Looking for a decent base scanner that’s not too terribly expensive.

[corneileous]

Hey guys, I have a Uniden BC125AT that is a good scanner but I’m looking for a base scanner that’s either at least like the 125AT in technology. It doesn’t have to have a whole lot of channels or a whole lot of fancy features being that since I’m in middle southern Oklahoma, bigger cities are quite a ways away so without going with a full blown outdoor antenna, there’s only about 3 to 5 frequencies I can pick up.

Which, I’d be interested in some kind of outdoor antenna but nothing too elaborate. Matter of fact, years ago, I knew a guy that had an older version of this BC355N and he had one of those outdoor scanner antennas that worked like them old fashioned cell phone antennas for your car where the antenna stuck to the outside of your window and the other side of it stuck to the inside of the window directly in front of it and it actually did surprisingly well. I wouldn’t mind having one of those if I could find one.

 

[rk911]

Your choice of scanner will be directly affected by what you want to listen to. Please post, precisely. what you are interested in...county, towns, depts, etc.

 

[corneileous]

Your choice of scanner will be directly affected by what you want to listen to. Please post, precisely. what you are interested in...county, towns, depts, etc.

Just police, EMS. Maybe ham radio. During bad weather, some of the storm chasers use HAM.

But what do mean by counties, towns and departments?

 

[rk911]

The counties and or towns in which the police and EMS agencies are located.

 

[corneileous]

The counties and or towns in which the police and EMS agencies are located.

Atoka county, coal county. Bryan county and a few more surrounding counties by those listed.

 

[hiegtx]

Atoka county, coal county. Bryan county and a few more surrounding counties by those listed.

With the exception of the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, Atoka & Coal are shown as analog conventional in the database.

For Bryan County, Durant PD & FD are P25 conventional, so an analog scanner such as the 355N would not be able to receive them.

The Tribal Police are P25 (digital(.

The US Corp of Engineers, at Lake Texoma, are also P25.

 

[corneileous]

With the exception of the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, Atoka & Coal are shown as analog conventional in the database.

For Bryan County, Durant PD & FD are P25 conventional, so an analog scanner such as the 355N would not be able to receive them.

The Tribal Police are P25 (digital(.

The US Corp of Engineers, at Lake Texoma, are also P25.

So what would be a good inexpensive scanner for that that’s primarily a base station radio and not a hand-held?

BTW, those that you mentioned that are p25 digital, is my 125AT capable of scanning those?

 

[hiegtx]

So what would be a good inexpensive scanner for that that’s primarily a base station radio and not a hand-held?

BTW, those that you mentioned that are p25 digital, is my 125AT capable of scanning those?

No

Your 125AT is not capable of receiving digital transmissions. Neither is the 355N.

The 355N is probably the cheapest, non-digital capable, & non-trunking, base scanner.

The Whistler WS1025 is also a non-digital, non-trunking desktop scanner. It's more expensive than the 355N.

I don't own the B355N nor the WS1025, so I don't know how either perform, & whether of not they are hard to program.

 

[corneileous]

No

Your 125AT is not capable of receiving digital transmissions. Neither is the 355N.

The 355N is probably the cheapest, non-digital capable, & non-trunking, base scanner.

The Whistler WS1025 is also a non-digital, non-trunking desktop scanner. It's more expensive than the 355N.

I don't own the B355N nor the WS1025, so I don't know how either perform, & whether of not they are hard to program.

Again, what would be a good, hopefully inexpensive radio scanner that would pick up those P 25 digital frequencies?

 

[corneileous]

No

Your 125AT is not capable of receiving digital transmissions. Neither is the 355N.

The 355N is probably the cheapest, non-digital capable, & non-trunking, base scanner.

The Whistler WS1025 is also a non-digital, non-trunking desktop scanner. It's more expensive than the 355N.

I don't own the B355N nor the WS1025, so I don't know how either perform, & whether of not they are hard to program.

Another question… Those channels that are that P25 digital, are those even repeated frequencies anyway? In other words, would I pretty much have to have an outdoor antenna to pick those up?

 

[David628]

For a simple base set up that has p25 capabilities: BCD996P2 - The RadioReference Wiki

Right at around the 370-400 dollar range.

