New Southern Nevada Scanner Book?

[eraweeb]

Recently I emailed the makers of the Southern Nevada Scanner Book and asked them when we might expect a new edition to become available. Their answer surprised me!

I was told that since AES was the sole seller/distributor of the book, the makers will not release a new version until AES runs out of the old edition and requests the new edition to be shipped. Every time I call AES and ask them when the new edition will be available the answer always is, "We still have the February edition for sale."

I get the feeling that AES buys the books up front and obviously does not want to get stuck holding unsold copies. On the other hand I also get the feeling that a new edition is already available but will not be shipped until AES requests it.

This seems somewhat unfair to those of us who are anxiously awaiting the new edition since a lot of the old edition is obviously obsolete and outdated. In other words if AES inadvertently ordered too many books back in February, then a new edition just might be sitting there waiting for those old editions to be sold.

I would assume that most of the regular buyers of the book, (hobbyists as well as the media) buy them during the first few months that they are available. Once they have been available for almost a year I would think that the demand by then is extremely minimal.

If any of you out there have any influence on AES now would be a good time to exercise it. Either that or we may have to take up a collection and buy out all the old copies.

 

[billybob123]

I want the new book !!!! I will buy another old copy if I also get a new copy

 

[BCFlash]

Yes, if they will offer some special pricing, I would buy two copies (at least one being a new edition).

 

[eraweeb]

Man, money is tight right now especially to us Peeps on Social Security Disability.

It was hard enough just getting past Christmas this year. I know what you mean though. For those of us hard core hobbyists and professionals alike, having accurate and up to date communication information is very important to us.

I would think that this particular information is even more critical to members of the media who consistently rely on this data to perform their jobs accurately and more easily.

O.K. then, why not take an informal poll of RR members. Would you be willing to buy two copies of the book in order to receive an updated version now instead of maybe two or three months from now? Just keep your replies confined to this thread.

Based on the number of responses received, I will decide whether to contact AES as well as the book publishers and to make a proposal on this issue and to get an idea of just how many old editions of the book are left over.

Additionally there may be some people out there who are associated with AES in some capacity who could contribute some information or help regarding this issue. If so, please feel free to join in on this forum with any help that you can supply. Thank you!

Please feel free to use these addresses if you need to:

(AES) lasvegas@aesham.com

(Scanner Book) nevadascannerbook@yahoo.com

 

[Livewire3286]

honestly I have found most of what Ive always looked for on the net. I think other hobbyist are better resources than a book. I have bought this one in the past myself but long time ago. Most changes I have found here on this web site or others. Maybe they should make an online version and sell that. Like a PDF or something.

 

[eraweeb]

This may be just my opinion, but in the past I have found that book to be the most accurate and up to date frequency information available for Southern Nevada, at least when it is first released.

Last February when the last edition was released I found many discrepencies between it and what appeared here in the RR database. After doing some research it was determined that the book was correct and RR was wrong.

Don't forget that when you see frequency information on one web site, more than likely that information was just copied from another web site and never confirmed for accuracy.

 

[eraweeb]

Scanner Book Announcement!

I just received the following email from the publishers of the Southern Nevada Scanner Book.

Quote: AES has sold their last copy of the Feb. 2008 edition and placed an order today with us.
The new edition is being worked on and should be in AES in the later half of Jan. and will be entitled the Feb. 2009 edition. Feel free to share this info. with others.
Happy listening on New Year's Eve as it is the best time to monitor LV.
End of quote.

 

[jimcamella]

Great news. I'll be waiting in line. Happy New Year!

 

[br0adband]

Just as an additional confirmation, I was just at AES here in Vegas, picked up a GRE PSR-300 and a Diamond RH-C77A so I gotta get some programming going before the fireworks tonight. The gentleman that helped me with the purchase (if you're a member here I apologize, I saw your call sign on the nametag and I don't remember that or what your name might be, but thank you for the help) did confirm that yes they are sold out of the last edition and yes they are expecting the new one sometime in January, that's about it.

Be nice to see what new info is in it and what's changed.

 

[737mech]

How's that 300 working for you?

