Looking for a budget scanner that does trunking and digital

[Shanin777]

New at this, I saw this particular scanner and was wondering if anyone could tell me if it can scan both digital and trunking.

Uniden Bearcat BCT15X Scanner

The Uniden Bearcat BCT15X Police Scanner is a high-performance mobile scanner equipped with BearTracker capabilities and 9,000 channels. Stay informed with the latest police activity using this professional-grade device. With its advanced features, you can easily monitor and keep track of...

bearcatwarehouse.com

 

[Enjoi19]

It only does analog.

If you'd like recommendations, let users know what area you live in and what you'd like to try to listen to.

 

[RaleighGuy]

New at this, I saw this particular scanner and was wondering if anyone could tell me if it can scan both digital and trunking.

Uniden Bearcat BCT15X Scanner

The Uniden Bearcat BCT15X Police Scanner is a high-performance mobile scanner equipped with BearTracker capabilities and 9,000 channels. Stay informed with the latest police activity using this professional-grade device. With its advanced features, you can easily monitor and keep track of...

bearcatwarehouse.com

If you could tell us where you are located we can make a better recommendation.

That scanner will not do P25 Phase 1 or 2, DMR or NXDN

 

[Shanin777]

It only does analog.

If you'd like recommendations, let users know what area you live in and what you'd like to try to listen to.

Sure. I’m in Florida and would like to listen to Police, EMS, Military

If you could tell us where you are located we can make a better recommendation.

That scanner will not do P25 Phase 1 or 2, DMR or NXDN

Sure. I’m in Florida and would like to listen to police, EMS and military. I have the bearcat BC125at currently but I don’t really pick up much of anything other then the occasional civilian air but it sounds far away even though I live a mile or so from a small airport.

Note: I’m in Florida and would like to listen to Police, EMS, Military

 

[RaleighGuy]

Sure. I’m in Florida and would like to listen to police, EMS and military. I have the bearcat BC125at currently but I don’t really pick up much of anything other then the occasional civilian air but it sounds far away even though I live a mile or so from a small airport.

Well we are narrowing it down, but Florida is a big state and there are lots of different systems and agencies, if you are in Miami you can probably hear fire, but not police, on your 125, in Polk you wouldn't hear anything.

Your best bet is to look at the area where you live in the database, find what you are interested in and then see what type of radios they are using, knowing that will allow you to make a better selection, or ask better questions here. We will be happy to help you, but you need to do some homework first.

If your area has simulcast systems you will need a SDS100 or SDS200, around $500-700 used, without you can get a lesser model running about $300. There is also the SDR which must be used on a computer with software which runs about $40.

 

[Shanin777]

Well we are narrowing it down, but Florida is a big state and there are lots of different systems and agencies, if you are in Miami you can probably hear fire, but not police, on your 125, in Polk you wouldn't hear anything.

Your best bet is to look at the area where you live in the database, find what you are interested in and then see what type of radios they are using, knowing that will allow you to make a better selection, or ask better questions here. We will be happy to help you, but you need to do some homework first.

Thanks. I’m very close to Daytona, I did read that Police in my city use digital but it seems like EMS is analog from what I’ve read.

 

[hiegtx]

Sure. I’m in Florida and would like to listen to police, EMS and military. I have the bearcat BC125at currently but I don’t really pick up much of anything other then the occasional civilian air but it sounds far away even though I live a mile or so

Giving your city and county would help us see what agencies and systems are in your area, and allow us to give you the most accurate answer on what you can monitor, and which scanner would be best to do so.

 

[Shanin777]

Giving your city and county would help us see what agencies and systems are in your area, and allow us to give you the most accurate answer on what you can monitor, and which scanner would be best to do so.

Sorry. I’m in Volusia. Deland. It’s very close to Daytona.

 

[tvengr]

According to the database, the new Volusia County P25 system sites are not simulcast and currently everything is in the clear to receive. The BCD325P2 handheld and BCD996P2 base/mobile would be the least expensive scanners. I suggest that you click on Report and request that your thread be moved to the Florida forum. The members there will be better equipped to give information on which scanners will work and the status of the new P25 system.

