Help! Tacoma police

[gcon253]

Okay please bear with me guys! I know nothing about scanners and all this stuff and I have a scanner, which on the back of it says, Pro-2018 scanning reciever. I don't think I am able to listen to Tacoma because they have something called a trunked system (I have no idea what that means). I can listen agencies such as Pierce Sheriff and like Fife police. I want to listen to Tacoma because I live in Tacoma (lol).
Any help on what to do, or did I get the wrong type of scanner. I was looking it up and am not sure but if I were to get an 800mhz scanner antenna, would I be able to keep my scanner and just replace the antenna? Lol, I hope I am making sense guys.

Much appreciate the help. Thanks.

 

[icom1020]

According to the owners manual, the 2018 will not receive 800mhz which is the band for Tacoma.

http://support.radioshack.com/support_electronics/doc69/69290.pdf

 

[gmclam]

Tacoma PD

You need a trunking scanner, not just one that receives 800 MHz. You can read about trunking right here on RadioReference: Trunked Radio Systems - The RadioReference Wiki


Welcome to RR!

 

[Stavro35]

If you don't care about digital communications. And don't travel to regions where digital communications are in use by public safety agencies,get a Radio shack Pro 164..

 

[gcon253]

so this one should be the right one???

POLICE SCANNER ~ Radio Shack PRO-528 ~ TRIPLE TRUNKING - eBay (item 330319644017 end time Apr-07-09 18:25:00 PDT)

 

[dste]

I beleive the 528 will not allow you to Alpha Tag the numerous talkgroups in the trunk. You would hear the talking but would not really know what the numbers mean or who is talking.

 

[AtomicTaco]

I beleive the 528 will not allow you to Alpha Tag the numerous talkgroups in the trunk. You would hear the talking but would not really know what the numbers mean or who is talking.

You are correct. It's doable, but you just have to memorize 4-5 digit numbers and remember who they belong to.

 

[dste]

I have collected 2 pro-90s over time and they only show numbers also. They only are around today as D-Tap radios for UniTrunker. I hate to see someone starting out today in trunking without being able to program "Tac PD North" along with 52176. Numbers only would drive me batty.

 

[rodentkj]

trunking without being able to program "Tac PD North" along with 52176. Numbers only would drive me batty.

I agree 100%. Having the Alpha tags, regardless of what model scanner, is a must have.