How do I listen
- Thread starter BikeMiVie
- Start date
- Status
You MUST have a digital trunk tracking scanner to monitor all Fire and Police Communications. FD and PD have separate dispatch centers.
PD has separate dispatchers for each of their police districts.
You can monitor on some fire on 3 VHF Channels but you will miss 95% of the other Communications unless you have above.
154.415 Dispatch
154.145 A1 Main rebroadcast
154.385 Fireground rebroadcast of Fireground units only, no disaptcher
PD has separate dispatchers for each of their police districts.
You can monitor on some fire on 3 VHF Channels but you will miss 95% of the other Communications unless you have above.
154.415 Dispatch
154.145 A1 Main rebroadcast
154.385 Fireground rebroadcast of Fireground units only, no disaptcher
Be careful putting those frequencies into a baofeng. You can get into a heap of trouble if you accidentally transmit on those. I've done it in the past and I program them with 154.415 as the receive frequency and a GMRS, FRS, or MURS frequency as the transmit. That way if I accidentally key the radio, I'm transmitting on a frequency that I'm legal for (except that its questionable legality to xmit on those services with a Baofeng).
Buy a cheap scanner if you just want to listen to fire. Buy a decent scanner if you want to listen to police and all the fire trunkgroups.
Buy a cheap scanner if you just want to listen to fire. Buy a decent scanner if you want to listen to police and all the fire trunkgroups.
Can you recommend a scanner to listen to pd
I also don't know any of the terms
You're using and how they can translate to what I'm used to hearing.
In NYC, I could listen to individual precinct's dispatch and PD communication. I also had something called "special ops" which was basically a channel that covered most if the important things city wide. And not limited to individual precincts.
And when FD had one channel per 'city'
I'm new to Maryland and furthermore, Baltimore.
I downloaded a online scanner but I don't even understand how it works with regards to knowing like.. What I'm listening to. Like? I see there is a like University PD. But in NYC that wasn't a thing.
I
I also don't know any of the terms
You're using and how they can translate to what I'm used to hearing.
In NYC, I could listen to individual precinct's dispatch and PD communication. I also had something called "special ops" which was basically a channel that covered most if the important things city wide. And not limited to individual precincts.
And when FD had one channel per 'city'
I'm new to Maryland and furthermore, Baltimore.
I downloaded a online scanner but I don't even understand how it works with regards to knowing like.. What I'm listening to. Like? I see there is a like University PD. But in NYC that wasn't a thing.
I
K4EET
Chaplain
BikeMiVie, good morning and welcome to Radio Reference. I monitor Baltimore City as well as the surrounding jurisdictions to me. You do need a digital trunk tracking type scanner like stated above to truly monitor Baltimore City. I would also suggest that you NOT program a Baofeng HT to those VHF frequencies because you do run the risk of interfering with their comms that may jeopardize a life. That would not be good. It is best to purchase the right scanner for what you want to listen to. That said, is there anything else around here that you want to listen to? Perhaps BWI Airport, the rail systems, Baltimore Mass Transit Authority (MTA), etc.? Let us know and we can suggest some scanners for you to look at. Cheers! Dave K4EET
Uniden Bearcat SDS100 Police Scanner | ScannerMaster.com
A revolutionary new SDR Based scanner that reduces simulcast interference with a completely customizable display. With the easy to use ZIP Code programming it is set up in minutes.
www.scannermaster.com
Uniden Bearcat SDS200 Police Scanner | ScannerMaster.com
Uniden Bearcat SDS200 police scanner is very simple to operate, you can be up and running in 3 minutes or less.
www.scannermaster.com
There are no scanners in your picture, those are feeds provided by a feed provider using a scanner or SDR.
There are a few other scanner options in addition to the 2 posted above (Those 2 are the best & most expensive too). A PC and an SDR with decode software is the cheapest.
wiki.radioreference.com
Scanner Support for TDMA
The following scanners can decode P25 Phase I, Phase II, and Motorola X2-TDMA systems.
There are a few other scanner options in addition to the 2 posted above (Those 2 are the best & most expensive too). A PC and an SDR with decode software is the cheapest.
APCO Project 25 - The RadioReference Wiki
Scanner Support for TDMA
The following scanners can decode P25 Phase I, Phase II, and Motorola X2-TDMA systems.
