I live in Sacramento CA and I am looking for a scanner and I have no idea what to get or what would work in my area. Could anyone give a recommendation?
Newbie Equipment Question
- Thread starter iceman8069
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doctordialtone
Member
Here's a listing of scanners for reference.
Uniden Scanners - The RadioReference Wiki
It depends whether you want a handheld or base unit.
I like the 996P2 base and 325P2 handheld units.
The SDS series are the best units and handle Simulcast transmissions best. They are also the most expensive models out there.
Good luck!
I am ordering the 996P2 with programming installed, should I get the DMR installed too for sacramento county?Here's a listing of scanners for reference.
Uniden Scanners - The RadioReference Wiki
wiki.radioreference.com
It depends whether you want a handheld or base unit.
I like the 996P2 base and 325P2 handheld units.
The SDS series are the best units and handle Simulcast transmissions best. They are also the most expensive models out there.
Good luck!
doctordialtone
Member
Yes. Just be advisedthe upgrade's about $15 cheaper if you buy it directly from Uniden
Someone from your area would need to clarify which system that Sacramento (city & county) are using.
I see the listing for the older, Motorola Type II system.
But there is also a P25 Phase I system, and many of the agencies in the county have talkgroups on both systems. Long term, most that have not already, will move to the P25 system.
Depending on exactly where you are in the county, there is a possibility that simulcast make be a problem. While the 325P2 & 996P2 are good scanners, if you are in the middle of the simulcast area, you likely will be disappointed in their performance. The 436HP and 536HP models are a little better at handling simulcast than are the P2 series, but if the issue is severe, then you'd need to consider the SDS100 or SDS200.
Here is the map for the Sacramento Countywide Simulcast site.
In Fair Oaks, you would be surrounded by several of the sites, all broadcasting the same radio traffic, on the same frequencies. But those transmissions, arriving at slightly different times at your location can cause enough problems that either you receive very little from the system, or what you do hear is garbled and broken up.
I would suggest that you ask the question, about whether simulcast is a problem in your county, down in the California forum. To do that, do not create a new thread. Instead, click on the Report in the lower left corner of one of your posts, and request that a moderator move your thread to the state forum. Someone in the area would be more likely to see it there.
marksmith
Member
Also be advised that learning how to program it can be important because what is out there changes.
You can do the DMR (or NXDN) upgrade at anytime after you get the scanner. It does not need to be done at the time of purchase.
Looking at the database page for the county, I do not see any DMR users for public safety agencies. There are business users, and some schools use either DMR or NXDN, but no listed public safety users. However, that does not guarantee no one is using DMR. It only means that no one has discovered their usage and submitted to the database.
marksmith
Member
Thank you all! I have some decisions to make. My scanner still has Crystal's in it.
It depends on what you want to monitor, Exactly. Some people are only interested in air traffic control and some only railroads, so I always ask.
When it comes to Public Safety (police and fire) it can be as little as just monitoring one (or more) of the county's trunked systems or tons of frequencies/channels for adjacent areas. Are you only insterested in what is "local"? If not, what? I try to monitor everything available to my antenna, which covers from Shasta county (to the north) to Merced county (to the south) from mountain peaks (to the east) and to the bay area.
The real crazy thing right now is that Sacramento county is still in the middle of transitioning to a new (digital) system. There's the old city trunked system, the old county trunked system (both analog and active) and the new digital system that covers all (plus some new users coming online). The thing is there are lots of older digital scanners that can receive the new system, but really only one model (a hand-held and a base) that can do it properly. Of course then there's the cost. And apparently that new model may not be available even to those who are willing to pay the price.
So welcome and please give us more details and we can lead to to the best decision for you.
When it comes to Public Safety (police and fire) it can be as little as just monitoring one (or more) of the county's trunked systems or tons of frequencies/channels for adjacent areas. Are you only insterested in what is "local"? If not, what? I try to monitor everything available to my antenna, which covers from Shasta county (to the north) to Merced county (to the south) from mountain peaks (to the east) and to the bay area.
The real crazy thing right now is that Sacramento county is still in the middle of transitioning to a new (digital) system. There's the old city trunked system, the old county trunked system (both analog and active) and the new digital system that covers all (plus some new users coming online). The thing is there are lots of older digital scanners that can receive the new system, but really only one model (a hand-held and a base) that can do it properly. Of course then there's the cost. And apparently that new model may not be available even to those who are willing to pay the price.
So welcome and please give us more details and we can lead to to the best decision for you.
Thank you for your responses. I am interested in only listening to local law enforcement for sac county.
I_am_Alpha1
Member
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- May 21, 2014
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Get one of the SDS models...DO NOT pay for programming--total ripoff.
doctordialtone
Member
See how anxious people are to spend your cash for you? 
ScanningHertz
Member
Don't bother with DMR
Have you ever monitored a trunked radio system? Ever used a scanner to listen to the Sacramento's trunked radio system (SRRCS)?
Sacramento Regional Radio Communications System (SRRCS) P25 Trunking System, Sacramento, California - Scanner Frequencies (SRRCS)
If this is your first trunked radio scanner, you probably have a lot to learn. There is A LOT of reference material out in Google-land.
Plenty here locally too.
It can be quite challenging in some areas to receive SRRCS. Fair Oaks can be hit and miss. Hopefully you will have the ability to mount or place an antenna outside.
You will only need to monitor the Countywide Simulcast site and the 996 should handle it okay. Again, just depends on your specific geographic location, your house, your walls, and exposure to receiving the signal.
The 996 does NOT handle simulcast OK, unless you just happen to be in a favorable location. But that is a total crapshoot. Moving a few hundred yards can make the difference between perfect reception and total silence.
Bought the sds 100. Love it so far. Thanks everyone!
russbrill
Member
Handheld unit Uniden SDS-100, Base Mobile unit Uniden SDS-200.. Those two models will decode the City/County P25 Digital Radio System properly, all other models will suck air and your wallet...
mthayer
Member
did you program it yourself ?
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