Is the Pro-96 worth $500?

[Cobra_Commander]

Hi guys i need your help. I am wondering is the pro-96 worth me spending $500 on? the closet digital system to me is in shallersville which is the Marcs system. i mean is it worth me to spend $500 on the 96? :?:

 

[DonS]

A post in a few Yahoo groups today indicates that the PRO-96 is on sale for $450 until Sept, so that might change your question a little bit.

-Don S (the other)

 

[AZScanner]

Hi guys i need your help. I am wondering is the pro-96 worth me spending $500 on? the closet digital system to me is in shallersville which is the Marcs system. i mean is it worth me to spend $500 on the 96? :?:

Well, in your case, I'd say... no.

Here's the thing. Where I live, all city services for my area are currently in a state of transition from analog to digital modes. By this time next year, the whole she-bang (no William Hung jokes please) will be digital. We have 5 digital systems currently in use right now, Phoenix, Mesa, Luke AFB, Glendale, and Maricopa County. The other smaller towns around here such as Peoria, Goodyear, Avondale, Scottsdale and Tempe will most likely follow suit and either subscribe to one of these systems or start up their own. So for me, a digital scanner makes sense if I want to have any chance of hearing my favorite agencies that I routinely monitor. It ensures that I will be able to transition to digital with them, rather than be scrambling to keep up when the old standby's go dead.

In your area, it sounds like a switch to digital is still on the drawing board, at most. Even if your city or county government voted today to switch to digital, it would probably happen no sooner than 2006 or 2007 - these things take a long time to put in place. You have RFP's, vendor selection, RF studies, bidding, contracts to award - that's all before someone even starts to build anything. Add another year at least for a proper installation, 6 months for a rush job.

Let's say for grins that your city plans to go full digital by 1/1/2007. Stop and think about that - 2+ years from now, when you'll actually need a digital scanner, that PRO-96 will be a real clunker next to the scanners that will be available then - they'll be less expensive, have more memory, better reception, smaller size, and maybe even some new features we haven't even imagined yet. The BC246T is just a small example of what the scanners of tomorrow will be capable of.

Also, it pays to do your research! All these public safety systems begin life as an RFP - publicly available requests for proposals. Keep an eye on your local cities' websites and make sure the systems they want to install will even work on that scanner before you spend your hard earned $$$'s. I made the mistake of jumping on the BC250D when I really should have held out for the PRO96 or BC296 instead. Now I'm stuck saving up for YAS (yet another scanner, as my wife puts it) that will work better on the new systems going up all around me.

Of course the lure of a shiny new gem to add to the collection is a strong one, and no one will fault you for "settling" for a pro-96. I've played with one and have to admit, it's a darn good scanner. If you really, really, REALLY want one, go for it - you can always return it in 30 days once the novelty wears off, if you're so inclined. All I'm saying is if I lived in your area, I'd wait and see what comes out in a year or two.

My 0.02 cents.
-AZ

 

[ironace]

A post in a few Yahoo groups today indicates that the PRO-96 is on sale for $450 until Sept, so that might change your question a little bit.

-Don S (the other)

Can I get more info on this? like what yahoo group? I am going to buy a 96 in the morning.

 

[Voyager]

Hi guys i need your help. I am wondering is the pro-96 worth me spending $500 on? the closet digital system to me is in shallersville which is the Marcs system. i mean is it worth me to spend $500 on the 96? :?:

How bad do you want to listen to the digital systems? In addition to what the other DonS stated, keep in mind for digital, there is little choice on the price tag.

As for whether it is worth it in a general sense, I will say that it is worth much more than the analog scanners simply due to the features. But, if the PRO-95 is $149, and the 96 is $450, I would say that it is a close comparison. I love having the V-folders for the different areas I travel. I have them all available in my unit every day. I even still have some distant areas available, and even still have my Disney World folder available (and I went last September!) as well as the AIR folder for the trip.

So, are the extra features worth 3x the price? Well, I have more than 3x the scanner available anytime (no PC needed), so for me, I guess it is. Of course, I will soon need the digital, so that trumps any other arguments.

No matter what, it's really not a 'yes or no' question. It all depends on your wants and needs. Personally, I listen to so many services (nearly all of them), that it's easy to fill up 500 channels with just my immediate area, so I need the additional V-folders if I travel at all.

Joe M.

 

[Cobra_Commander]

But i travel alot to a area were the systems are digital 3600 baud 2 systems in fact. i mean i was thinking of getting a camcoder instead of the 96. is this a stupid idea? :?:

 

[DJ88]

The Pro96 is only worth $500.00 if you think you really need it. The worth of anything is only how it can benefit you. Is the unit itself worth $500.00 ? It doesn't matter. All digital scanners are selling for around the same price. I bought a Uniden BC785D in May of last year. It cost me close to $600.00. But I have 3 digital systems in my area, so I needed it. It was worth it to me. Digital seems to be the way agencies are going today when they install new systems. And you must keep in mind many agencies are going to digital totally encrypted systems, which means even with a digital scanner, you can't receive encryption. Some agencies have systems that are digital optional, which means they can transmimt analog (in the clear) or digital. So, if you are thinking about buying it and you want to monitor the digital system you mentioned, then do it. But be sure it's not a totally encrypted sytem. Otherwise you have wasted your money.