- GRE PSR-800 2
Last edited:
tvengr
Well Known Member
I would recommend the Uniden SDS100 handheld and SDS200 desktop/mobile. Most of the systems in the Baltimore metro area are simulcast and those 2 scanners are the only ones that will reliably receive the systems.
K4EET
Chaplain
It never ceases to amaze me how many times folks jump to conclusions. Thus far, I do not believe that BikeMiVie has said where they might be living in the Baltimore area. Yet a lot of you all have immediately assumed that they are in the thick of a simulcast encrusted area being bombarded by ones and zeros from all directions where any scanner other than the Uniden models SDS100 and SDS200 would have absolutely no chance of receiving intelligible audio. When the truth of the matter is that if they live on the outskirts of the city in a non-overlapped coverage area or even if they are downtown in just the right spot the number of scanners that will work starts expanding to less expensive models. Suppose BikeMiVie could have somebody with a Uniden BCD436HP handheld scanner "survey" their place and see what kind of reception they have? Suppose that person could also drive BikeMiVie around the city with the handheld scanner and demonstrate what we are actually talking about when we say Simulcast Distortion? Our Original Poster (OP) would better understand this thread, would observe that simulcast distortion when roaming around the city does not obliterate as much audio as they might be led to believe and they might even decide that reception is "good enough" to not warrant a top-of-the-line scanner the first time they get up to bat. We also have stores that sell scanners in town and around the city perimeter that the OP could call first to see if the have Baltimore City's trunked system programmed in an operational scanner, visit several stores and get a feel for reception quality that way.
My main points here?
by using a low gain 800-900 MHz yagi antenna and orient it for the best reception from the closest transmitter site. And they will not need a super high-end scanner to prevent simulcast distortion.
Cheers! Dave K4EET
My main points here?
- Educate the OP on not only the pros and cons but also a little on how things work and why they behave like they do.
- Give the OP all of the possible choices of scanners and how they differ from one price point to the next level up.
- Ultimately, it is the OP that has to make the final decision on what to purchase. It is our job to give the OP the necessary information to review the lineup of scanners, be able to understand the different features of a scanner that make them different, ask questions to us if necessary and then make a final decision to buy a particular model.
- Above all and not for just the newbies, we need to be unbiased, civil and explain ourselves so that all can understand. That doesn't mean that we cannot make recommendations though. We just have to make sure that if we say you "must buy this" or "the only thing that is gonna work there is that" then it needs to be an open and closed case. Many times, that is not the situation.
Baltimore City Trunking System, Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore City Trunking System Profile
www.radioreference.com
Cheers! Dave K4EET
Yagis don't work for mobile applications or visitors. Radios designed to receive digital simulcast systems work well when in range of the system. It depends on the use case, location, and how satisfied a listener would be with a sub-optimal solution.
As far as the OP is concerned, a scanner app or Broadcastify is probably best - at least to get started. There is also a podcast called "Scanner School" that he can listen to, to get up to speed. There is a lot of bad advice in RRDB, but this podcast is pretty good covering potential issues, advantages / disadvantages of various solutions. I would never recommend an unauthorized radio with transmit capabilities to be used to monitor public safety systems.
www.scannerschool.com
As far as the OP is concerned, a scanner app or Broadcastify is probably best - at least to get started. There is also a podcast called "Scanner School" that he can listen to, to get up to speed. There is a lot of bad advice in RRDB, but this podcast is pretty good covering potential issues, advantages / disadvantages of various solutions. I would never recommend an unauthorized radio with transmit capabilities to be used to monitor public safety systems.
Home - Scanner School
www.scannerschool.com
What all new people to the hobby need to learn and answer these questions.
1. What is it you want to hear? (Police, Fire, EMS, what is the range you expect (how far do you want to hear)?
2. Where are you located?
3. What is your budget?
4. Do your homework What Type Systems are in use in your area. (P25, DMR, NXDN, SIMULCAST, TRUNKING)?
5. How technological savvy are you?
6. Do you want a Base Mobile or Handheld?
7. Do you understand BASIC COMPUTER COMMANDS (DOS COMMANDS)?
8. If needed can you put up your own outside antenna?
9. If you require assistance PLEASE LIST
A. Where you are.
B. What type Scanner you have.
C. How you are trying to program it (by hand or Software and IF BY SOFTWARE WHAT BRAND AND VERSION.
D. What problem you are having.
Answering all the above questions will give you the best option to buy the scanner that best works in your requirements and get you the best assistance from the members here.
