New to scanners, looking for one for my car.

[kai445]

Let me just start out by saying I'm totally new, never owned a scanner before so this would be my first purchase, so I'm apprehensive (am I making a good choice?).

I dont know what everyone else is using theirs for, but I would like a nice complement for the radar detector I'm buying for christmas (Escort 8500 X50). Scanning and loading of local/state police frequencies, maybe auto scanning(?) for new ones.

Something easy to use, preferably concelable. Important features are beyond me, so expandability, and something that will last a few years would be at the top of my list.

There's such a selection its hard for me to discern what makes one good or bad.

Thanks, I'll keep reading up in the mean time.

edit: Before I forget... I'm in northern NJ. I'm somewhat concerned about what would let me pick up state police signals because I do take I80 to/from work every day.

 

[ka3jjz]

Let me just start out by saying I'm totally new, never owned a scanner before so this would be my first purchase, so I'm apprehensive (am I making a good choice?).

I dont know what everyone else is using theirs for, but I would like a nice complement for the radar detector I'm buying for christmas (Escort 8500 X50). Scanning and loading of local/state police frequencies, maybe auto scanning(?) for new ones.

Something easy to use, preferably concelable. Important features are beyond me, so expandability, and something that will last a few years would be at the top of my list.

There's such a selection its hard for me to discern what makes one good or bad.

Thanks, I'll keep reading up in the mean time.

edit: Before I forget... I'm in northern NJ. I'm somewhat concerned about what would let me pick up state police signals because I do take I80 to/from work every day.

Whew, that's a list of wishes. There aren't any scanners on the market that have remote head mounting capabilities - yet. An outfit called Scanner Master is selling a remote mounting kit for one Uniden scanner, and a remote control unit using a Pocket PC for 2 other Uniden scanners, but all three are rather pricey to say the least.
Best to go join the New Jersey forum on this board, or this group on Yahoo (a very active group to say the least):

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nnj-scan/

Registration is relatively painless and free. Besides the RR database on this board, these folks can give you links for LOTS of frequencies. Troop B covers the northern sections of the state insofar as the NJSP is concerned.
Oh yes, before I forget; when you join the NJ forum on this board, make sure you tell then you're interested in NNJ. The scanning scene changes quite a bit (with its proximity to Phila. and Delaware) the further south you go. Let 'em also know about your Escort; it's likely others might have some mounting suggestions.

73s and GL...Mike

 

[ROBERTROUSE]

I WOULD RECOMMEND THE UNIDEN BCT8 SCANNER. ITS VERY
EASY TO USE AND HAS A LOT OF FEATURES. I LIKE MY BCT8
VERY MUCH. CHECK IT OUT AT www.usascan.com

ROBERT

 

[STiMULi]

(in reference to the previous post and to balance the thread, the entire text in this post will contain no uppercase letters :wink: )

i recommend the bct8 as well. i have bought 2 of them. one for the car and one for the house. ebay has them for about $150 now.

i would also recommend that you buy an antenna switch so you can use 2 different antennas on the radio depending on your driving style and location. the scanner comes with a wire antenna that is great for the bearcat feature of the scanner. it lacks alot when you are looking for good long distance reception. because the radio is a double conversion it would be prone to alot of intemod with a high gain antenna.

long and short of it you will be very happy with a bct8 as it will meet any of yor current needs and most of yor future needs.

 

[ka3jjz]

(in reference to the previous post and to balance the thread, the entire text in this post will contain no uppercase letters :wink: )

i recommend the bct8 as well. i have bought 2 of them. one for the car and one for the house. ebay has them for about $150 now.

i would also recommend that you buy an antenna switch so you can use 2 different antennas on the radio depending on your driving style and location. the scanner comes with a wire antenna that is great for the bearcat feature of the scanner. it lacks alot when you are looking for good long distance reception. because the radio is a double conversion it would be prone to alot of intemod with a high gain antenna.

long and short of it you will be very happy with a bct8 as it will meet any of yor current needs and most of yor future needs.

While everybody seems to be gushing about the BCT8, there are a couple of facts that you should know;

a. While NJSP isn't digital now, they are going to move in that direction in the next year or two. Bond issues have held up the funding. The BCT8 doesn't do digital; it cannot be expanded to do it, either.

b. If someone were to get interested in the MilAir scene, there too the BCT8 falls short- it doesn't cover this band.