 

[jgarber311]

Does anyone truly, truly, truly NEED a scanner? Probably not, save a few folks here and there, like media, police, etc. The lay person does not usually NEED a scanner.
BUT!!!!! We love scanners, we like scanners, we think we NEED scanners. I would probably wither up and die without my scanner! Just ask my wife and co-workers!!!!!
I bought a Pro- 96 and I love it, glad I got it, would definitely get it again. I travel all over Ohio and Michigan. The V-folders are awesome. Out of all the scanners and transceivers I have owned this is the first radio that I have not been able to fill up (yet!). I am usually scrimping and scraping for extra memories. Not with this gem!
So, anyway, if you are not taking money away from your kid's stomachs and you are not getting the utilities shut off, or you are not selling crack or pimping your wife, then go ahead and get the Pro-96!!! You will love it!!!!!
There- there's my 2¢
Jamie KB8TTR[/b]

 

[AZScanner]

Does anyone truly, truly, truly NEED a scanner?

No, but it is rather hard to develop software for scanners without having at least one around. :wink:

I also used to be a freelance news photog, and at that time I didn't need just one - I needed 4 running simultaneously just to have a clue what was happening all around me. Those scanners were quite literally my meal ticket.

So yes, some people really do need them. I needed them so much so that some of mine were legitimate, tax deductible, business expenses. 8) Ahhh, those were the days.....

-AZ

 

[DonS]

Does anyone truly, truly, truly NEED a scanner?

No, but it is rather hard to develop software for scanners without having at least one around. :wink:

Absolutely. So, not only do I need a scanner, but I need everybody else to need a scanner as well.

 

[AZScanner]

But i travel alot to a area were the systems are digital 3600 baud 2 systems in fact. i mean i was thinking of getting a camcoder instead of the 96. is this a stupid idea? :?:

Well, that changes things a bit. Camcorder eh? Uh oh... You wouldn't be perhaps thinking of doing a little news stringing would you?

If so that will change your scanner buying and listening habits. It will no longer be a hobby, but a business. Totally different mindset, that.

-AZ

 

[Radio_Cowboy]

$500? I WISH $500 would have covered it. I've spent $1200 so I can listen to the local Provoice system here. Kind of extreme, yes, But if you want to play, you gotta pay. Oh, and watch Ebay...I picked up a Pro-96 for $350 .




-RC-

 

[NINN27]

I've spent $1200 so I can listen to the local Provoice system here

no scanner monitors provoice... how the hell did you manage that?

 

[greg_miotke]

yes pro 96 is worth the money,don't use v tuning,v tuning is junk,if u know the system the frequenices thats all u need to the ids

 

[kikito]

-->Was the BC235 worth the $300 or so when it came out?

Absolutely, if you need it and want it.

-->Is the Pro-96 worth the $500 or so since it came out?

See above for answer....

 

[scanfan03]

I've spent $1200 so I can listen to the local Provoice system here

no scanner monitors provoice... how the hell did you manage that?

He's useing a radio, not a scanner. I thought they were more than that!

 

[Radio_Cowboy]

Yup....Got a provoice LPE-200 system model. They can be had on Ebay once in a blue moon for a decent price. You gotta have the real deal to monitor provoice, unfortunately. Most I ever spent on a "scanner" but such is life.



-RC-

 

[Chris-M]

LPE-200

Yup....Got a provoice LPE-200 system model. They can be had on Ebay once in a blue moon for a decent price.

How did you program it? Can you do it yourself with software or do you have to 'know somebody'?

Sounds interesting. My local system is ProVoice Regular with IMBE
capability.

As for whether or not the Pro-96 is worth the asking price..even though there are no APCO-25 systems near me at this time, there will be soon enough. Plus I travel a lot to areas that have gone digital so it's now worth it. It would be nice if it were able to monitor LTR systems since there are two that I'd like to monitor.

 

[Pro-95]

Ok, I've avoided this thread for awhile as I'm slightly biased since I sell them.....

But after treading in the waters of even a NON-DIGITAL EDACS in a Statewide application, the V-Scanner part of the 96 is really starting to sound VERY appealing.

Too bad my 95 didn't have a memory card slot.

 

[Radio_Cowboy]

Re: LPE-200

How did you program it? Can you do it yourself with software or do you have to 'know somebody'?

I lucked out and "knew someone" who helped me out. But the software CAN be found if you are patient....



-RC-