Hunterdon County - new amateur questions

[NJcat]

Happy to be on this forum. Live in Hunterdon County NJ & wanting a reasonably priced analog scanner to start out with, for the car.
Something simple to use, to scan local emergency services dispatches. Just for personal use, so nothing too high tech.
I have tried using apps on my iPhone, but really don't get anything I understand, so something that can be heard more clearly.
Am I talking at least $200+ for something like that? Any recommendations for basic model for analog? Can you get them used anywhere?
Thank you & I probably sound like a real novice, that is because I am.

 

[MiCon]

Hello NJcat.
I'm not chastising you, but your post title is somewhat misleading. On a radio forum, 'Amateur' usually refers to Ham radio.
I grew up in Somerset County, but haven't been back to NJ for many years. I know that most areas of NJ have gone to their own, or the state digital trunked radio system, but I looked up the HC info on RR. You are in a unique area, in that HC is still 95% analog.
Let's start with a few basics. The radio you need has to be able to receive, at the very least:
- VHF high band (150.0Mhz ~ 174Mhz) and UHF band (450Mhz ~ 512Mhz). Any other bands would be a plus, but for HC it appears this is all you need to receive what you want to hear.
- It would be a benefit if the radio you get allows you to set the PL tone (both CT & DC). These are the sub-audible tones that allow different users to use the same frequency without interfering with each other. Or, in the case of the listener, allow you to receive one of the users on the frequency without having to listen to the others.
- It appears that although there seems to be some agencies that use BM (base & mobile) radio systems, most are using a repeater system, so you should be able to hear most everything in the county, depending on your location.
- Based on the RR info for HC, you probably should get a scanner that allows you to program at least 100 channels.
As for where to get a radio, what kind of radio, and the cost, I won't be of much help, other than to say that for mobile use, you might as well get a portable (aka handheld) radio so you can use it in the car, at home, or battery operated anywhere.
Try looking at EBay, Amazon, or even the for sale posts here on RR (you could post a 'Wanted' ad there, also). Or look online at sites like Scanner Master (I'm not recommending SM, just using it as an example). Some places that sell new scanners also sell refurbished scanners. As for the price, I would think you could get a decent used analog scanner for $150 or less.

Good luck.

<>< Mike

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Welcome to the RR forums. Lucky enough for you, LE, Fire & EMS are still analog in Hunterdon County. You don't need anything fancy to pick them up. Have a look at the classifieds. If you have no intentions on traveling to neighboring counties or ever monitoring any trunked radio systems like NJICS, you can acquire an analog-only receiver 2nd hand sometimes for well under $100. If you'd rather buy new the Uniden BC125AT comes highly recommended from many here on the forums. This is an analog-conventional only scanner meaning it will not trunk track (not needed to pick up agencies in your county as they exist today) but if you ever want to monitor NJSP they're on the aforementioned NJICS so you'll need a P25 Phase-II (TDMA) capable scanner with more bells & whistles & much more $ to be able to bring them in

 

[NJcat]

Hello NJcat.
I'm not chastising you, but your post title is somewhat misleading. On a radio forum, 'Amateur' usually refers to Ham radio.
I grew up in Somerset County, but haven't been back to NJ for many years. I know that most areas of NJ have gone to their own, or the state digital trunked radio system, but I looked up the HC info on RR. You are in a unique area, in that HC is still 95% analog.
Let's start with a few basics. The radio you need has to be able to receive, at the very least:
- VHF high band (150.0Mhz ~ 174Mhz) and UHF band (450Mhz ~ 512Mhz). Any other bands would be a plus, but for HC it appears this is all you need to receive what you want to hear.
- It would be a benefit if the radio you get allows you to set the PL tone (both CT & DC). These are the sub-audible tones that allow different users to use the same frequency without interfering with each other. Or, in the case of the listener, allow you to receive one of the users on the frequency without having to listen to the others.
- It appears that although there seems to be some agencies that use BM (base & mobile) radio systems, most are using a repeater system, so you should be able to hear most everything in the county, depending on your location.
- Based on the RR info for HC, you probably should get a scanner that allows you to program at least 100 channels.
As for where to get a radio, what kind of radio, and the cost, I won't be of much help, other than to say that for mobile use, you might as well get a portable (aka handheld) radio so you can use it in the car, at home, or battery operated anywhere.
Try looking at EBay, Amazon, or even the for sale posts here on RR (you could post a 'Wanted' ad there, also). Or look online at sites like Scanner Master (I'm not recommending SM, just using it as an example). Some places that sell new scanners also sell refurbished scanners. As for the price, I would think you could get a decent used analog scanner for $150 or less.

Good luck.

<>< Mike

Thank you so much, that information helps a lot. I am one of the people in my neighborhood who is up on the news, I will help others out by warning them of accidents if I see it, or have been known to get out & help at a scene until emergency personnel arrive.
Definitely did not realize my post title was misleading, I'm so sorry. I will change it, if I can. Maybe to 'Hunterdon County NJ newbie - analog scanner questions?'
Edited to add, I see I can edit my responses, but do not see how to edit the post title? Sorry.

 

[NJcat]

Welcome to the RR forums. Lucky enough for you, LE, Fire & EMS are still analog in Hunterdon County. You don't need anything fancy to pick them up. Have a look at the classifieds. If you have no intentions on traveling to neighboring counties or ever monitoring any trunked radio systems like NJICS, you can acquire an analog-only receiver 2nd hand sometimes for well under $100. If you'd rather buy new the Uniden BC125AT comes highly recommended from many here on the forums. This is an analog-conventional only scanner meaning it will not trunk track (not needed to pick up agencies in your county as they exist today) but if you ever want to monitor NJSP they're on the aforementioned NJICS so you'll need a P25 Phase-II (TDMA) capable scanner with more bells & whistles & much more $ to be able to bring them in

That helps a lot, thank you so much! I did figure out how to look up the systems for my area & saw nearly all of them were analog, so thought that is good as it should be cheaper & did wonder if you can buy 2nd hand. Thanks so much, making notes!