New to P25

[cole_gerhardt]

My local law enforcement just made the switch to 800 apco p25 I want to get a scanner to monitor them. I am told that the channel is encrypted if I buy a p25 scanner would I be able to listen to them or would the encryption not allow me to?

 

[ka3jjz]

No scanner can decode encryption - you would need a radio with a specific key to do it.

That being said, many LEOs think that P25 and encryption are one and the same - they aren't. So if your area is going P25 (and not encrypted), a digital trunktracker will do the job.

I don't know where you are - but becoming involved in your state's forum (we have one for each state) as well as the ones on Yahoo groups will enable you to make an informed decision

Mike

 

[GrumpyAeroGuy]

IT may help if you indicated what system you are specifically interested in listening to.

Generally speaking, if they are on a P25 system, and the system is NOT encrypted, you can program a digital trunking scanner to monitor this system. You will need a digital trunking scanner, specifically.

I personally have, and recommend, the GRE PSR500 handheld, or its "base station cousin". Many folks like the GREs, many folks are uniden proponents. The specific scanner manufacturer forums will help you make up your mind there.

Either way, you'll be spending a "not insignificant" amount of ca$h for a digital trunking scanner (plan on $350-$450 depending on what you want, and who you decide to purchase from).


With a subscription here (to have access to, and the ability to, download directly out of the databases here) and any one of several excellent programming software products available (I use and recommend Win500, though there are other excellent ones as well), programming these things almost becomes an afterthought, OR, at the very least, you can focus on how you want to set it up, exactly, without having to worry about the simultaneous issues of programming tasks.

Now, all of that being said (w.o knowing what system you are interested in specifically).....If it is an encrypted system, I am afraid you, and all others, are out of luck. No scanner will solve that monitoring issue.

Hope this helps...