHF and VHF.
NO, you cannot monitor all those channels at once. But they are very - very comforting and informative to listen to ; when there is a large scale emergency or an incident that may involve a Mutual Aid response. Put the agencies - counties - cities....in "banks" in your radio. Some people scramble them, and just put in what they feel...mixing agencies in a radio bank. Don't do that. One county - city - agency ( however you want it ) in one radio bank. When you scan that bank.....you only get the pertinent radio conversations that you need. You have an emergency is "Apple County". Go to the radio bank on you handheld or mobile......hit the scan button.....and the only radio conversations your are going to hear is the emergency in "Apple County". A explosion in "Greytowne". Move the radio scan bank to "Greytowne" ---> push scan, and "Greytowne" is all you are going to hear. You would be surprised at the people that do not set up their radio systems.....Simple, and there is "Hundred" radio conversations going on that does not need to be listened to.
Setting stationary in an apparatus or inside the office with the radios, listening to events unfold ( even that great car chase ) may just be of great benefit.......to know what is going on before you respond and/or to help you with your job should you have to provide backup / assistance. Public Safety listening in to that industrial emergency, explosion, chemical leak..........is not only interesting......but may help you do your job a lot more better or be better prepared.
How many of us ( in Public Safety ) has listened in to that car wreck, fire or other emergency.....and have been out the door for two or three minutes when the tones dropped telling us to respond for Mutual Aid, another unit (ambulance) request , assistance or manpower request ( brush fire / entrapment / rehab / overhall?
I actually monitored on the radio - Land Mobile Radio - ( partially ) a chemical leak....close to where I live. I kept track of wind speed and direction, and the events that unfolded. Although the signal was not that great and had some static and low modulation.....there was still a GREAT concern.
But the key is.....AGAIN, if you have that 1,000 channel radio and have the ability to chance channels to talk.....please change channels...and don't use the dispatcher as your own personal secretary.
Optimal radio security is AES or DES encryption.....Not NEXEDGE / MOTOTRBO.
Don't buy two mobile radios....when one "Dual band" radio will do. Especially when space is a concern.....and you can listen to VHF-High and UHF frequencies on one radio - instead of UHF and VHF-High blasting from two radios at the same time.
FF - Medic !!!