 

[hiegtx]

The "Eastside" dispatch for VolusiaCounty Fire is tagged as being Phase II (Mode column T), though everything else is P25 (Mode column D) and not reported as encrypted.

Sorry. I’m in Volusia. Deland. It’s very close to Daytona.

As the system is P25 Phase II capable, I would suggest double checking with someone in your area to see if there are current plans to shift the rest of the talkgroups to Phase II in the near future. As tvengr has suggested, the 325P2 & 996P2 are capable of handling Phase I as well as Phase II P25 talkgroups, and would be your least expensive 'new' scanners to monitor the system. If you keep an eye on the classifieds here on RadioReference, as well as possibly local pawn shops, estate sales, or eBay, you might find a previously owned scanner, in good condition, that could be obtained for less than purchasing a new scanner. Unless you were to find a rock bottom price 'deal of the day' on a used whistler scanner, I would shy away from those models. As noted in the Whistler forum, the actual state of Whistler is currently unknown. With apparently no response to inquiries, and no other way to contact them, you could end up with an abandoned unit, with no support for repair. There are some comments in the Whistler forum, where members have sent units in to Whistler for repair, and now, no idea when, or if, they will get their equipment back, either repaired, or not, and if not repaired, will fees already paid for service that may not have been performed

 

[Shanin777]

The "Eastside" dispatch for VolusiaCounty Fire is tagged as being Phase II (Mode column T), though everything else is P25 (Mode column D) and not reported as encrypted.
View attachment 175335


As the system is P25 Phase II capable, I would suggest double checking with someone in your area to see if there are current plans to shift the rest of the talkgroups to Phase II in the near future. As tvengr has suggested, the 325P2 & 996P2 are capable of handling Phase I as well as Phase II P25 talkgroups, and would be your least expensive 'new' scanners to monitor the system. If you keep an eye on the classifieds here on RadioReference, as well as possibly local pawn shops, estate sales, or eBay, you might find a previously owned scanner, in good condition, that could be obtained for less than purchasing a new scanner. Unless you were to find a rock bottom price 'deal of the day' on a used whistler scanner, I would shy away from those models. As noted in the Whistler forum, the actual state of Whistler is currently unknown. With apparently no response to inquiries, and no other way to contact them, you could end up with an abandoned unit, with no support for repair. There are some comments in the Whistler forum, where members have sent units in to Whistler for repair, and now, no idea when, or if, they will get their equipment back, either repaired, or not, and if not repaired, will fees already paid for service that may not have been performed

Thanks for the info! Super helpful tbh. So basically just need a scanner that says “trunk tracker” or something on it to be sure I can hear EMS and Police in my area?

 

[hiegtx]

Thanks for the info! Super helpful tbh. So basically just need a scanner that says “trunk tracker” or something on it to be sure I can hear EMS and Police in my area?

Besides the two models (325P2 & 996P2) mentioned previously (here and also here), other Uniden models that can handle P25 Phase I & Phase II, include the HP-2, 436HP, 536HP, SDS100, & SDS200. (The SDS scanners would be the best choice if a simulcast system is being used, but that does not seem to be the case in your county.) I don't see any DMR listed as being used by public safety agencies, though the Daytona Speedway does indicate a DMR system is used. There likely are other business users, but unless those interest you, there would be no need to purchase the DMR upgrade. (The HP-2 cannot be upgraded for DMR).

There are several Whistler scanners that can do both Phase II as well as DMR (no upgrade needed, but they do not actually track a trunked system, only receive transmissions using the DMR format. And, as already noted, I would stay away from Whistler units unless & until we get confirmation on what their actual status is. If they have indeed closed down, there would be no support nor repair capability for their orphaned units.

 

[n3obl]

Need to forget the word budget and digital together unless you want to buy used.

 

[buddrousa]

Entry Level P25 Trunking Scanner BCD996P2 Base BCD325P2 Handheld these are your Entry Level Trunking Scanners with Factory Support as of now.
They can also be upgraded to do DMR and NXDN without having to go back to the Factory if ever needed.