New to forum and to scanning. looking for a good scanner for hartford police

[wbatayte]

Hi, I'm new to this but want to get started. My father was into ham radio and scanning. We used to listen when I was a kid then he got ham licensed when I was in high school. Back then I thought it was interesting but was more concerned with typical teenage things. Anyway now that I'm older I'm more interested and unfortunately my dad has passed on so I can't get advice from him. I would like to get a trunking scanner that will work well for listening to Hartford police band. I checked the type and its analog trunking. For those of you out there that monitor Hartford police band what would be a good model to start with? I'm really just beginning so I would like something that's easy to understand and use but has the ability to keep me satisfied as my knowledge grows. Of course a decent price and portability is always a plus. I live right in Hartford so I don't think that it would need to be super powerful distance wise. Currently I like to listen to the internet feeds via an app on my phone. Unfortunately the actual city of Hartford isn't included because there's no one uploading a feed. Anyway if you guys could recommend a few tried and true models it would be great.
Thanks!

 

[italia2006]

Im no expert but once you start getting into scanning, your gonna want scanner that can do pretty much anything. Ive had the gre psr500 since its release and couldnt be happier. With this scanner you can listen to pretty much anything in our state. It as 500 and change a few years back. Its pricy but well worth it. Programming can be tricky at first but then gets easier as you get going and feel more comfortable. Most use programs listed here to program, but id rather program myself. Very addicting once you get going. You can program to hear i-calls or(private calls), where oficers go into much more detail than whats on the regulr transmissions.
Tax refund comes in handy for a purchase like this. you can go with just analog scanner that handles the EDACS trunking system, but state police and glastonbury use digital. Digital capable scanner is the way to go. Lentini's on Christian Lane in Newington/Berlin is where i got mine.

god luck

 

[Rt169Radio]

Hi, welcome to RR. For a scanner I would get either the Uniden BCD996XT, or the HP1, or the BCD396XT. If your going to listen to it while mobile make sure you get a good antenna, the same goes for home use. You could get a AntennaCraft ST2 or a Diamond discone or a Comet discone.

Uniden Bearcat BCD996XT Police Scanner Radio

Uniden HomePatrol Police Scanner Radio

Uniden Bearcat BCD396XT Police Scanner Radio

 

[cg]

You don't say what your budget is and if you want a handheld or base/mobile (both have portability). You don't need a digital scanner for Hartford so that allows some basic sub $200 radios to be considered. Programming is more complex with newer scanners so you will want software (Freescan is free and works with many new unidens).
Probably something like a Uniden 346XT for $200, or the base mobile equal, BCT15X for around $190.
If you want digital, it means a substantial increase with the handheld BCD396XT or base/mobile BCD996XT each going for $450.
GRE is another manufacturer but they are in a state of transition and are not currently making new scanners. There is still stock on some radios but no guarantee on them starting back up.

chris

 

[wbatayte]

Thanks for the replies!

Ok so since this was my first post it took a while to make it past the moderator check. As will this reply I'm sure. Since then i've learned a tremendous amount of info on this topic just by reading up. My first thoughts were to go analog only such as the bc346xt. I knew this would leave out state police glastonbury but is 2 extras worth the price jump? I can afford to go up to maybe $500 if it was really worth it to get the extra features, but was really looking at the $200-$250 range. Since I'm so new to this I don't know what some of the most interesting stuff is available to recieve in our area. I listen mostly to the hartford and Toland county internet feed. It can be a bit confusing since there seems to be a mix of police, fire, and emts. That's why I wanted to narrow it down to just local police. Try and weed out some of the Boring stuff. I definately don't want to spend $250 on one and a month later decide I need more functions and dish out another 500. Now as far as base or hand held. I would love to have a handheld for easy travel. But does this sacrifice features or reception in any way? Most of the time I would be listening at home but taking it in a dog walk would be nice.

I noticed that hartford has rebanded does that effect my choice?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Rt169Radio]

I took a look at the Hartford county area freqs and the ones that are trunked are analog systems. So a Uniden BC346XT would be a nice choice for you if you want to be able to have handheld use. But if you like base/mobile use the Uniden BCT15X is also a good choice. A digital scanner would let you listen to the state police and any other digital systems but for now your area is mostly analog systems.

