Subliminal87
Member
So the 396xt is my first digital scanner. As my county is slowly moving towards a P25 system, I wanted to get a digital scanner. I picked the 396 because it's pretty much grab and go which is what I wanted.
I had before a BCT 15x with remote head, external antenna, and inside antenna. Too many cables in the car. It sucked moving it from inside to outside and inside again.
I live in northern lancaster county. I used freescan, and I programmed in Lancaster County, Lebanon county, Dauphin and York.
With the stock antenna I can pick up Lebanon, however I can pick up York much better. Which I don't understand how that's possible. I was/am picking up West, North, East, and South pretty clear. Sometimes I can pick up both conversations in full. with two maybe three bars. Error rate never goes into double digits (that I take notice to).
I can't pick up Lancaster though unless the units are close, that's the way our crappy system works (being a user of the system, sucks more when you can't talk to incoming units).
I went into Dauphin County, Driving up 283, I couldn't pick the system up AT ALL. Until I got into the Middletown area. Then it would be showing both the TMI site and Ellendale some of Derry too. I haven't figured out if the York system is more powerful or not.
I picked this scanner up pretty quick, I had a 20% coupon. I paid $360 total for this scanner. So far I like it alot.
My next scanner, which I am debating when to get it, probably around the holidays. I am debating 436 or 536 (Berks is going Phase 2, lancaster probably in a few years)...Probably, the 536 as it will probably just sit on a desk most of the time, and if I do take it with, I can use the iPhone app to control it (hopefully), and have an external speaker hooked up without need to plug in an amplified speaker.
It does take time getting used to the scanner. I am still trying to understand a few things, like how to do double digital quick keys haha.
These are the systems I am monitoring just if anyone is wondering.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2262
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2278
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2307
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2276
I had before a BCT 15x with remote head, external antenna, and inside antenna. Too many cables in the car. It sucked moving it from inside to outside and inside again.
I live in northern lancaster county. I used freescan, and I programmed in Lancaster County, Lebanon county, Dauphin and York.
With the stock antenna I can pick up Lebanon, however I can pick up York much better. Which I don't understand how that's possible. I was/am picking up West, North, East, and South pretty clear. Sometimes I can pick up both conversations in full. with two maybe three bars. Error rate never goes into double digits (that I take notice to).
I can't pick up Lancaster though unless the units are close, that's the way our crappy system works (being a user of the system, sucks more when you can't talk to incoming units).
I went into Dauphin County, Driving up 283, I couldn't pick the system up AT ALL. Until I got into the Middletown area. Then it would be showing both the TMI site and Ellendale some of Derry too. I haven't figured out if the York system is more powerful or not.
I picked this scanner up pretty quick, I had a 20% coupon. I paid $360 total for this scanner. So far I like it alot.
My next scanner, which I am debating when to get it, probably around the holidays. I am debating 436 or 536 (Berks is going Phase 2, lancaster probably in a few years)...Probably, the 536 as it will probably just sit on a desk most of the time, and if I do take it with, I can use the iPhone app to control it (hopefully), and have an external speaker hooked up without need to plug in an amplified speaker.
It does take time getting used to the scanner. I am still trying to understand a few things, like how to do double digital quick keys haha.
These are the systems I am monitoring just if anyone is wondering.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2262
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2278
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2307
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2276
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