A friend in zip code 02066 is looking for a scanner ,not good with computers. I was going to recommend a homepatrol II . The area police are p-25 what do ya think. Thanks in advance.
Help for friend new scanner purchase.
- Thread starter coolbreeze1998
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Assuming you're referring to Scituate MA, I'm seeing one P25 conventional frequency for their police. Rest of the frequencies are analog, as appears to be the case in most of the county. Any P25 scanner (Phase-I or II) listed here will work. Are they looking for a handheld or base? What's their budget? The HomePatrol-II should work fine but if they ever have any intentions on monitoring Massachusetts State Police, I'd recommend either the Uniden SDS100 or 200 since many of their sites are simulcast
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That zip code shows to be in Plymouth County, MA.
Plymouth County, Massachusetts (MA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Plymouth County, Massachusetts (MA)
www.radioreference.com
Looking at that county, most everything is conventional, either analog or P25, which the HP-2 can easily handle. One local city, Marshfield, is listed as moving some departments from their current LTR system to a DMR system, but that does not appear to include public safety agencies (PD & Fire), which are shown as conventional.
The HP 2 would cover everything in that area except DMR, and it is easy to use with a large display.Currently, Amazon is at about $440, Bearcat Warehouse at $455. ScannerMaster is at $519.
I would NOT purchase programming from any of the dealers. You can easily program it yourself, or walk your friend through it. Since it's a database scanner, you can easily create a programming file for them & send it via email for them to load.
While their home city, Scituate, is conventional, should they want to be ready in case DMR comes into play, then consider the BCD536HP. You can add the DMR upgrade (if needed) to the 536, but not the HP-2. You can find the 536HP in the $520 range. That's also a database scanner, so programming is easily accomplished.
Thanks I should have given more info I have a sds200 but I don't think he could program or use all the stuff it does also cost. Thanks again.
Programming HP2 will be just about identical to SDS200, so that argument holds no water. In my view, the complexity of programming (as you should know) is due to the complexity of how trunked systems operate not so much due to the scanner. Well designed software can help, but Sentinel will be more or less same for HP2 and SDS200, even though it's a different version of Sentinel. So it's about cost, and trade-offs in capabilities.
bearcatrp
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Best to have it programmed for zip code, then distance, then services you want to hear. Good way to start. Then read the easy to read SDS200 a couple times to learn the rest. Plus figure out sentinel to get the latest database updated with a computer. Set distance to 10 miles to start. Adjust for more or less.
The HP2 will work fine UNLESS your friend travels with it. On the road, he will inevitably run into things like DMR and simulcast. If he can afford it, he probably should future-proof his listen with one of the SDS units.
Since you have an SDS200, and likely are familiar with Sentinel. you could easily create a programming file for your friend in the x36HP/SDS series scanners version of Sentinel. While, of course, the HP-2 does not utilize quick keys nor the LED alerts (among other features common to the SDS & x36HP scanners), the basic system programming is the same. You can create a file, then export it into an *.hpe file that can be imported in the HP scanners' version of Sentinel. If your friend installs sentinel, it should be relatively easy to walk him (or her) through enough of the basics to load a file that you emailed to them. Of course, if worst comes to worst, and there's doubt that they could install Sentinel and use only the most basic of features, you could also simply create a card & mail it to them.
If possible travel at some future date is a consideration, then a 536HP would give a platform capable of being upgraded to DMR. The 536HP is only marginally more expensive than the HP-2. But if more extensive travel is likely, at some point simulcast may raise it's ugly head, so the SDS200 would be a better choice. But for simply the home area, with no travel likely, the HP-2 will fill the bill unless a vital agency of interest jumps to the DMR or NXDN side.
I live maybe 25 miles away from Scituate, your friend would be fine with a Uniden 436HP or 325P2. There's no simulcast here and surprisingly still a lot of analog. The DMR upgrade is worth it, save your money and don't bother getting the NXDN or other upgrades, it'll be a waste of money. I got the NXDN upgrade for my 436HP, there's one system nearby and there's hardly any traffic on it. From Scituate they probably wouldn't even be able to pull it in (site is in RI on the MA border)
Hope this helps
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