There is not 1 member here that can answer a question posted this way. MY SCANNER DOES NOT RECEIVE.
1. What is it you want to hear? (Police, Fire, EMS, what is the range you expect (how far do you want to hear)?
2. Where are you located?
3. What is your budget?
4. Do your homework What Type Systems are in use in your area. (P25, DMR, NXDN, SIMULCAST, TRUNKING)?
5. How technological savvy are you?
6. Do you want a Base Mobile or Handheld?
7. Do you understand BASIC COMPUTER COMMANDS (DOS COMMANDS)?
8. If needed can you put up your own outside antenna?
9. If you require assistance PLEASE LIST
A. Where you are.
B. What type Scanner you have.
C. How you are trying to program it (by hand or Software and IF BY SOFTWARE WHAT BRAND AND VERSION.
D. What problem you are having.
Answering all the above questions will give you the best option to buy the scanner that best works in your requirements and get you the best assistance from the members here.
There is not 1 member here that can answer a question posted this way. MY SCANNER DOES NOT RECEIVE.
Yagis don't work for mobile applications or visitors. Radios designed to receive digital simulcast systems work well when in range of the system. It depends on the use case, location, and how satisfied a listener would be with a sub-optimal solution.
As far as the OP is concerned, a scanner app or Broadcastify is probably best - at least to get started. There is also a podcast called "Scanner School" that he can listen to, to get up to speed. There is a lot of bad advice in RRDB, but this podcast is pretty good covering potential issues, advantages / disadvantages of various solutions. I would never recommend an unauthorized radio with transmit capabilities to be used to monitor public safety systems.
Home - Scanner School
I cant like this post enough!!!
tvengr
Well Known Member
The Radio Shack Pro-18 is capable of P25 Phase 1 only unless it has had the Whistler Legacy Upgrade updating it to a WS1080.
boatbod
Member
PSR-800/WS1080 perform horribly on simulcast.
Baltimore County Trunking System, Various, Maryland
Baltimore County Trunking System Profile
www.radioreference.com
Baltimore City Trunking System, Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore City Trunking System Profile
www.radioreference.com
What all new people to the hobby need to learn and answer these questions.
1. What is it you want to hear? (Police, Fire, EMS, what is the range you expect (how far do you want to hear)? Exactly what you listed and the range. I suppose anywhere within the area I want to listen to
2. Where are you located? Westside of Baltimore City
3. What is your budget? Broke lol
4. Do your homework What Type Systems are in use in your area. (P25, DMR, NXDN, SIMULCAST, TRUNKING)? I don't know how to even begin to answer this but I think it's P25
5. How technological savvy are you? I would say my umbilical cord was a USB cable
6. Do you want a Base Mobile or Handheld? Handheld for now
7. Do you understand BASIC COMPUTER COMMANDS (DOS COMMANDS)? I don't code but I'm sure I could YouTube /ipconfig
8. If needed can you put up your own outside antenna? I don't know, I have satellite TV so I believe it's physically possible
I am trying to become a independent stringer
1. What is it you want to hear? (Police, Fire, EMS, what is the range you expect (how far do you want to hear)? Exactly what you listed and the range. I suppose anywhere within the area I want to listen to
2. Where are you located? Westside of Baltimore City
3. What is your budget? Broke lol
4. Do your homework What Type Systems are in use in your area. (P25, DMR, NXDN, SIMULCAST, TRUNKING)? I don't know how to even begin to answer this but I think it's P25
5. How technological savvy are you? I would say my umbilical cord was a USB cable
6. Do you want a Base Mobile or Handheld? Handheld for now
7. Do you understand BASIC COMPUTER COMMANDS (DOS COMMANDS)? I don't code but I'm sure I could YouTube /ipconfig
8. If needed can you put up your own outside antenna? I don't know, I have satellite TV so I believe it's physically possible
I am trying to become a independent stringer
The coding question is for the USB SDR receivers they are not plug and play.
Baltimore City, Maryland (MD) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Baltimore City, Maryland (MD)
www.radioreference.com
Baltimore County, Maryland (MD) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Baltimore County, Maryland (MD)
www.radioreference.com
- Status