Uniden Bearcat BCT15X Police Scanner Radio

Uniden Bearcat BC346XT Police Scanner Radio

 

[cg]

The thing that I would caution you about with regard to digital vs analog scanners is not who is digital now but who may change in the reasonable life of the scanner.
For the area you mentioned, CSP, Glastonbury PD, S Windsor PD, Vernon PD, Suffield PD, CSERN system are currently digital.
The future could be anyone but New Britain will be digital soon if that makes a difference. I would say to buy the digital if you can afford it.
As for handheld vs base/mobile, it is mostly personal preference. I have a number of each so I have the flexibility to go mobile, portable or sit at home.

chris

 

[wbatayte]

Thanks for all the info. I think I will go with a handheld for the time being. It'll just be much easier since this will be the only scanner I have as of now. I want to be able to bring it from home to the car without having to install it. It's unfortunate how big a price jump it is to digital. I would like to be covered for the future but another $250 is a lot. For now I think I may just go analog. Does anyone know if hartford had plans of making the jump in the near future?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Mork]

Go for the Homepatrol You will not be sorry.

HomePatrol

 

[bobmich52]

Go for the Homepatrol You will not be sorry.

HomePatrol

I Much Agree

I Have The HP 1 In My 2012 Tucson Hooked Up To A Larsen nmo 150/450/800 Antenna & It Picks Up Everything Great

Does Excellent On The Hartford System also

When I Run It Off The Stock antenna @ Home, It Works Well For Hartford Also

 

[Rt169Radio]

Thanks for all the info. I think I will go with a handheld for the time being. It'll just be much easier since this will be the only scanner I have as of now. I want to be able to bring it from home to the car without having to install it. It's unfortunate how big a price jump it is to digital. I would like to be covered for the future but another $250 is a lot. For now I think I may just go analog. Does anyone know if hartford had plans of making the jump in the near future?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

Don't forget to get a good antenna.

 

[wbatayte]

Is the home patrol easy to transfer from house to car? It's a little more then I planned on spending but if the ease of use and features warrent the price it definitely will be considered. I actually ended up taking out some funds from my account so I can afford pretty much what I want. Also what are the best antennas that are still reasonably easy to install? I really dont know anything about antennas other then the ones my dad had. One of which was for his ham radio and was installed on his roof. Not something I want yo get into.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cg]

For a basic or beginner user, the Homepatrol would work. There are too many limitations for me to consider mine as being anywhere close to the 996 for ease of use and flexability.

chris

 

[Rt169Radio]

Is the home patrol easy to transfer from house to car? It's a little more then I planned on spending but if the ease of use and features warrent the price it definitely will be considered. I actually ended up taking out some funds from my account so I can afford pretty much what I want. Also what are the best antennas that are still reasonably easy to install? I really dont know anything about antennas other then the ones my dad had. One of which was for his ham radio and was installed on his roof. Not something I want yo get into.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

Yes, it is small enough to where you could wear it on your belt. You can read up on it with the link below.

Uniden HomePatrol Police Scanner Radio

Now for the antenna, what kind are you looking for? Base antenna, mobile antenna, or on the scanner antenna?

 

[bobmich52]

This Is My Mobile Set Up For My HP 1

Disconnect The two Wires, Click Out Hp 1 From Bracket

15 seconds Max

A Simple Yet Sturdy Set Up

 

[wbatayte]

Wow thats much smaller then it looks in the pics.

So what limitations make it not on par with the 996? It does seem super easy to use. That being said, I have a decent amount of Tecnical apptitude so am not too worried about learning to use/program a more traditional model. The main reason I want to upgrade from just listening to the internet feeds is because I want more, and more specified listening options. Plus, to tap into all the different talk groups. Is the HP good for such specific use?

As far as the antenna goes to start something that connects directly to the unit would be easiest. See what I pick up and if I need more then go to other options if needed.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[cg]

Some of the issues I see are a personal preference, some are because how I use the scanner. I do a lot of searching for new freqs, tones and systems. I change systems often based on what I hear.

- Changing banks is not a quick thing with the HP. 996 uses Quick Keys that can be used without stopping scanning.
- No decent logging/recording/programming software w/HP (all in one)
- Single press for Close Call, WX on 996XT
- quick access to volume and squelch on 996/396XT
- HP is substantially bigger than my 396 or 246. Will not fit in a shirt pocket.

In theory, download the database and monitor works well. In practice, it doesn't work well for me. My HP rarely scans the RR database. Instead, I have created custom systems for what I want to monitor.
I do like the recording function of the HP. However, I wish it would include tones and radio ID info in the saved files.
My opinion is that the HP is for the novice user with some features added as an afterthought for more advanced users.

chris

 

[Rt169Radio]

There is the HP1 and then there is the extreme update for the HP1.

HomePatrol

HomePatrol Extreme Upgrade Software