Looking for help picking a scanner.
- Thread starter Dgreen70
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N8IAA
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My suggestion is that you click on Report in the bottom left corner of your post and ask the mods to move it to the Arkansas state forum. You'll get better info there on what scanner you need.
As far as AWIN, accordinly to RR database, there is only one TG for the sheriff. And it is Phase I.
As far as AWIN, accordinly to RR database, there is only one TG for the sheriff. And it is Phase I.
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Zip code is not that much of a help and it's a chore to have to look it up. What is your hometown in Baxter County, Arkansas. People will be able to help you better that way.
A very quick glance tells me that you very well might be dealing with DMR, and nxdn and a phase ll tdma system, not sure if simulcast Distortion will be an issue.
Again your hometown? Zip code says Mountain Home. You're going to need a higher-end radio that can deal with potential simulcast distortion. You also need nxdn, DMR options. Uniden optional add- on's for a fee work well, Whistler radios which are long in the tooth offer these options for free but they are not licensed and don't work well, I'm sure that's up for debate... they also do not handle Phase 2 simulcast distortion well.
Check out the different vendors and look for the higher-priced Uniden radios that offer the option for NXDN, DMR.
Lots of great people here and I'm sure somebody will list them all out for you, remember you get what you pay for. The only two radios by Uniden, they're specifically designed to handle simulcast distortion, are the SDS 100 + 200. Make sure you're sitting down when you look at the price LOL.
Depending if simulcast Distortion is an issue, you can look on your state forum regarding your Phase ll system and see what people say, you may be able to use one of the Uniden radios that are less expensive and won't be affected by the simulcast distortion. Specifically the BCD 436/536. Good luck to you and welcome to radio reference!
A very quick glance tells me that you very well might be dealing with DMR, and nxdn and a phase ll tdma system, not sure if simulcast Distortion will be an issue.
Again your hometown? Zip code says Mountain Home. You're going to need a higher-end radio that can deal with potential simulcast distortion. You also need nxdn, DMR options. Uniden optional add- on's for a fee work well, Whistler radios which are long in the tooth offer these options for free but they are not licensed and don't work well, I'm sure that's up for debate... they also do not handle Phase 2 simulcast distortion well.
Check out the different vendors and look for the higher-priced Uniden radios that offer the option for NXDN, DMR.
Lots of great people here and I'm sure somebody will list them all out for you, remember you get what you pay for. The only two radios by Uniden, they're specifically designed to handle simulcast distortion, are the SDS 100 + 200. Make sure you're sitting down when you look at the price LOL.
Depending if simulcast Distortion is an issue, you can look on your state forum regarding your Phase ll system and see what people say, you may be able to use one of the Uniden radios that are less expensive and won't be affected by the simulcast distortion. Specifically the BCD 436/536. Good luck to you and welcome to radio reference!
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Oh yes, a closer look says that AWIN is in the process of switching from Phase 1 to phase 2, even though it's listed as Phase 2, there is some future-proofing to do here. I saw quite a number of talk groups on that system.
Your locals are going to know best.
Welcome to the forums:
If DMR is a must for you, have a read here at supported receivers. Taking into account AWIN only & seeing only one (non-simulcast) site listed for Baxter County, you could probably do just fine with a Uniden BCD325p2 which is the cheapest handheld scanner on the market which can handle P25 Phase-II AND has DMR capability with paid upgrade. If you want DMR right out of the box your next option would be the Whistler TRX-1. However as has been well documented on these forums the Whistlers do not (properly) trunk track DMR or NXDN systems but rather follow the voice channels individually. If your area decides to simulcast their sites in the future or if you visit an area where sites are simulcast (there are a few on the AWIN) then my recommendation would go to the Uniden SDS100 since this is the only handheld on the market designed to properly mitigate the ugly effects of simulcast distortion. Good luck with whatever you decide to purchase.
