Thaellar
Member
I only discovered scanning a couple weeks ago when I stumbled upon this site and began reading. I became hooked and bought a Pro-97 but am returning it because it will not survive rebanding and P-25. So, after much research on these boards and on the internet in general, I have narrowed down my radio package choices to either:
Icom R-75 and Uniden BCD996T
OR
Icom PCR-2500 with P-25 addon and antenna combiner.
Either choice will about the same money. Here is my situation:
1. I live on the western outskirts of Houston, TX
2. For HF, I would like to listen to Aircraft, Coast Guard, Military, Ships at sea, any other utils. I don't think I would be into SW broadcasts that much, but who knows, I might dig it once I get started.
For the scanner, I want to monitor Houston area airports, Ellington Field 147th ANG F-16s, Houston ARTCC, Milair and Police/Fire/etc for Harris County and Metro Houston.
Right now the emergency services are on this:
System Name: Southeast Texas Area Radio Network (STARNET) Motorola
Location: Metro Houston area, TX
County: 9 counties
System Type: Motorola Type II SmartZone
System Voice: Analog and APCO-25 Common Air Interface
It appears they are slowly migrating to this:
System Name: Southeast Texas Area Radio Network (STARNET) Project 25
Location: Various, TX
County: 6 counties
System Type: Project 25 Standard
System Voice: APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive
3: My HOA will not allow outdoor antennas. so I will need to put my antennas in the attic. I will probably take Carmelof's suggestion of an Icom-AH7000 discone up there because at 5.5 feet tall, it will fit. A scantenna is way too tall. I have 2 AC units, water heater, and DirectTV coax as potential interference up there. I'm still unsure about an HF antenna. I guess a copper wire running around the attic will work for HF. Or will it?
These forums have been so valuable to me for learning what little I know. What haven't I considered?
regards,
Thaellar
Icom R-75 and Uniden BCD996T
OR
Icom PCR-2500 with P-25 addon and antenna combiner.
Either choice will about the same money. Here is my situation:
1. I live on the western outskirts of Houston, TX
2. For HF, I would like to listen to Aircraft, Coast Guard, Military, Ships at sea, any other utils. I don't think I would be into SW broadcasts that much, but who knows, I might dig it once I get started.
For the scanner, I want to monitor Houston area airports, Ellington Field 147th ANG F-16s, Houston ARTCC, Milair and Police/Fire/etc for Harris County and Metro Houston.
Right now the emergency services are on this:
System Name: Southeast Texas Area Radio Network (STARNET) Motorola
Location: Metro Houston area, TX
County: 9 counties
System Type: Motorola Type II SmartZone
System Voice: Analog and APCO-25 Common Air Interface
It appears they are slowly migrating to this:
System Name: Southeast Texas Area Radio Network (STARNET) Project 25
Location: Various, TX
County: 6 counties
System Type: Project 25 Standard
System Voice: APCO-25 Common Air Interface Exclusive
3: My HOA will not allow outdoor antennas. so I will need to put my antennas in the attic. I will probably take Carmelof's suggestion of an Icom-AH7000 discone up there because at 5.5 feet tall, it will fit. A scantenna is way too tall. I have 2 AC units, water heater, and DirectTV coax as potential interference up there. I'm still unsure about an HF antenna. I guess a copper wire running around the attic will work for HF. Or will it?
These forums have been so valuable to me for learning what little I know. What haven't I considered?
regards,
Thaellar