Just as an additional confirmation, I was just at AES here in Vegas, picked up a GRE PSR-300 and a Diamond RH-C77A so I gotta get some programming going before the fireworks tonight. The gentleman that helped me with the purchase (if you're a member here I apologize, I saw your call sign on the nametag and I don't remember that or what your name might be, but thank you for the help) did confirm that yes they are sold out of the last edition and yes they are expecting the new one sometime in January, that's about it.

Be nice to see what new info is in it and what's changed.

I was also thinking of a 300 addition please let me know how happy you are with it. Especially what systems you monitor.

 

[br0adband]

After owning this for the past few hours, I gotta say... I'm not satisfied with it, I really ain't. You can see the BC246T as my avatar, and I swear, I should have just gotten another one. I've made countless posts over the years praising that scanner as the best non-digital handheld scanner ever made and I stand by it, even in spite of the BR330T coming out and gaining the MilAir band and some more features.

So, I plan to return this PSR-300 for the following reasons:

- too damned sensitive compared to the others I've owned while I've lived here (I'm in downtown Vegas). The intermod with the PSR-300 and the general bad quality of the reception irritates me considerably. People will say a lot of things, but in my situation here and now, every other scanner I've owned while I've been a member here at RR has been able to block out all the intermod, the overpowered pager transmissions, and the generally bad reception one can expect when being so close to a few skyscrapers (not every tall but even so).

- audio quality is quite laden with static and hiss, it's absolutely overpowering sometimes. Not sure if anything should or can be done with it, or I might just be picky as I do prefer a more bassy quality to the sound, but this - to me - isn't going to cut it.

- Programming is still so far behind, below, buried and a few other states compared to Uniden's dynamic memory. I can grab a 246T right now and start banging away on all the items - everything from the tags to the groups, creating new systems, etc. It just works and makes sense to me, whereas the still seemingly "can't figure it out" virtual crap with GRE/Radio Shack hardware just doesn't cut it, I can't explain it but, I guess I'm just stuck on the Uniden way...

- No PC connectivity out of the box, and no computer control either. Come on... how hard can it be, GRE? Uniden does it with the 246T and most every other handheld of substance they've made over the past 4 years, why can't you? Why do I have to pay another $20-30 for that dagnabbit USB thingamabob from you or locally at Radio Shack just to be able to transfer frequency data to and from the scanner? Would it absolutely kill the bottom line to make some of those Serial DB9 to 1/8" plug adapter cables? Or simply have a proper USB interface built in like Uniden? See a pattern?

Bleh. It's ok for what it is, but if I had the 246T sitting here, it would already be fully programmed by me using my ARC246 software I bought almost the day the 246T came out. I've still got all my past data files, so it would have been 20 mins or less after getting home that I could have had a new 246T fully spec'ed out and monitoring, and being controlled by ARC246, and logging, and all those other good things.

I have extremely high hopes for the upcoming BC346XT, but right now I'm seriously wishing that is has one feature I'd truly truly LOVE to have: Radio ID alpha tagging like the Pro-106/Pro-197 now has. I wanted to get one of those but... I missed that $299 sale a week ago, oh well. That Radio ID tagging is something I've wanted for a long long time; pretty sure everyone has a desire for that.

I spent months monitoring and IDing by hand as many radio IDs on the SNACC system as I could and I think I've got several hundred - of course someone out there has 'em all or damned close to it, so that would be a huge thing if they could put it into a database or whatever - I'd even pay $10 or so to get a complete or very well done radio ID tag list for the SNACC system and that is primarily what I monitor.

Some Metro traffic sometimes (living here in downtown means I hear sirens quite often, and the chopper hovering overhead as well), but for me the big thing is SNACC and getting it cataloged, I suppose. That's my hobby...

 

[br0adband]

As an additional note (now that I think about it), if the book is released and AES gets it, I'll post here that it's out - and I hope if anyone else finds out it's available at AES they'll do likewise and post a note here for everyone to know.

Thanks...

 

[NeFire242]

Typically how many pages are in a book like this and what kind of format is this done in? Tables and lists or what?

I can't picture trying to put a single state into paper that seems like it would only be a few pages long of information. Do they list RIDs too?