If DMR is a must for you, have a read here at supported receivers. Taking into account AWIN only & seeing only one (non-simulcast) site listed for Baxter County, you could probably do just fine with a Uniden BCD325p2 which is the cheapest handheld scanner on the market which can handle P25 Phase-II AND has DMR capability with paid upgrade. If you want DMR right out of the box your next option would be the Whistler TRX-1. However as has been well documented on these forums the Whistlers do not (properly) trunk track DMR or NXDN systems but rather follow the voice channels individually. If your area decides to simulcast their sites in the future or if you visit an area where sites are simulcast (there are a few on the AWIN) then my recommendation would go to the Uniden SDS100 since this is the only handheld on the market designed to properly mitigate the ugly effects of simulcast distortion. Good luck with whatever you decide to purchase.
Magnetsteve
Member
I second what Whiskey3JMC said.
Based off what I am reading on the database, you would need something capable of Phase 2 P25 with DMR and NXDN added. the BCD325p2 is capable of all as well as the BCD996P2, whether you need a base/mobile setup or portable. Unfortunately the DMR and NXDN add-ons are expensive. I only see one AWIN TG listed for Baxter county, and if you want to listen to ASP, AHP, AGF then you would need the scanner to be capable of Phase 2 P25. The good news is, it looks like everything in your area is in the clear (not encrypted).
Good luck!
Based off what I am reading on the database, you would need something capable of Phase 2 P25 with DMR and NXDN added. the BCD325p2 is capable of all as well as the BCD996P2, whether you need a base/mobile setup or portable. Unfortunately the DMR and NXDN add-ons are expensive. I only see one AWIN TG listed for Baxter county, and if you want to listen to ASP, AHP, AGF then you would need the scanner to be capable of Phase 2 P25. The good news is, it looks like everything in your area is in the clear (not encrypted).
Good luck!
You will need to purchase separate DMR keys for each radio. The DMR key is registered to a specific radio based on the serial number. If purchased directly from Uniden, the DMR key costs $60.
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I can listen to state police with a BCD325p2?
Magnetsteve
Member
Yep, ASP, AGF, Highway Police, etc. Anything AWIN that isn't encrypted.
If a frequency in encrypted, will it be listed as encrypted when you look up frequencies for an area in the data base?
Magnetsteve
Member
Yes, under the AWIN database encrypted talkgroups are listed as "DE".
The talkgroups for the state police are listed at Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State - Scanner Frequencies under State Police: Troop A, State Police: Troop B., etc. Looks like there might be some additional talkgroups under Law Enforcement.
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The Arkansas State Police troops are listed here:
Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) Trunking System, Statewide, Multi-State
Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) Trunking System Profile
www.radioreference.com
You need to install Sentinel on your PC, then update the database in Sentinel. Once you receive the scanner, use Sentinel to update it as well. When shipped, the database in the scanner will be seriously out of date, as much as a year, or more. Getting the most recent update in Sentinel, then writing it to the scanner, will ensure that you have the most current information for your area. You can install Sentinel & get started before your scanner arrives.
Note that when the scanner is shipped, as well as when Sentinel is installed for the first time, only the Dispatch service types are active for Public Safety: Law Dispatch, Fire Dispatch, EMS Dispatch, and Multi-Dispatch. You should also enable the Tac and Talk service types, such as Law Talk, Law Tac, Fire Talk, Fire Tac, etc. If you plan, initially, to scan using the database, be sure that you update your location in Sentinel, so that is downloaded to the scanner when you update it's database. For more information on how Location Based Scanning works, see this:
How it Works: Location, Location, Location
Take a look at this Wiki page, as well as the links on it:
BCD436HP and BCD536HP Scanner FAQ - The RadioReference Wiki
This page from Uniden has a link to install Sentinel, as well as the serial driver in case you later want to use ProScan or ARC536 for logging and control of your scanner via your PC.
BCD436HP < UnidenMan4 < TWiki
There are online, Easier to Read manuals for Sentinel, as well as for your scanner.
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