Monitoring Starcom

[timmer]

With the target date of 12/31/06 for Starcon21 to be up and operational, what is the best radio to monitor it? Is it the pro-96 or BC 396t or 996t? I know the Pro-96 does not trunk the 700mhz channels, even though you can unlock the 700's with win96. So what is everybody using out there? Which one is the best choice for monitoring? I will be purchasing one of the above soon, so any replies are helpfull. Thanks.

 

[illini52]

PRO96/PRO2096/BC396/BC996

See http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=2324
and http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33371
and http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13890
and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/STARCOM21/

I have no actual experience monitoring Starcom, but there is a lot of info in those threads.

 

[werinshades]

With the target date of 12/31/06 for Starcon21 to be up and operational, what is the best radio to monitor it? Is it the pro-96 or BC 396t or 996t? I know the Pro-96 does not trunk the 700mhz channels, even though you can unlock the 700's with win96. So what is everybody using out there? Which one is the best choice for monitoring? I will be purchasing one of the above soon, so any replies are helpfull. Thanks.

From what I read, it is all going to depend on what tower you'll be monitoring this system from. It appears the downstate Districts, 774Mhz. Control Channels appear to be the ones used at this time. Not sure if this is because the system is still in it's early stages or if this will be permanent. So far up near where i'm at in Chicago, it appears the current EDACS frequencies will be converted to Starcom so a scanner with 700 Mhz. capabilities may not be necessary. I'm wondering if the reason for the 774Mhz. usage has something to do with the 800 Mhz. rebanding which is coming soon. Alot of good reading from members monitoring this system should help you. I currently am using the 796D and Pro 2096 and will continue to read about this system and whether or not i'll need a 996T or not.

 

[timmer]

Thanks for the info. Around Springfield, which is the area I monitor, there doesn't seem to be any 700 mhz control channels. It seems to be all 800. 867.325 and 866.9125

 

[N9JIG]

With the target date of 12/31/06 for Starcon21 to be up and operational, what is the best radio to monitor it? Is it the pro-96 or BC 396t or 996t? I know the Pro-96 does not trunk the 700mhz channels, even though you can unlock the 700's with win96. So what is everybody using out there? Which one is the best choice for monitoring? I will be purchasing one of the above soon, so any replies are helpfull. Thanks.

I would stick with the BC396 and 996. The Pro96 does not track the 700 MHz. channels while the 396 and 996 does.

700 MHz. channels are used on several sites, check the site list at http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=2324 and if any of those with 700 MHz. are near you then I would suggest the Unidens.

While I like the Pro96 and 2096, the lack of tracking 700 MHz. channels make it unsuitable for StarCom21.

 

[werinshades]

I would stick with the BC396 and 996. The Pro96 does not track the 700 MHz. channels while the 396 and 996 does.

700 MHz. channels are used on several sites, check the site list at http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=2324 and if any of those with 700 MHz. are near you then I would suggest the Unidens.

While I like the Pro96 and 2096, the lack of tracking 700 MHz. channels make it unsuitable for StarCom21.

I do agree with this logic though. Friends are asking me about the upcoming Chicago Digital conversion, and I reccomend the current "best" out there. For the difference in price for a used 2096/96 - 796D/296D, you'd be better off buying a new 396/996T so you have everything available to you. Do alot of reading up on these scanners though, as it appears they are very complicated to program.