I am looking for a new digital project 25 scanner

[jasonstauffer710]

I’m looking for a new police scanner that will allow me to listen to digital frequencies and Allentown Pennsylvania police fire and EMS on the Project 25 frequencies. I am looking. For a scanner that is easy to use and set up. I love to listen to Broadcastify but I want a scanner in my home not an app. I also want to listen to the school buses.

 

[RaleighGuy]

I’m looking for a new police scanner that will allow me to listen to digital frequencies and Allentown Pennsylvania police fire and EMS on the Project 25 frequencies.

According to the database all city police talkgroups are encrypted, the Allentown system is Phase 2 so you would need a scanner that can receive Phase 2 to listen to other traffic.

I am looking. For a scanner that is easy to use and set up.

Unfortunately, now a days there is no scanner "easy to use and set up", they all take a bit of work but with the help of RR members it can be done.

I also want to listen to the school buses.

School transportation is a mix of DMR and analog. So the scanner would have to be a P25 Phase II with DMR addon.

Allentown (Project 25) Trunking System, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown (Project 25) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

 

[bearcatrp]

If your police are encrypted, nothing you can buy to listen to them. But for your other requirements, get a 325P2. Programming can be done manually or use the software to do it.

 

[skip39]

if you want to spend alot of money then get the sds100 as a portable scanner or SDS 200 as a mobile. I prefer the SDS 100 scanner

 

[Bob1955]

if you want to spend alot of money then get the sds100 as a portable scanner or SDS 200 as a mobile. I prefer the SDS 100 scanner

A Bearcat BCD325P2 will do fine for him!
Not everyone is wants/needs to spend $700 and up on a handheld scanner.

 

[bunangst]

A Bearcat BCD325P2 will do fine for him!
Not everyone is wants/needs to spend $700 and up on a handheld scanner.

A little research in the forums/database will show that Lehigh County is building a P25 SIMULCAST System and nearly every other county surrounding Allentown is P25 Simulcast...Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks, Schuylkill.

Suggesting any other scanners besides the SDS series for P25 trunking these days is just a setup for failure and disappointment in the future.

 

[bunangst]

I’m looking for a new police scanner that will allow me to listen to digital frequencies and Allentown Pennsylvania police fire and EMS on the Project 25 frequencies. I am looking. For a scanner that is easy to use and set up. I love to listen to Broadcastify but I want a scanner in my home not an app. I also want to listen to the school buses.

Jason, I suggest reading the below article about simulcast distortion before making any investment in a Phase II scanner.

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

As previously mentioned, Allentown PD is fully encrypted. Though not explicitly mentioned, fire, EMS & DPW are clear. Rest of Lehigh County is analog VHF though eventually they'll transition to a Harris P25 Phase-II system which is being built. More discussion on the future system here. I roll through the area occasionally and my mobile 536 struggles at times with Allentown's system so I'd recommend an SDS100 or SDS200 for the OP to track the city system & the future county system if need be

I also want to listen to the school buses.

You'll want to invest in the DMR & NXDN paid upgrades ($60 & $50 if bought directly from My Uniden after you purchase the scanner) You'll hear plenty of bus traffic on MADRN, Industrial Electronics 264 & Industrial Electronics 448 after paying for and activating said upgrades

 

[One13Truck]

Skook will be completely silent for everything. The entire thing is the dreaded capital E which is absolutely ridiculous but that’s a whole different subject. I believe all the surrounding counties PD are capital E as well but the majority of fire and EMS are clear.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Skook will be completely silent for everything.I believe all the surrounding counties PD are capital E as well but the majority of fire and EMS are clear.

Surrounding "Skook"? Northumberland, Carbon & Lebanon PD are clear in addition to Lehigh

 

[One13Truck]

Surrounding "Skook"? Northumberland, Carbon & Lebanon PD are clear in addition to Lehigh

And Montco, Bucks, and Berks aren’t. Not sure about how strong Lebanon is but Norry would probably be out of range. Or close to it. I can get the VHF for Norry but only barely.