I'd stick with a 796 personally....73s Mike

 

[kai445]

Thanks for the replies!

I would prefer to not spend more than $200 on the scanner.

If I could find one that does the new digital stuff for ~$300 or less that'd be great, otherwise $200 "for now" then expandable later (when they switch over to digital) with a digital card/chip in the future would also be good.

edit: The 796 is pretty steep, though looks sweet as hell the way scanners go.

 

[STiMULi]

While everybody seems to be gushing about the BCT8, there are a couple of facts that you should know;

a. While NJSP isn't digital now, they are going to move in that direction in the next year or two. Bond issues have held up the funding. The BCT8 doesn't do digital; it cannot be expanded to do it, either.

b. If someone were to get interested in the MilAir scene, there too the BCT8 falls short- it doesn't cover this band.

I'd stick with a 796 personally....73s Mike

He wants it for his car and it is a first purchase. I recommended it because of the "Bearcat feature" built in to notify of vehicle extenders. This acts as a compliment to his Escort 8500. I know just what he is looking for as I own a car that is dying to fly all by itself (STi).

As far as APCO-25 goes wait for the PRO-2096. It is a GRE scanner sold by RS and it is designed to fit in a Double DIN radio area. No mods are needed to install based on the reviews. It should be onsale in about a month or 2. It does not have the cop finder feature though.

Now I have to go clean up after myself. I seem to have "GUSHED" all over the place just thinking about the BCT8 :lol:

 

[kai445]

LOL!! That is one interesting scanner from radioshack... I'd get a 30% discount cause I work for radioshack right now (30% off all RS branded stuff, 10% off everything else), so too bad it aint out.

Double-din kinda conflicts with my head unit aspirations :-\

That highway patrol alert feature of the bearcat is nice, definately. I guess there isn't anything out there that I'm looking for yet :-\

 

[STiMULi]

I have a BCT8 in my car now. When the Pro-2096 comes out I am putting it in my car. I will be changing out my head unit as my current radio is a double DIN stock unit.

I will NOT be removing the BCT8. It is too handy as a notifier because of my driving habits

 

[MississippiPI]

Mobile Scanners

I would never attempt to dispense legal advise as I'm not qualified to do so but I have had some experiences; some good, some not so good when it comes to scanners in vehicles. There are some states that don't allow scanners; some do with exception; some with permission, etc---exercise some caution when it comes to this sort of thing as some jurisdictions frown on it. I am a volunteer fireman so my radios not only scan but transmit as well and a trooper in Florida advised me that I need to be careful and not get myself into trouble. Have a nice day--Jimmy T., MississippiPI

 

[ka3jjz]

Re: Mobile Scanners

I would never attempt to dispense legal advise as I'm not qualified to do so but I have had some experiences; some good, some not so good when it comes to scanners in vehicles. There are some states that don't allow scanners; some do with exception; some with permission, etc---exercise some caution when it comes to this sort of thing as some jurisdictions frown on it. I am a volunteer fireman so my radios not only scan but transmit as well and a trooper in Florida advised me that I need to be careful and not get myself into trouble. Have a nice day--Jimmy T., MississippiPI

This is not a bad point; however, the original poster - the one who started this thread- is in northern NJ, and they don't have such laws anymore (they did up to a few years ago). I'm originally from that area, so I follow that somewhat closely.
Oh, and by the way - I read on the NNJ Yahoo group that the digital equipment for some of the troops is now in place. So a word to the wise....it just hasn't been keyed and programmed yet.
Go and get yourself a Tech ham license. Many states that have scanner restrictions exempt hams. Not too hard to get your license these days.

73s Mike

 

[mciupa]

I dont know what everyone else is using theirs for, but I would like a nice complement for the radar detector I'm buying for christmas (Escort 8500 X50). Scanning and loading of local/state police frequencies...
...preferably concealable...

:evil: Sounds like you are trying to stay one step ahead of law enforcement ! :evil:

 

[STiMULi]

:evil: Sounds like you are trying to stay one step ahead of law enforcement ! :evil:

Bel 985 ( Damn sensitive Radar Detector)

BCT8 (Listens to Highway Patrol Vehicular Repeaters and radios - cop finder)

Blinder M-20 Laser Jammer (Kills any attempt to find speed w/light)

Subaru WRX STi 300 HP 300 ftlb torque STOCK

0-60 4.6 seconds

1/4 mile in 12.4

Top speed over 155.

