Need Help With Purchase

[Wildcat_1]

Hey All

I'm a freelance cameraman here in Denver and want to pick up a new scanner. I have been considering the following:

BC250D
BC246T
PRO-95

I need to obviously tune into EDACS here and was wondering given the units above which you would recommend. MY brother is purchasing this for me as a belated gift so doesn't have a huge budget but we both want to make sure I get one that would help me. Also as a side not I see RS is doing free local programing now with purchase in store

Thanks for the help and recommendation in advance

WC

 

[mciupa]

I have been considering the following:

BC250D
BC246T
PRO-95

... don't have a huge budget
WC

Go for the Pro- 95 if you are budget-minded. :wink:

 

[MaizeBlueFlyover]

The PRO-95 is on sale right now:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.a..._000_000&product_id=20-525&hmsub=ad1A

Doesn't do digital, but not a bad scanner. Has Alpha tagging for talk groups and channels, which is great.

Diskmonger

 

[Wildcat_1]

Yeah I see the sale, thats what interested me. I suppose I'm just wondeirng that if you take the $129 add in the $25 remote cable you are up to $155. Is the BC246T (which includes cable) worth the extra $65 approx ?

 

[WileECoyote]

IF the Pro95 will do what you need with less money, save your bro a few $'s. Download Win95, get the freq's ya need off this site, and your in business...

 

[safetyobc]

I can't speak for a rs scanner but I have a 246t and I have truely loved it. It has the close call so when you get on scene with your camera you might pick up some unknown freqs and be able to hear more traffic. Very nice scanner and worth every penny!

 

[Voyager]

BC250D
BC246T
PRO-95

The biggest bang for the buck right now is the BC246T. It's very small compared to the other two, and has the Close Call feature. It also does all forms of EDACS that any scanner currently will such as EDACS wide, EDACS Narrow, and EDACS SCAT (the 95 doesn't), and runs on AA cells (The BC250D doesn't), and will scan many more trunk systems than the other two - especially when you get into scanning EDACS and LTR systems. The other two are hard limited to 10 systems each (unless some extreme circumstances exist). The BC246T is only limited by the memory, and I think can scan up to 200 systems.

I'm assuming you don't need digital, so the 250D would be without the digital card. As for buying one to upgrade later, they are getting hard to find now, so will likely be near impossible to find in the future.

Joe M.

 

[garys]

According to the information on this site, the State of Colorado is in the process of building an APCO P25 digital trunk system. If you want to listen to agencies like the State Police, you are going to need a digital capable scanner.

Your choices are going to be limited to the BC269/796 or the RS 96/2096. If you don't care about digital then you can use any of the trunk tracking scanners as they all do EDACS.

Gary

 

[Voyager]

According to the information on this site, the State of Colorado is in the process of building an APCO P25 digital trunk system. If you want to listen to agencies like the State Police, you are going to need a digital capable scanner.

Your choices are going to be limited to the BC269/796 or the RS 96/2096. If you don't care about digital then you can use any of the trunk tracking scanners as they all do EDACS.

Gary

For a digital model, you are talking $500 ballpark rather than $200. I don't think digital is within your budget - even used.

Also, it is NOT TRUE that all trunking scanners work on EDACS. The following DO NOT: BC235XLT/895XLT PRO-90/91/2050/2066

Joe M.

 

[Wildcat_1]

Update

OKay here it is

I can get a 246T for $220 or a used BC250D (digital option of course) for $250, what do ya think >?

 

[loumaag]

Re: Update

I can get a 246T for $220 or a used BC250D (digital option of course) for $250, what do ya think >?

The BC250D will not work on the Colorado State system. So if that is any part of your choice, pass it by.

 

[fmon]

Yeah I see the sale, thats what interested me. I suppose I'm just wondeirng that if you take the $129 add in the $25 remote cable you are up to $155. Is the BC246T (which includes cable) worth the extra $65 approx ?

True about the cable, but Win95 software is free, while the software for the 246 is not.

 

[Wildcat_1]

Can anyone elaborate on what Lou said about the BC250D not working on the Colorado system?

 

[loumaag]

Can anyone elaborate on what Lou said about the BC250D not working on the Colorado system?

Hmm, you didn't get my PM response?

 

[UPMan]

Actually, none of the three scanners you are considering will monitor the State of Colorado Digital system. The BPS246T and PRO-95 don't do digital of any kind. The BC250D only does digital on Motorola systems that use a 3600 bps control channel...CO uses a 9600 BPS control channel. If you want to monitor the statewide system you will need:

PRO-96 (HH)
BC296D (HH)
BC796D (Desk/Mobile)
BCD396T (due out this Summer, HH)

To add to the PRO-95 vs. BC246T, both are great scanners. BC246T comes with PC cable, batteries, and AC adapter.

 

[loumaag]

PRO-96 (HH)
BC296D (HH)
BC796D (Desk/Mobile)
BCD396T (due out this Summer, HH)

You left the Pro-2096 (Desk/Mobile) out of your list.

 

[safetyobc]

In my opinion if you want the best non digital scanner out right now go with the 246t. Best scanner I have ever had. The Best! Now if you want digital, I would save my pocket change until summer and get the BCD396 Uniden is supposed to release. Check out all the features on the stickyhttp://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=17995 This will be a great scanner. In my opinion of course. Good luck in making your choice.

 

[safetyobc]

sorry for the bad link here is the good one
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=17995