Need help! Pro 96 or BC296D? Montco PA

[TechTwo]

Hi,

I am getting back into scanning after being away for a while. I currently use an old BC200XLT( with a new 2100 mAH battery pack! ), which is good for everything but Police, Fire, EMTs etc.

I am looking at the Pro 96 and BC296D but am having a tough time deciding which one is best for my area. I live in Montgomery County PA which is almost all digital or soon will be.

One big question what is LTR and who uses it, is it reason enough to get a BC296D over the Pro 96?

Is there a list of LTR systems for eastern PA? This might help me make my choice.

Thanks for all the help.

Best Regards

Michael

 

[loumaag]

Welcome Michael,

The decision has to be yours; however, you can use this bit of information to help. Standard LTR is a type of trunking where no control channel is used, rather sub-audiable signaling is used on the actual frequency being used as the voice frequency helps control who hears what. That is a pretty simplistic explanation, but will do. Mostly it is used for business/commmercial trunking systems. As for what uses in PA, take a look here for all the TRS in PA and you can sort that list the way you want (click on the right title at the top.)

You can also check out The Official Pro-96 BC296D comparison thread here in the forums to help you make up your mind.

Hope this helps.

 

[Voyager]

Hi,

I am getting back into scanning after being away for a while. I currently use an old BC200XLT( with a new 2100 mAH battery pack! ), which is good for everything but Police, Fire, EMTs etc.

I am looking at the Pro 96 and BC296D but am having a tough time deciding which one is best for my area. I live in Montgomery County PA which is almost all digital or soon will be.

One big question what is LTR and who uses it, is it reason enough to get a BC296D over the Pro 96?

Is there a list of LTR systems for eastern PA? This might help me make my choice.

Thanks for all the help.

Best Regards

Michael

You're in a tough area. If you need LTR (and I know it used to be big for PS in and around Bucks Co - not sure anymore), the BC296D is required. However, since there are multiple digital TRSs (I think), the PRO-96 would handle that better. Tough call, but check out the link Lou posted and decide which is more important to you.

You can also check out the systems in the RR database for PA here:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&stid=42

Joe M.

 

[loumaag]

:lol: This:

You can also check out the systems in the RR database for PA here:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&stid=42

and this:

As for what uses in PA, take a look here for all the TRS in PA ...

I think are the same thing. :lol:

 

[radioscan]

I was in Montgomery County this past weekend for the
Winter SWL Fest. My Pro-96 served me very well, even found
2 unknown 900 MHz systems with it. There is very little digital
use right now on the Montgomery County system. Only digital
I caught in four days of monitoring was White Marsh Township PD.
However if you plan on listening to Philly, you will need digital.

Looking at the rr database I see no listing for any LTR systems, although
there may be some, since I did find those unlisted 900 MHz systems.
Still, IMHO I think the Pro-96 is the best way to go.

Mark

 

[Voyager]

:lol: This:

You can also check out the systems in the RR database for PA here:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&stid=42

and this:

As for what uses in PA, take a look here for all the TRS in PA ...

I think are the same thing. :lol:

Ooops :!: :shock: :shock: :shock:

I didn't see your link.

Joe M.

 

[K5MAR]

:lol: This:

You can also check out the systems in the RR database for PA here:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&stid=42

and this:

As for what uses in PA, take a look here for all the TRS in PA ...

I think are the same thing. :lol:

Lou, those hidden links such as you used are not always easy to see, depending on the monitor and settings. Especially for those of us who have color-challanged vision. :lol: Could Lindsay set it up so the embedded links (I think that's the correct term) are more noticibly different, boldfaced, or a red color, or something?

Mark S.

 

[loumaag]

Lou, those hidden links such as you used are not always easy to see, depending on the monitor and settings. Especially for those of us who have color-challanged vision. :lol: Could Lindsay set it up so the embedded links (I think that's the correct term) are more noticibly different, boldfaced, or a red color, or something?

Mark, they are not hidden. That is the normal way links are supposed to look. Underlined and whatever your default color scheme. That default is defined in your browser settings, not here on the site. On mine it is blue, which I will admit looks a little like the black printing (at least on my monitor) but every link I put up is underlined because I make sure of it before I hit submit.

If you are using MSIE click on Tools menu item, choose Internet Options.... On the resulting dialog on the General tab, you will see a Colors... button at the bottom; a click on that and you can change what links look like on your browser from what you have them set for now.

 

[TechTwo]

Thanks For the Help

Thanks for all the help, the only LTR system that I would be interested in would be Chester County and that cant be decoded by the BC296D.

Looks like it'll be the Pro-96.

Now all I need is a Radio Shack sale

Maybe Dads and Grads in June :?:

Best Regards

Michael