Not only fast but very quick and agile AWD.

It runs from the cops all by itself :mrgreen:

My motto...
You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away, know when to run.

I would never put myself or an officer in that situation knowingly

 

[bigreddawg76]

As far as I know the NJSP does not use vehicle extenders so the BCT8's tracker feature would do you no good. They strictly use the 800 mhz trunked system. Also, as stated earlier some NJSP cars already have the ASTRO radios installed. If it was me I would (and did) save up and buy the 796.

 

[STiMULi]

BCT8 (Listens to Highway Patrol Vehicular Repeaters
and radios - cop finder)

Yes it does good. It listens to the input to the repeater (the officers radio) and it will do it in 2 different priority modes. Except in the boonies or during extreme rush hours it is very rare that a HP will be laying in wait and not transmitting for long periods of time. Arizona does not have extenders either but it has saved my butt many times. I ride with a group of guys called the Arizona Riders and we find good boonie roads and drive them in a performance manner. Sometimes very fast. We do 2 things (among others) we do not endanger the public and we do not get caught. Any warning is good!

The BCT8 is just another level of protection. It is preprogrammed for all state HP freqs so when you travel to states that use the vehcle extender it becomes even more valuable. When not in a state that has extenders it will priority scan only the input freqs. Using the cheap antenna that comes with the scanner allows you only to hear the officers within a few miles (2 or 3) of your location.

If it were me I would hurry up and buy the BCT8 (I have 2) and then hurry up and buy an APCO-25 qualified reciever as well (buying the Pro2096 when it comes out). APCO-25 is kicking in fast. You can contact the various agencies to find out when the cut over dates will be so you can plan your purchase ($400-500).

Happy Motoring and Fahrverknugen!

 

[JoeyC]

Any scanner can be set up to listen to extenders or repeater inputs. A BearTracker feature is a less-than-useful bell&whistle that is provided for people who don't know much about scanners and/or want to try to evade the police but don't know how to with their scanner otherwise. IMO

 

[STiMULi]

Any scanner can be set up to listen to extenders or repeater inputs. A BearTracker feature is a less-than-useful bell&whistle that is provided for people who don't know much about scanners and/or want to try to evade the police but don't know how to with their scanner otherwise. IMO

The beartracker feature is neither a bell nor a whistle. It is a tone and a light that is signaled when a vehicular repeater or HP input frequency is intercepted. To my knowledge, that "tone and light" is not availible from any other manufacture. The BCT8 is an entry level scanner, but for you to make the assumption that someone owning one lacks knowledge about scanners is foolish on your part.

The feature is not used to evade police, but rather used to adjust your driving attitude when approaching an officer in the area. The best way to evade the police is to stay at home.

 

[AZScanner]

BCT8 (Listens to Highway Patrol Vehicular Repeaters
and radios - cop finder)

I ride with a group of guys called the Arizona Riders and we find good boonie roads and drive them in a performance manner. Sometimes very fast. We do 2 things (among others) we do not endanger the public and we do not get caught. Any warning is good!

What part of AZ are you in? I'm in Mesa these days. Sounds like fun, but my ride will not hang with what you've got - old beat-to-hell POS ford ranger.

-AZ

 

[JoeyC]

[The beartracker feature is neither a bell nor a whistle. It is a tone and a light that is signaled when a vehicular repeater or HP input frequency is intercepted. To my knowledge, that "tone and light" is not availible from any other manufacture. The BCT8 is an entry level scanner, but for you to make the assumption that someone owning one lacks knowledge about scanners is foolish on your part.

The feature is not used to evade police, but rather used to adjust your driving attitude when approaching an officer in the area. The best way to evade the police is to stay at home.

Tone and light, no matter what you choose to call it is a bell & whistle my friend. I don't know whether the Beartracker is programmable to the "Beartracker" freqs it listens to for the tone and light activation or whether they are pre-programmed, but it doesn't matter. Whatever transmits on the Beartracker freqs will activate it, regardless of whether it is a vehicle extender or a HP input freq. Some highway patrols are on trunking systems, and some aren't on those freqs designated by the FCC as Highway Patrol freqs, so Beartracker won't work in those instances.

 

[crashcrew]

The best way to evade the police is to stay at home.


Not true....I certainly don't drive the speed limit and I haven't been pulled over in almost 10 years.