I'm curious to see what one of these things looks like.

 

[TOUGHLIFE]

Southern NV Scanner Book 7th Ed

Typically how many pages are in a book like this and what kind of format is this done in? Tables and lists or what?

I can't picture trying to put a single state into paper that seems like it would only be a few pages long of information. Do they list RIDs too?

I'm curious to see what one of these things looks like.

My copy has 69 pages with information primarily for Southern NV in various formats including tables showing channel use, frequency, tone, and comments for the LVMPD.
Paragraphs give details on various radio systems, radio codes are presented for several major radio systems including the LVMPD, DPS (NHP & Other Divisions). The Clark County trunking system (SNACC) is presented showing text material for freqs., sites and long tables showing talk groups by agency and a reverse by talk group ID. Mesquite & Boulder City conventional information is also presented. A small section for NW AZ which can be heard in parts of So. NV is also included. Nine pages of beat maps for the LVMPD, NLVPD & HPD are also included. Fire station listings with equipment are showing for LVFD, CCFD, HFD & BCFD. EMS freqs for the two local ambulance companies are also provided (dispatch & other uses). Medical & special incident dispatch codes are also showing (used by ambulance companies). Hospital waiting time color codes are included. Another table showing conventional freqs. matched with agencies, tones and comments for non-trunked local government radio systems is included. Radio codes for Henderson PD follows.

A very long section for the NV Shared Radio System follows including radio sites, LCN order for their EDACS system and 12 pages of talk group IDs' in alpha order by agency and a reverse by ID. The DPS radio code (10-XX, 11-XX, criminal history codes, DPS incident dispo. codes, DPS & allied agency radio call designators & NHP beat codes) follows. The DPS VHF conventional system for Southern NV as backup is included.
Other State of NV agencies with name & freqs. show next. Selected US Gov't. freqs. with agency name follows. Freqs. & usage for the Nellis AFB air operations follows. The trunked radio system used at Nellis AFB is included with talk group IDs' and frequencies used (400 MHz system). Air show freqs & channel usage comes next along with the dates for the next scheduled Nellis AFB show. Commercial & general aviation freqs. for the four local airports follows along with their use. Air traffic control center freqs. matched with ATC comes next. AIRINC freqs. used in So. NV follows. Ground transportation radio freqs (trains, bus system, taxis & limos), motor sports (racing teams & freqs. used in So. NV), non-aviation freqs. used by airlines in So. NV, golf courses & country club freqs. hotel & casino radio systems (trunked & non-trunked 9 pages), selected business freqs of interest, selected ham radio freqs., and LV area TV audio freqs..

So there is much more than just a couple of pages. There is a lot to monitor in the greater LV area, something for everyone is included. I have acquired a copy of each edition of the book since it first came out in May 2004 and will continue to do so.
I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about monitoring the greater Las Vegas area or who is new to the hobby in the area.

 

[Thunderknight]

Does AES LV sell it by mail order also?

 

[TOUGHLIFE]

AES & The Book

Does AES LV sell it by mail order also?

AES sells almost everything including the book by mail also. They are a good company to deal with. Their phone number is 1-800-634-6227.

 

[joen7xxx]

Is the new edition out yet? I will be in Vegas for the CCARES Quarterly meeting on the 24th and need an ht battery, so I will pick one up while I'm there if they have them.

 

[NeFire242]

Cool thanks Toughlife I always wondered what one was like.

 

[sigint1]

Is the new edition out yet? I will be in Vegas for the CCARES Quarterly meeting on the 24th and need an ht battery, so I will pick one up while I'm there if they have them.

I ordered one online Friday (9th) and recieved an email back saying it was still on back order - One thing though they said they will not charge credit card until it actually ships

 

[eraweeb]

Speak Up!

In the February, 2008 Scanner Book the publishers mentioned that they might consider coming out with an edition for Northern Nevada IF they were convinced that there was enough interest there to make it worth the effort.

If you Northerners really want your own edition you need to make your interest known to the publishers. BE A SQUEAKY WHEEL! They answer emails.

NevadaScannerBook@yahoo.com