Help with purchasing a scanner (NZ)

[Datahunt]

Hi all,

I'm looking at buying a scanner for use in NZ, I'm in the North Island, do I need to looking at buying a digital scanner, will be listening to anything that can be picked up, any recommendations, mobile or desktop, what's my best option(s)?


Thanks

 

[rocky28965]

What is your price range?

 

[RidingDownUnder]

Hi,
if you’re looking for a mobile/base I’ll highly recommend the UBCD536-PT as I have 1. Go to ebay.au and you will find them there for about AU$800. Make sure it’s the UBCD and NOT the BCD as the UBCD has less frequency gaps.

Have a look at RR’s database to see if your area transmits DMR and NXDN, if so you should update and pay a fee to uniden.au to unlock these features. It costs about AU$70-80 for each update.

If you have simulcast in your area then the only option is the SDS100/200E version which will receive simulcast as the 536 won’t.

There is a steep learning curve to program DMA digital scanners these days and no way can you compare it to a analog scanner. Have a look at this link to see what’s involved. If you have any problem, most on this forum would be eager to help.

Easier to Read BCD436/536HP Digital Scanner Manual

 

[Datahunt]

Hi Rocky, I took a plunge and went straight to the SDS100, it arrived this afternoon and it's an understatement to say I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing, I've downloaded Sentinel and ProScan though not too sure how to use them currently. I'm based in BOP, I've found a couple of websites with my local frequencies for all agencies, though I'm not sure how to apply these to the scanner. Any help/advice to steer me in the correct path would be appreciated.

 

[RidingDownUnder]

Also tell us your city and we can look up on the database and tell you a lot more about simulcast and digital flavors. If you live in a small city then obtaining frequencies maybe a problem on the database unless someone from the same city has submitted RR with current digital and analog frequencies.

North Island is not enough as it’s just like saying Nth America.

See if you can find your city here. If not I don’t think RR database will be able to help you. Maybe a local forum in NZ will have frequency information.

RRDB | New Zealand

RadioReference Database Browse - United States

www.radioreference.com

 

[Datahunt]

Also tell us your city and we can look up on the database and tell you a lot more about simulcast and digital flavors.

Hi Riding, City is Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. This is my first scanner, had an interest in them over the years and finally purchased one, needless to say, I have no idea what I'm doing.

 

[Datahunt]

Bay of Plenty, Tauranga

 

[Datahunt]

Also, I've found some repeaters in my area, how do I incorporate these to help me get better range/signal, do I just add the frequency like I would to listen to an EMS frequency or do I do something else?

Tauranga Amateur Radio Repeaters

www.repeaterbook.com

 

[RidingDownUnder]

What model scanner is it and what I can find are Amateur Radio conventional frequencies and 1 Digital D-Star and some Law enforcement and Fire Fighting frequencies. Let us know the model first.
To get better range is all in your antenna. Your station is only as good as your antenna. Height is might with a good antenna with gain, plus quality coax cable.

Tauranga Public Safety (Bay of Plenty) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Tauranga Public Safety (Bay of Plenty)

www.radioreference.com

 

[Datahunt]

What model scanner is it and what I can find are Amateur Radio conventional frequencies and 1 Digital D-Star and some Law enforcement and Fire Fighting frequencies. Let us know the model first.
To get better range is all in your antenna. Your station is only as good as your antenna. Height is might with a good antenna with gain, plus quality coax cable.

Tauranga Public Safety (Bay of Plenty) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Tauranga Public Safety (Bay of Plenty)

www.radioreference.com

SDS100, is it worth upgrading membership so I can see all frequencies? I've only got the one antenna which is the one that came with the scanner, nothing external.

 

[rocky28965]

Sounds like you are working things out.
It's quite a learning curve.
Not quite so easy for us guys down under.
We have to create our own programs.
You will find RadioWiki has a lot of info to help.
I use ProScan.

 

[Datahunt]

Sounds like you are working things out.
It's quite a learning curve.
Not quite so easy for us guys down under.
We have to create our own programs.
You will find RadioWiki has a lot of info to help.
I use ProScan.

Yes, very slowly learning, what filters do you use, is it a one fits all? I've made a system/profile that uses conventional, not sure if that's the correct one for my area, unsure if this is related to my location and or the stock antenna, I've got 30 or so freq added in a favourite list and it just skips through all of them and occasionally it will stop on one and I can hear comms for a bit and then it goes back to scanning for however long, am I doing something wrong here?

I downloaded ProScan, though what's the main use for it, I've been creating my lists on Sentinel.


