Help with BC355C

[blueberryboomer]

I have programmed all my local channels and still can't get anything.
Can someone tell me what I could possibly doing wrong.
I read on another post(for a different scanner) that you have to activate your pre programed channels, but could not find anything like that for my scanner.

Any help would be greatly appreciated..
Thank in advance, Lisa

 

[ST-Bob]

Almost all public safety agencies in St. Claire county are on the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS) which uses APCO P25 digital communications. All talkgroups are either digital or digital-encrypted. As far as I can tell, the BC355C has no provisions for either programming in frequencies, tracking trunked systems or decoding P25 digital communications. As such, it's about as useful as a paperweight for listening to police and fire communications in your area.

The only advice I can give you is to look into buying a digital-capable trunk-tracking scanner which works with P25 systems. Sorry, but facts are facts and progress sucks for scanner users. Throwing more money at the problem usually helps though.

 

[OsloViking1975]

As Bob mentioned, a lot of Michigan has gone digital, you are better off getting digital scanner. St.Clair County is pretty much digital now.

 

[blueberryboomer]

Crap! I wish I would have found this site before I got this...
Now I need to figure out what to do with it. Maybe I can resell it..
Any suggestions??

 

[ST-Bob]

It's not that it's a bad scanner - just that it isn't the top-of-the-line digital scanner you probably need. It has some limited programming ability through saving up to 50 (I think) private frequencies. Still, it will not decode digital voice or track trunked systems.

The fact of the matter is that they sell brand new for between $80 and $120 most places (including Wal-Mart I understand). It's designed as a low-end analog non-trunking scanner which, in many areas, would be more than adequate. Tell you the truth, you may get what you paid for it by selling it on one of the auction sites. Some people will bid on stuff even when they could get it elsewhere cheaper. Start at your rock-bottom price and let it fly.

I'd keep saving my money and try yo get either a handheld or base/mobile scanner with the features you need. Be aware though that high-end digital scanners (with the exception of a couple of brand-new models from GRE and Uniden) will need programming software and a special programming cable to get the most out of them. If you were to try to enter the MPSCS system's many frequencies and hundreds of talkgroups you'd go crazy and wear out the buttons as well as your brain cells getting it set up.

If I were in your shoes I'd be looking at the one-generation-old digital stuff out there. In particular, right now you can get brand new Radio Shack digital trunking scanners made by GRE for under $329.99. These were $500 scanners a couple of years ago. I find the Pro-106 to be a great hand-held and I hear the Pro-197 (its base/mobile version) is equally great. Add the cable, software and a radio-reference membership and you're still under $375 for something that'll give you years of great service in your digital scanning area.

I'm not a shill for Radio Shack but the fact is they're clearing out all their stores of scanners and will only be selling them on-line from now on. These blowout prices won't last so if you're going to buy - jump quick before they're gone.