how can you tell/know if the frequencies in your area is Digital or not?

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serrot86

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i heard that if you buy a scanner thats not digital and the frequencies are indeed digital in your area your scanner wont work. so how can you tell if you need a digital scanner or a regular analog scanner?
 

n5ims

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Check the RR Database for the area of interest. The Mode column will tell you what type of system that is and from that what type of scanner you'll need. FM or FMN will be analog. P25 will be digital.

For trunked systems, the column of interest is Type. Match your scanner with the system listed there. For some systems, they support both analog and digital users. The Mode column on the talkgroup will tell you what type that particular talkgroup is. A will be analog. D will be digital. T will be the newer Phase II digital type that only the PSR-800 and new Uniden scanners support. E or X indicates an encrypted talkgroup that no scanner will work on unless they somehow turn off encryption.

One thing to remember, a digital scanner is like an analog one on steroids. It will pick up all of the analog stuff plus the digital modes. To be safe (or future proof your purchase), get a digital one and you should have the best of both the analog and digital worlds.

Another thing to remember is some agencies use a mode that no current scanner will work on. This is in addition to the encrypted ones mentioned above. Some examples of these types are MotoTRBO, OpenSky, ProVoice, etc. The WIKI pages for each scanner will indicate what types of signals they work on and should help guide you.
 

DickH

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Check the RR Database for the area of interest. The Mode column will tell you what type of system that is ...

The Mode column will not tell him what type of system it is, but it will tell him if that particular Talk Group in a trunking system is Digital (a D) or Analog (an A) or if it's Encrypted (an E). If it's Encrypted, no scanner can monitor it.
 

serrot86

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May 6, 2013
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Brooklyn, NY
Check the RR Database for the area of interest. The Mode column will tell you what type of system that is and from that what type of scanner you'll need. FM or FMN will be analog. P25 will be digital.

For trunked systems, the column of interest is Type. Match your scanner with the system listed there. For some systems, they support both analog and digital users. The Mode column on the talkgroup will tell you what type that particular talkgroup is. A will be analog. D will be digital. T will be the newer Phase II digital type that only the PSR-800 and new Uniden scanners support. E or X indicates an encrypted talkgroup that no scanner will work on unless they somehow turn off encryption.

One thing to remember, a digital scanner is like an analog one on steroids. It will pick up all of the analog stuff plus the digital modes. To be safe (or future proof your purchase), get a digital one and you should have the best of both the analog and digital worlds.

Another thing to remember is some agencies use a mode that no current scanner will work on. This is in addition to the encrypted ones mentioned above. Some examples of these types are MotoTRBO, OpenSky, ProVoice, etc. The WIKI pages for each scanner will indicate what types of signals they work on and should help guide you.

thanks
 

n5ims

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The Mode column will not tell him what type of system it is, but it will tell him if that particular Talk Group in a trunking system is Digital (a D) or Analog (an A) or if it's Encrypted (an E). If it's Encrypted, no scanner can monitor it.

Quite true, but it may be important to check both the Type and Mode depending on what scanner they have and what system they monitor. If it's a combination digital/analog system and they only have an analog scanner that mode column will help them know which talkgroups they may get and which they won't.
 

wtp

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Port Charlotte FL
good start

looks like a good radio at a good price BUT it will not do digital.
most around here, if they knew where you are, could point you in the right direction.
and remember its always better to have more radios!
right now there is 7 radios on. two are pretty active and 5 are in case odd channels become active.
have fun and enjoy.
 

serrot86

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May 6, 2013
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Brooklyn, NY
looks like a good radio at a good price BUT it will not do digital.
most around here, if they knew where you are, could point you in the right direction.
and remember its always better to have more radios!
right now there is 7 radios on. two are pretty active and 5 are in case odd channels become active.
have fun and enjoy.

yea i know i should get a digital one but they are all sooo expensive and i dont want to spend $400 on a scanner of all of the frequencies in my area is all analog. if they was digital then im forced to buy a digital one but because they are all analog i can get away with this one for now
 
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