I'm not sure what to do about the location, range, etc as I've tried entering it manually and it doesn't accept the latitude I enter, and when using ProScan I enter my location in the Google Map Lookup, not sure if I can write the results to the scanner or not.

 

[rocky28965]

Yes, very slowly learning, what filters do you use, is it a one fits all? I've made a system/profile that uses conventional, not sure if that's the correct one for my area, unsure if this is related to my location and or the stock antenna, I've got 30 or so freq added in a favourite list and it just skips through all of them and occasionally it will stop on one and I can hear comms for a bit and then it goes back to scanning for however long, am I doing something wrong here?

I downloaded ProScan, though what's the main use for it, I've been creating my lists on Sentinel.


I'm not sure what to do about the location, range, etc as I've tried entering it manually and it doesn't accept the latitude I enter, and when using ProScan I enter my location in the Google Map Lookup, not sure if I can write the results to the scanner or not.

Firstly, I am far from an expert.
All my knowledge has come from reading this forum & asking questions.
If you look up my profile you may find answers to questions you havent thought of yet.
Yes, a lot of things to get familiar with.

I haven't messed with filters at all.
I would suggest you use default settings until you are more familiar with the radio.

When scanning set the squelch on 2.
It will skip frequencies if there is no active transmission, or they are out of range.
An outside antenna will be an advantage.

ProScan will allow you to import from RR database to setup a program.
Although you will have to pay for that.
I found it to be worthwhile, as it will give you an idea of how a program is structured.

Location, range etc is only for US & Cananda

 

[RidingDownUnder]

Firstly, I am far from an expert.
All my knowledge has come from reading this forum & asking questions.
If you look up my profile you may find answers to questions you havent thought of yet.
Yes, a lot of things to get familiar with.

I haven't messed with filters at all.
I would suggest you use default settings until you are more familiar with the radio.

When scanning set the squelch on 2.
It will skip frequencies if there is no active transmission, or they are out of range.
An outside antenna will be an advantage.

ProScan will allow you to import from RR database to setup a program.
Although you will have to pay for that.
I found it to be worthwhile, as it will give you an idea of how a program is structured.

Location, range etc is only for US & Cananda

I’m very much the same as Rocky and adhere to everything he wrote.
Don’t mess with filter, RR database shows about 30 total analog entries for your city, but note who knows how long those frequencies were entered into the database, as it may of been years ago and things may of changed. I‘m sure there are many digital frequencies if not documented anywhere you will have to scan through the bands and see what you can find. I haven’t used ProScan, but have heard only great reviews on the program.
SDS100 is well the latest portable scanner and you will have to change the stock antenna for a after market one. You can do a search on this forum to find the best antenna for your portable. Or checkout RR Wiki for a breakdown on everything you need to know.

The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[Datahunt]

Thanks for the responses!

I'm now looking at adding a desk station scanner for home listening, SDS200, and was curious if I can setup the scanner in a server rack and remotely control it from a PC or other devices within my local network, I can provide the ethernet and power easily enough, I'm just thinking of ways I can get the audio and read/write capabilities without bringing the scanner to the PC every time I edit an channel, etc.

 

[rocky28965]

You just missed a SDS200E on trademe last week with the DMR upgrade.
Yes you can control it remotely from ProScan, but you can do the same with your SDS200.

 

[rocky28965]

Edit to above, last word should have been SDS100

 

[RidingDownUnder]

The SDS200’E’ versions come with all the option, ProVoice, DMR and NXDN already to go. There was until this week a Australian eBayer importing them from the UK because the E version has the Australian and NZ? bandplan. He was selling them for AUD$1,500 not cheap once converted to NZ$. As you may know Uniden Australia doesn’t sell the 200 series only SDS100.
I’m using a UBCD536PT and I love it. Can’t fault it. It may not have all the pretty lights and ã overload of information, but the footprint, display information and display size is perfect. I love it so much I’m purchasing another to install in my car.

 

[rocky28965]

It's a pity Uniden AU don't sell the SDS200E, I had to import mine from the UK.
I was a bit cautious as there were so many SDS200's that came with a hum.
However, I was assured the E models had that issue sorted before release.
Wrong, mine had the hum.
I also have a UBCD536PT which is similar to program with the SDS200E.
Unfortunately, it's not compatible with ProScan, so can't control or monitor it remotely.

 

[Datahunt]

Yes, I've read about the hum, is it only audibly noticeable when something is being said or is it constant?

I'm wanting to have a scanner with an ethernet port over a wifi for better connection and to be able to be control the scanner via proscan remotely and listen.


Besides the SDS200 and the TAX-2E is there any other scanners I should look at?