New SD Phase 2 buildout timeline site
- Thread starter ctadam12
- Start date
For those that haven't heard, since the new radio system will be P25 Phase 2, many older digital scanners won't work with the new system. The following Uniden models are the only Unidens that are compatible with P25 Phase 2;
- HomePatrol-2
- BCD996P2 (not the T or XT)
- BCD325P2
- BCD436HP
- BCD536HP
- SDS100
- SDS200
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What kind of issues would the simulcast sites bring?
Audio distortion to include being garbled or low/no volume. That said, I've rarely experienced it on the current Sioux Falls 3-site multicast system. Sioux Falls metro area is slated to have many more sites under the new system, so it will be more likely. It happens when the scanner is receiving two or more simultaneous transmissions on the same frequency from different sites. Your location matters too. The more sites you're in range of the more likely you'll have the issue. The SMS scanners catch and correct much of that. The two way radios used on the system are designed to avoid the issue also.
Check the article Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki
Thank for this info. I will have to be replacing a Radio Shack Pro69 and 2 Radio Shack Pro 2096 units, so cost in a big factor for me at this time. I have been looking at the BCD325P2 and the BCD996P2 as being in my price range in the future. I am in the Sioux Falls area. but the SDS1000 is kinda out of my price range. I have had good luck all these years with my R S radios, but think I will go with the Bearcat next. Any helpful thoughts or suggestions ? Thanks !
To keep cost down, I'd suggest buying a used BCD996P2, BCD325P2, or BCD436HP on Ebay. Might take some patience to find a good price because many sellers list used scanners for over the Amazon price. I don't have any experience with the 325, but it should work. The 436 is a decent radio, but I'd stay away from the 536 due to reliability issues. The free option would be to just listen to the feed, though note that some of the more "interesting" channels aren't allowed on the feed.
I've never bought new. So far so good. I have gotten a couple with cigarette smoke inundated units but cleaned up pretty good.
I would wait, Currently, the P25 system is only running FDMA talk groups so the 996XT/396XT/HP1(And some Whistler/GRE/RS Scanners) would still work
A system I regularly monitor did the same thing and went to a P25 Phase 2 system but only ran FDMA talk groups so my 996XT worked fine.
In fact, since they stayed with only 800mhz channels and FDMA I still have a BC796D that will still track the system
So no need to upgrade unless they start using TDMA talk groups
Same here in Mississippi. Most TG are still Phase 1 so 3 of my scanners still work great. State police and wildlife have been TDMA for years.
Thank you. I have had good luck all these years with Radio Shack, is there any Radio Shack P25Phase2 radios that you would suggest?
Radio shack is out of the scanner business. When they did sell them, they were either manufactured by GRE (now Whistler) or Uniden. Both of which make very good scanners. I have GRE, Whistler, and Uniden scanners and they all work well for what they were intended. However, they all have their advantages and disadvantages.
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