More New Guy Questions ,Scanner Edition

[Verylargeboots]

Greetings and Happy Thanksgiving!

I've got a few new dweeb questions for the fine folks on this board that were thought up as I read through the scanner basics and FAQs section this morning, but I'll give you a little background to start with. As well as a warning about my horrible run-on sentances....

I live in Hanover County, Virginia. My scanning goals are to be able to listen to my local fire/emergency services, PD, and pretty much anything else I can pick up. I live fairly close to a large airport so I'm guessing that's something I could pick up as well. I bought a Baofeng UV5R to learn the basics (read, BASICS) of frequencies and how these systems operate on a base level, and immediately ran into issues because everything but EMS dispatch out here is trunked. Oh! And UV5Rs are garbage haha.

With all that being said..... I'm lost. I'm not sure what entry level scanners are appropriate for what I want to do. I'd rather not drop $600 on a SDS200 until I have a better understanding/need for one. I can run antennas up as far as I can legally go and am happy to do so if needed but out here I'd think my flagpole would be sufficient. Any suggestions on how/what/where/when/why on getting started with this would be greatly appreciated. I've done lots of reading but I believe I'm at the "information overload" stage and just need to be pointed in a direction.

 

[Engine104]

Welcome aboard!

Check your area's frequencies in the database on here. That will tell you the mode and type of system. If the systems in your area are not simulcast, then you should be able to go with a Uniden 996P2 or a Uniden BCD536. You can also check out the Whistler TRX-2. These are all capable of receiving P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2. Those are base/mobile units. If you want a handheld, the Uniden 325P2 is an excellent choice. It's about the size of your Baofeng. You area may still have just Phase 1 P25, but most new systems are Phase 2.

If you find that your area uses simulcast transmissions, the SDS 200 (base) or the SDS 100 (handheld) are the only ones on the market right now that can handle simulcast well. They are super pricey, but excellent. You can try using the others I mentioned, but results have been mixed with simulcast systems.

I hope that helps.

 

[Chris0516]

Greetings and Happy Thanksgiving!

I've got a few new dweeb questions for the fine folks on this board that were thought up as I read through the scanner basics and FAQs section this morning, but I'll give you a little background to start with. As well as a warning about my horrible run-on sentances....

I live in Hanover County, Virginia. My scanning goals are to be able to listen to my local fire/emergency services, PD, and pretty much anything else I can pick up. I live fairly close to a large airport so I'm guessing that's something I could pick up as well. I bought a Baofeng UV5R to learn the basics (read, BASICS) of frequencies and how these systems operate on a base level, and immediately ran into issues because everything but EMS dispatch out here is trunked. Oh! And UV5Rs are garbage haha.

With all that being said..... I'm lost. I'm not sure what entry level scanners are appropriate for what I want to do. I'd rather not drop $600 on a SDS200 until I have a better understanding/need for one. I can run antennas up as far as I can legally go and am happy to do so if needed but out here I'd think my flagpole would be sufficient. Any suggestions on how/what/where/when/why on getting started with this would be greatly appreciated. I've done lots of reading but I believe I'm at the "information overload" stage and just need to be pointed in a direction.

This RR page: Hanover County, Virginia (VA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference says the county Fire/EMS is "simulcast with trunked system". So, The SDS100(handheld), and the SDS200(base) are your only options at the present time. Everything else does not require simulcast capability.

I have the BCD325p2. It can't simulcast, but that is not at the top of my list of necessities.

 

[iMONITOR]

This RR page: Hanover County, Virginia (VA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference says the county Fire/EMS is "simulcast with trunked system". So, The SDS100(handheld), and the SDS200(base) are your only options at the present time.

That's hasn't been established. Check with some scanner users in that area here on RR. Some simulcast systems can be received with no problems with numerous other P25 digital scanners available new or used at a much more affordable price.

I own a SDS200 but at my home a SDS series scanner is not required. All GRE, Whister, Radio Shack, and Uniden P25 Phase 1 scanners work just fine! Make sure you buy from a dealer that accepts returns with a full refund just to be safe in case it's not satisfactory for your needs where you live. If you plan to be on the move, handheld or mobile, then your safe bet is an SDS series.

 

[Verylargeboots]

This RR page: Hanover County, Virginia (VA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference says the county Fire/EMS is "simulcast with trunked system". So, The SDS100(handheld), and the SDS200(base) are your only options at the present time. Everything else does not require simulcast capability.

I have the BCD325p2. It can't simulcast, but that is not at the top of my list of necessities.

Stupid question time, here we go! How am I able to hear the dispatch 24/7 on my crappy little Baofeng if it's simulcast?

