spitnsand
Member
I am ready to upgrade to a APCO 25 scanner just wondering whats the best option
looking for a good apco 25 scanner
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texasemt13
CenTex DBA
Do you need P25 trunking capabilities?
Are you just trying to hear what might be digital around here (I work by SAT)?
What is your budget like (meaning can you afford the best of the best or do you wanna stick with something that just gets it done)?
If your not travelling to areas with a lot of digital you might not need the P25 trunking capability... (so a Pro-96 could get the job done). But if you wanna listen to Austin (or other P25 trunking systems- I don't believe there are any in SA) one day you'd need it (and would need either the Uniden 396, GRE PSR500, or the Pro-106).
Are you just trying to hear what might be digital around here (I work by SAT)?
What is your budget like (meaning can you afford the best of the best or do you wanna stick with something that just gets it done)?
If your not travelling to areas with a lot of digital you might not need the P25 trunking capability... (so a Pro-96 could get the job done). But if you wanna listen to Austin (or other P25 trunking systems- I don't believe there are any in SA) one day you'd need it (and would need either the Uniden 396, GRE PSR500, or the Pro-106).
There is no digital scanner on the market today that cannot trunk... The Pro96 does P25 trunking.
davidbond21
Member
I'd recommend a PSR-500 as it will let you listen to the analog talkgroups on the ESK enabled simulcast systems, and there is plenty of analog fire and police on there you can monitor as well that aren't provoice.
One of the Uniden digital trunking scanners recently got this capability, but I don't own any Unidens so I can't speak for them.
You'll be glad that you upgraded because there is plenty of P25 in the city to listen to.
rdale, what mode do you put the 96 in for P25 trunking? Never got it to work and have since then bought a PSR-500, which replaced my 96 for daily use, so it hasn't been a problem for me, but I'm still curious.
I also believe I may have been the one to tell texasemt13 that 96 won't do P25 trunking, but I guess I confused that with the fact it won't do trunking in the 380/700 MHz range.
One of the Uniden digital trunking scanners recently got this capability, but I don't own any Unidens so I can't speak for them.
You'll be glad that you upgraded because there is plenty of P25 in the city to listen to.
rdale, what mode do you put the 96 in for P25 trunking? Never got it to work and have since then bought a PSR-500, which replaced my 96 for daily use, so it hasn't been a problem for me, but I'm still curious.
I also believe I may have been the one to tell texasemt13 that 96 won't do P25 trunking, but I guess I confused that with the fact it won't do trunking in the 380/700 MHz range.
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Nothing special, just set it up as MO.
davidbond21
Member
Ah. Figured that might be it. The time before, I set it to ED because I wasn't sure which one to use. When all I heard was buzzing, it was obvious that was wrong.
texasemt13
CenTex DBA
Foiled! Thanks rdale...
Now to get on making that Austin VScanner...
Now to get on making that Austin VScanner...
spitnsand
Member
Budget
I am in the middle on price I do need the APCO 25 capabilities as all the military bases in SA now operate on it and that is the main reason I am going to it as well as DPS operating on it,
Also, so I can monitor ESK analog transmissions.
I am in the middle on price I do need the APCO 25 capabilities as all the military bases in SA now operate on it and that is the main reason I am going to it as well as DPS operating on it,
Also, so I can monitor ESK analog transmissions.
Since you're in SA, and want to monitor the analog (non-Provoice) talkgroups, as well as Tx DPS, go with either the GRE's PSR-500 (handheld) and PSR-600 (base/mobile), or the Radio Shack versions of the same scanners, Pro-106 (hh) and Pro-197 (b/m). These will follow the ESK system, and let you hear the non-Provoice talkgroups. The Unidens (BCD396T & BCD996T), with the latest firmware, will follow ESK as well. However, the GRE-made scanners will accept the NAC codes used for APCO-25 conventional users, like Texas DPS. The new BCD396XT, due out in the first few months of next year, will also have NAC capability, among other features. I plan on adding one to my collection.
Personally, I prefer Uniden's DMA memory system, over GRE's object oriented scanning. But the NAC capability gives the edge to the GRE made scanners, for now. The Pro-106, I believe, has been on sale for $399.99 at Radio Shack. There is also a Friends & Family coupon for a discount. See this post for a link. The 30% off for in-store purchases has expired, but the 10% off for online purchase is good through 11/14/08.
Other points to remember: The GRE's sold under their label (PSR-500 & PSR-600), come with the pc interface cable for programming, and the ac adapters. The Radio Shack Pro-106 comes with neither the adapter or the cable. The Uniden scanners come with ac adapter, pc cables, and the 396 comes with rechargeable batteries. Also, Uniden provides software as a free download for both of these digital scanners. There are other software packages as well, both freeware & for purchase (with trial periods before purchase available). For the GRE made scanners, there are several software packages available, all with a 30 day free trial period. All of these scanners can be programmed by hand, though I prefer using the pc, as it allows quicker text entry.
If the NAC capability is not that important, look for a clean used 396 (or 996, if you're wanting base/mobile) in the for sale forum, or on Ebay, etc. There have been some sell under $375. While the Pro-96 (Pro-2096 is the base/mobile) will do P25 systems, it won't track the ESK as the other units do.
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