 

[corneileous]

For a simple base set up that has p25 capabilities: BCD996P2 - The RadioReference Wiki

Right at around the 370-400 dollar range.

So if I was to spend the money on a radio like that that’s capable of picking up those kind of frequencies, would it even be worth it to do if I don’t have some elaborate outdoor antenna? And also, when I was talking about the antenna that mounts on the window, this is the one I was talking about. Is this a good option?

BNC Glass Mount Scanner Antenna

Glass mount antenna from uniden Scanners

bearcatwarehouse.com

 

[hiegtx]

Another question… Those channels that are that P25 digital, are those even repeated frequencies anyway? In other words, would I pretty much have to have an outdoor antenna to pick those up?

The P25 channels in your area are all repeated. Depending on your location's altitude, along with the height of transmit towers used, would all be factors as to whether you can hear any of them without an outside antenna. The Tribal Police have a number of repeaters in your area, so I would expect you could at least hear them. Bryan County (Durant) & the Corp of Engineers at Lake Texoma are unknown factors. You could try programming them in your 125AT, If you hear a good signal that resembles static, that could be the digital transmission that your scanner cannot receive. Or, you could reqyest that your thread be moved to the Oklahoma forum so that someone local to you & give you their experience.

The 996P2 is a digital scanner, that also handles P25 Phase I & P25 Phase II trunking systems. But, at present, that is not needed in the three counties you list. The Whistler WS1065 would work for what you currently are trying to hear, and is a fairly sensitive scanner.

So if I was to spend the money on a radio like that that’s capable of picking up those kind of frequencies, would it even be worth it to do if I don’t have some elaborate outdoor antenna? And also, when I was talking about the antenna that mounts on the window, this is the one I was talking about. Is this a good option?

BNC Glass Mount Scanner Antenna

Glass mount antenna from uniden Scanners

bearcatwarehouse.com

That's why I suggested requesting to have this thread moved to the Oklahoma Forum. Someone local might be able to tell you if you could receive those digital channels without an elevated external antenna. To have this thread moved, select the Report link in the lower left corner of one of your posts, & request that a moderator move this conversation to the state forum.

 

[corneileous]

The P25 channels in your area are all repeated. Depending on your location's altitude, along with the height of transmit towers used, would all be factors as to whether you can hear any of them without an outside antenna. The Tribal Police have a number of repeaters in your area, so I would expect you could at least hear them. Bryan County (Durant) & the Corp of Engineers at Lake Texoma are unknown factors. You could try programming them in your 125AT, If you hear a good signal that resembles static, that could be the digital transmission that your scanner cannot receive. Or, you could reqyest that your thread be moved to the Oklahoma forum so that someone local to you & give you their experience.

The 996P2 is a digital scanner, that also handles P25 Phase I & P25 Phase II trunking systems. But, at present, that is not needed in the three counties you list. The Whistler WS1065 would work for what you currently are trying to hear, and is a fairly sensitive scanner.


That's why I suggested requesting to have this thread moved to the Oklahoma Forum. Someone local might be able to tell you if you could receive those digital channels without an elevated external antenna. To have this thread moved, select the Report link in the lower left corner of one of your posts, & request that a moderator move this conversation to the state forum.

So the 996p2 and the whistler are pretty much the same kind of scanner? If they are- at least on the P25 digital stuff, why would the Whistler be a better option over that 996?

 

[David628]

So if I was to spend the money on a radio like that that’s capable of picking up those kind of frequencies, would it even be worth it to do if I don’t have some elaborate outdoor antenna? And also, when I was talking about the antenna that mounts on the window, this is the one I was talking about. Is this a good option?

BNC Glass Mount Scanner Antenna

Glass mount antenna from uniden Scanners

bearcatwarehouse.com

I'm not sure if that window mount antenna would be a "good" option for what your looking to receive but it can be a "better" option then using a stock rubber duck antenna assuming your home windows are not solar tinted. If you place it on the highest level 2nd floor window or above in your home it "may" improve reception compared to using a stock antenna indoors. There are many unknown variables involved as to whether or not you would be able to hear those further stations. i.e. your specific elevation of your home, distance, terrain/hills and valleys, and vegetation between you and the repeater site. Any other tall buildings near you could also block or reduce the signals. It's hard to say. The good news is that they all seem to be on VHF, which if repeated can reach very far out with a larger coverage footprint.

