Need some assistance in selecting a scanner

[TVisitor]

I'm fairly new to the hobby, Living in NJ, and a have a Pro-2042 at the moment. I'm looking for something portable. Not interested in listening the car (while driving), but might be interested in listening while at various places [i.e. out in the yard, go to a friend's house, while at a stadium at a concert, while out staying at a hotel on vacation, etc.]

I'm looking for something that can:

1. Handheld... Non-handheld is probably an option if the system can run on batteries or be run off a cigarette lighter if I'm parked so I'm not tied to line power.
2. Can deal with trunked systems [From what I read there are many trunking systems, and not every receiver can grab them all, but perhaps something that can deal with common trunking type stuff?]
3. Can do analog and digital.
4. Can interface to a PC, via RS-232 or Ethernet (though it seems RS-232 is more common). Having the control protocol available would be a big plus, as I have a background in interfacing to hardware and would like to tinker with my own programming.
5. Price: Willing to go around $500-$600.
6. No need to record the transmissions or log them... though, a headphone output might be nice so as not to bother others with it, though not a must.

Feel free to suggest. Not tied to any particular manufacturer. Also looking for a reputable online store to purchase from.

One other question: The FCC requires scanners in the US to lock out the 800MHz band, becuase of Cell phone usage in that band. Isn't it true that even if you HAD a scanner that could receive those frequencies, you're proably not going to be able to deciper them? (encrypted? something else?)

Thanks, all.

 

[Bentley]

TVisitor:

Also living in NJ (Toms River, Ocean County) and seeing more and more departments switching over to digital (depending on where you live) I would highly recomend going with the PORTABLE radio shack pro-96.

It is packed with all the features you are looking for and widely available in stores. It is within your price range, recieves both digital and analog as well as trunking just about all of NJ's systems (again, depending on where you live), has PC programming capabilities, programming is VERY easy with don starrs software (www.starrsoft.com), headphone jack, a whopping 5,500 channels (v-scanner folders). One of the BEST features in my opinion is the alpha display on the screen, it allows you to not only see the actual frequency, but you can program a custom message associated with all the 5500 channels. And the list goes on!

I absolutely love mine and have no complaints.

I have included a link to the RS website where you can get some more specs on it, as well as a picture of mine. Let us know what you decide!

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...Type/Digital+trunking&fbc=1&parentPage=family

 

[hotdjdave]

Uniden BCD396T and Radio Shack/GRE Pro-96

Either of these two outstanding scanners are what you are seeking - both within your given price range and have the features you listed (click on it to go to RR Wiki):

Uniden BCD396T - around $509.99 to $549.99.

Radio Shack/GRE Pro-96 - at RS for $499.99 (rarely on sale) - does not include software ($30.00) and programming cable ($19.99).


The Official PRO-96 / BCD396T Comparison Thread is a sticky thread that discusses the differences between these two hand held scanning receivers. Note that the information is the viewpoints of the individual members.


As for me, I went with the Uniden BCD396T, and love it. It has more advanced features, Uniden software is FREE or available via third-party (also very good), it comes with all needed accessories, it looks better (I like the blue backlight), it uses an SMA connector for the antenna, 6000 dynamically allocated channels, Close Call™ RF Capture Technology (instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters), wide-band coverage (almost no gaps), comes preloaded with hundreds of frequencies and service band searches, rebanding supported, simple to program with software or via the menu driven keypad, and most importantly, Uniden listens to the wants and needs of the BCD396 users and makes necessary changes and updates to the firmware.

RadioReference (RR) member, UPMan, is a Uniden project manager for the BCD396T and other new Uniden scanners. UPMan interacts with us here at RR and in certain Yahoo Groups, answering questions and gathering information about our wants and needs, to make the scanner a better product. I have not seen support such as this for any other scanner company. We have seen a direct result of this interaction in the recent updates to the BCD396T firmware and in the features of new and upcoming mobile/base models.