 

[bharvey2]

Welcome! As has been mentioned above, the bulk of the police/fire radio traffic activity in your area is going to be on an APCO P25 Phase 1 system. In the future, they may move to a Phase 2 system. This is a digital, trunked system and will require that you use a scanner capable of receiving it. I think the SDS100 and SDS200 current kings of the scanner heap but the others mentioned above will also work depending upon your environment/locale. If you intend to go mobile with your scanner, simulcast distortion (receiving the same signal from multiple transmitters) may be an insurmountable problem and might only be addressed with the SDS100/200. If you intend to remain stationary, there are antenna options that can help. As was pointed out earlier, getting some feedback from other scanner users in your area will be a big help and could save you a good deal of frustration as simulcast distortion can be a bear to fight.

If you're patient and computer savvy, a program called DSD+ and an SDR (Software Defined Radio) receiver can get you in the game for a lot less money that a scanner. That's assuming you will be scanning only at home and have a decent computer. I've been using such a setup for a number of years. If listening is more your thing and tinkering isn't, stick with a purpose built scanner.

 

[cmjonesinc]

If you don't need all the bells and whistles of a scanner and are just trying to listen, check this out Blue Tail Technologies - P25RX P25 Phase 1/2/DMR Receiver With Bluetooth Audio Support

P25 phase 1 & 2 and handles simulcast well. Plus it's half the price of a Uniden. I own 2 and they are great.

 

[Verylargeboots]

Thank you all so much for the information and assistance! I'm going to take everything that's been posted into consideration and will decide on a course of action. I do have to say that I've been drooling over the SDS200 lately.....

 

[doctordialtone]

drooling over the SDS200

As soon as they were back in stock at ScannerMaster, I had to get one.

Don't wait too long!

 

[Reconrider]

Thank you all so much for the information and assistance! I'm going to take everything that's been posted into consideration and will decide on a course of action. I do have to say that I've been drooling over the SDS200 lately.....

If you don't mind leaving the computer on, you can always pick up two rtl-sdrs on amazon for about 75$(prime shipped) and have in about 1-2 days and have it setup in another 2 hours.

That's the cheapest way to listen to p25p2 without spending 700$ on the sds100/sds200.
You can use SDRTrunk which is free and not to bad to setup after you understand it - someone on rr will help if you get stuck.

 

[sallen07]

Stupid question time, here we go! How am I able to hear the dispatch 24/7 on my crappy little Baofeng if it's simulcast?

"Simulcast" is a word that is used in a couple different ways when talking about scanning. When describing one of the new P25 Phase 1/2 systems that many counties and cities have moved to, it means "transmissions from several towers (antennas) on the same frequency at the same time". This gives most scanners fits, since they end up "hearing" two or more signals that are out of phase by just a bit and are unable to decode the digital data stream. A few people are lucky enough to win the simulcast lottery and are close enough to one tower that the signal drowns out all the others, but your chances of winning that are about the same as any other lottery. Hence the various recommendations for monitoring solutions that can handle simulcast.

If you look at the Hancock County page on Radioreference you'll see the other usage of the word simulcast: transmission of the same information on two (or more) *different* frequencies at the same time. This is often done with what's called a patch between different radio systems, and is what is in place for the Fire/EMS dispatch in Hancock County, probably to activate analog pagers. *That* is why you can hear that traffic on your Baofeng.

 

[WA0CBW]

Add to the above that "simulcast" can be analog or digital and conventual or trunked.

 

[eaf1956]

Thank you all so much for the information and assistance! I'm going to take everything that's been posted into consideration and will decide on a course of action. I do have to say that I've been drooling over the SDS200 lately.....

Don't do that it gets all wet....

 

[SurgePGH]

If you don't mind leaving the computer on, you can always pick up two rtl-sdrs on amazon for about 75$(prime shipped) and have in about 1-2 days and have it setup in another 2 hours.

That's the cheapest way to listen to p25p2 without spending 700$ on the sds100/sds200.
You can use SDRTrunk which is free and not to bad to setup after you understand it - someone on rr will help if you get stuck.

Can you use just one or do you need two?

 

[Reconrider]

Can you use just one or do you need two?

If it’s analog, one is fine. But for a trunk system you’ll really want 2 or more. 1 sdr sits on the cc and they 2nd follows the voices that the cc hears

 

[Verylargeboots]

This has gotten very complicated very fast haha. I'll look at the RTL-SDRS approach as well thanks to Reconrider

 

[Engine104]

This has gotten very complicated very fast haha. I'll look at the RTL-SDRS approach as well thanks to Reconrider

I bought an SDR dongle a month ago. It is fun to mess with, but it does not replace a scanner, in my opinion.