Kenton county/ NKY

[Rex_the_Dragon]

Hi, I’m in the market to buy a scanner I want to be able to hear my small town police along with near by agencies. Can anyone tell me what is being used? If a regular base model scanner will work or not. I’ve tried to look and see what they are using but it doesn’t say it’s blank. Thanks

 

[Andyssonopie]

You are going to need to let someone know the towns you are wanting to listen to.

 

[Rex_the_Dragon]

Hi, I’m wanting to listen to ludlow KY Park hills, Ludlow Fire. Covington KY PD thanks

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

My recommendation to listen to Kenton County on NKYRCS goes to the Uniden SDS100. You'll likely encounter a phenomenon well discussed & one that plagues many here on the forums known as simulcast distortion (click on the link to learn what it is & suggestions to mitigate it) Ludlow looks to be on the outskirts of the intended system coverage area so you might get lucky and simulcast distortion may not be a factor. But as you move into Covington it appears you'll be within range of two towers so you'll likely encounter it there

 

[Rex_the_Dragon]

Thanks, will the uniden BCD160DN not work? I was looking at that and possibly used.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

No, the 160DN does not trunk track nor does it handle P25 of any variety, not even conventionally. You'll need a P25 Phase-II trunking scanner (see link below) Also worth noting you'll only be able to track talkgroups ID'ed on the system as mode "T". Those ID'ed as mode "TE" (Kenton County Police tac channels for example) are fully encrypted and therefore cannot be monitored with any scanner

• 1.3.3 Scanner Support for TDMA

 

[Rex_the_Dragon]

Got it thanks. It looks like the BCD325P2 will work out of the list. I’m going to look at this one as it’s in my price range. I appreciate your help. we had a stolen Kia come up here and it was a shots fired along with an officer being hit by the car. One subject in custody and 2 at large still. Lots of car break ins lately. Wanting to hear what’s going on in my town.

 

[tvengr]

Got it thanks. It looks like the BCD325P2 will work out of the list.

Make sure the dealer where you purchase the scanner has a good return policy. The BCD325P2 may or may not work depending upon your location in relation to the towers due to simulcast distortion. If you travel throughout the area, the scanner will cut in and out depending upon your location. If you are close to one of the towers, it can override the out of phase interference from the other towers.

 

[Rex_the_Dragon]

thanks I’ll make sure I do.

 

[tvengr]

As long as you don't use DMR or NXDN, you can use FreeSCAN programming software which is free. Freescan download website You can go ahead and download and install the software while waiting. When you get the scanner, I will be able to supply you with a FreeSCAN programming file to see if it works. I use version 2.18.

 

[Rex_the_Dragon]

Probably won’t use DMR or NXDN thanks!

 

[tvengr]

You will need to install the Uniden driver to be able to communicate with the scanner.

• uniden_usbser.zip

If you are having problems installing the drivers, see the following general instructions (some steps might differ slightly, depending on your specific operating system).

Download and unzip the above driver.

1. Plug in the scanner using a USB cable.
2. Right click on the Windows Launch icon (bottom left corner) and select "Device Manager."
3. The device shows up with a yellow triangle.
4. Right click on device and select "Update Driver Software."
5. Select "Browse My Computer for Driver Software."
6. Navigate to the folder where you have unzipped the above driver.

The driver installed and is assigned as: Uniden Serial Port (COMx)
(x) will be replaced with the actual port number.

If you have any doubts about that link not being secure, this is what I use on my computer.:

 

[Rex_the_Dragon]

Thanks.

 

[Hop763]

You will need sds100 or sds200 To listen to ludlow as they are p25 phase2 with all 3 counties, plus Hamilton Co.are p25 phase 1.

 

[INDaviation]

I can copy the NKY system well into Ohio. You're fine in Ludlow.

+1 for the Uniden SDS recommendation. I can confirm it works well on that system.

 

[tvengr]

When you program the scanner using the file I created, you will be able to toggle the Boone Co site on and off by pressing 1 on the scanner keypad. The Kenton Co site is on button 2 and the Campbell Co site is on button 3. The conventional frequencies are on button 4. Did you install FreeSCAN? Here is a PDF file which will answer all of your questions about using quick keys:

 

[Rex_the_Dragon]

Thanks! Yes I did going to order my scanner here soon. Doing research on it.

 

[tvengr]

Here is the FreeSCAN programming file for your scanner. Download and extract the zipped file. When you install FreeSCAN and get the scanner, I will assist with programming the scanner. Quick keys as follows:

SYSTEM QUICK KEYS:
1. NKY Reg Boone (Site)
2. NKY Reg Kenton (Site)
3. NKY Reg Campbell (Site)
GROUP QUICK KEYS:
1. BooneCo Services
1. KentCo Services
1. CampCo Services
2. NKYRCS Interop
3. BooneCo Interop
4. BooneCo EmergOps
4. BooneCo Fire
4. BooneCo Law
5. KentCo Interop
6. KentCo Emerg Ops
6. KentCo Fire
6. KentCo Law
7. CampCo Interop
8. CampCo Emerg Ops
8. CampCo Fire
SYSTEM QUICK KEY:
4. NKY Reg Conv
GROUP QUICK KEYS:
1. Boone Co Fire
2. Kenton Co Fire
3. Kenton Co Hosp
4. Campbell Co Svcs
5. Campbell PW/FD
6. Campbell PW/PD
7. Campbell Co Fire
8. Campbell Co Law
9. Campbell Co Jail
0. KY State Police

 

[Rex_the_Dragon]

Thank you I appreciate it

 

[scannerboy02]

Sorry, I just saw this post.

First, if you want some "hands on" time with the different options I would suggest attending a MONIX scanner club meeting. The next meeting is this Saturday at the Donatos restaurant at 15 Donnermeyer Drive in Bellevue. Attending would allow you to see how the radios work as well as perhaps see a few computer software options. You can also ask lots of questions that many locally experienced people can answer for you.

Second, I also recommend the SDS100/SDS200 or a Unication G4/G5. I highly recommend not going with the BCD325P2 as that radio does not handle the simulcast well. Many people including myself have attempted that radio with undesirable results on the NKRCS system.