This is just my opinion, not saying it's going to work. But, if your just using the 125AT's stock rubber duck and are having good luck with the 3-5 analog stations on the first floor level of your home. Moving to a base radio with that externally mounted antenna "may" allow you to hear a bit further out.

As heigtx stated, try to move this to the OK forum and see if anyone is close to you that can offer better advice. Otherwise the the only way to know is to buy the base scanner and antenna and test it. Just make sure you buy from a reputable vendor who has good standing return policy just in case it dont work out.

 

[David628]

The Whistler WS1065 is a bit of a cheaper option ($300 on Amazon) if you don't need P25 Phase 2 as heigtx stated above.

Edit to add: WS1065 - The RadioReference Wiki

2nd edit: Here is something that may help. In the database click on the county of Atoka.

Atoka​

Frequency	License	Type	Tone	Alpha Tag	Description	Mode	Tag
155.820	WQCD431	RM		Atoka Police	Police Dispatch	FMN	Law Dispatch
154.445	WZY338	BM	94.8 PL	Atoka Fireground	Fireground	FMN	Fire-Tac

Then under "License" click the WQCD431. Here you can see the actual licensed station transmitter site (red dot) and may be able to make a "guestimate" if you would be able to hear they station our not based on how far away you are from the site using the map. For example I use to be able to hear Denver Fires VHF automated dispatch channel from my location 63 miles away. But I'm also on a hill 6000 feet in elevation and my station is on the top floor of my home.

It brings you to this: FCC Callsign WQCD431 (ATOKA, CITY OF)

 

[corneileous]

I'm not sure if that window mount antenna would be a "good" option for what your looking to receive but it can be a "better" option then using a stock rubber duck antenna assuming your home windows are not solar tinted. If you place it on the highest level 2nd floor window or above in your home it "may" improve reception compared to using a stock antenna indoors. There are many unknown variables involved as to whether or not you would be able to hear those further stations. i.e. your specific elevation of your home, distance, terrain/hills and valleys, and vegetation between you and the repeater site. Any other tall buildings near you could also block or reduce the signals. It's hard to say. The good news is that they all seem to be on VHF, which if repeated can reach very far out with a larger coverage footprint.

This is just my opinion, not saying it's going to work. But, if your just using the 125AT's stock rubber duck and are having good luck with the 3-5 analog stations on the first floor level of your home. Moving to a base radio with that externally mounted antenna "may" allow you to hear a bit further out.

As heigtx stated, try to move this to the OK forum and see if anyone is close to you that can offer better advice. Otherwise the the only way to know is to buy the base scanner and antenna and test it. Just make sure you buy from a reputable vendor who has good standing return policy just in case it dont work out.

I ditched my 125’s stock antenna along time ago for one of those diamond antenna RH77CA antennas that is actually pretty good. It was actually recommended to me from here.

As far as that window antenna that I posted, it may not be as good as a typical outdoor antenna but like I was saying in my opening post, it worked pretty good on a friend of mine’s scanner he had a long time ago. Although I would like to have that good performance, but due to what it takes to get it, I’m not really looking for that good of reception I guess. I’m really only looking to hear stuff that’s within 30 miles of me.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

No

Your 125AT is not capable of receiving digital transmissions. Neither is the 355N.

The 355N is probably the cheapest, non-digital capable, & non-trunking, base scanner.

I would be curious how the 335N is programmed and how useful it might be for traveling about in rural areas?

 

[Scan125]

Have you looked at Scan125? It will turn your BC125AT into the equivalent of a base scanner with bells and whistles. Logging, recording, direct tuning, ...... Only difference is that you will need a PC to control the scanner as opposed to having desktop physical keys and buttons etc.

However if you are after P25 and other digital services then you will have to have a different scanner that does nore than just analog.

 

[RichM]

Scanners - Base/Mobile

Base station and mobile scanners for sale

forums.radioreference.com

Consider buying used. As long as it’s from a nonsmoking environment, base stations tend to hold up well since they are not carried about. I see phase 1 capable digital base stations for around $200 on a regular basis here. Wait until you get it to answer the outdoor antenna question, you might not even need one.