Newbie needs help, Hunterdon County

[SUPZ]

thanks for all the kind replies. It's been nice being able to ask questions here without being insulted (I'm used to automotive forums)

Ok, so what do you guys think is best for my needs:
Pro 97
Pro 91
Pro 82
Other?

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=1780 <-- this is the link to my area, specific desire is only to hear Readington Township Police, car-to-car if possible and dispatch. From what I've read from you guys most dispatch comes from the generic Hunterdon channels which is based in Flemington

I'm ready to purchase whatever scanner best suits my needs, I've just heard a lot of different things and am hoping some will agree on an answer. As always, thank you again

 

[bigray246]

Hunterdon

Save your pennies and get a digital APCO25 capable scanner! If your county has already applied for 400 Mhz. frequencies there is a 99% probability it will be DIGITAL. The FCC/Motorola is pushing APCO25. It happened to me in Bayonne.

 

[nosoup4u]

From what I heard, best case scenario for Hunterdon's rollout is 2011, so you could go with a non digital scanner for the time being. By then I am sure there will be newer models out.

 

[DJ88]

I don't think any of the scanners you listed have PL/DPL (also called CTCSS/DCS) cabilities. I thought the Pro 97 did, but I checked a few sites and it's not listed among the features. With a digital scanner being out of your price range, if you can spend $200.00, you can order a Uniden BC246T from Communications Electronics in Michigan for 214.95, shipping included in the price. It does pretty much everything except digital. I've ordered two scanners from them and am completely satisfied. They're nice people to deal with, their prices are about the cheapest, and you can have it within 3 or 4 working days from the time you order it. Check them out here:
http://usascan.com/
Click on Bearcat Scanners in the Products column, top left side of the page. Then click on BC246T.

 

[HM1529]

I don't think any of the scanners you listed have PL/DPL (also called CTCSS/DCS) cabilities. I thought the Pro 97 did, but I checked a few sites and it's not listed among the features.

The PRO-97 does have CTCSS/DCS (aka PL/DPL) capability. I have one. It works great and complements my PRO-96. The price is right, and there is plenty of memory space for you to add stuff once you get the bug.

 

[robbinsj2]

DJ: you thought right, the 97 does have PL/DPL. I'm not sure where you checked but RadioShack's technical specifications screen for the 97 lists "Yes" for DCS and CTCSS.

Supz: for a first scanner the Pro-82 may be the way to go. It should get everything which you are most interested in scanning at this point in time. Its chief limitations, as I see them, are: no 800MHz band; no alpha tags; no PL/DPL; no trunking; no close call / signal stalker. I doubt you'll ever find a new scanner for any less than the 82's current sale price.

For a beginner, and based on what you already indicated you are interested in, those issues shouldn't be a big deal. If you continue to be interested in the hobby then you will probably want to upgrade to a trunktracking scanner with PL/DPL, and potentially digital, in a couple years.

If you're ready to take an intermediate step right now, both in complexity and expense, I would recommend the Pro-97 when it goes on sale, usually a few times per year for $150. It and the 246 have all the "missing pieces" mentioned above; the 97's signal stalker is a bit different, some would say worse, than the 246 and its memory setup is not as advanced as the 246. I'm not sure, though, that the 246's $50 premium over the 97's sale price would be worth it for you.

As for the Pro-91, I would stay away from it. If you're okay with a used scanner then you should be able to find a Pro-97 or 246 or even a Pro-92 for just a tiny bit more and you would get so many more features.

Jim

 

[W2SJW]

To keep everyone up on what's happening with the new UHF channels licensed by Hunterdon:

I have a friend on the inside (who will remain nameless for now) that stated it will most probably NOT be a trunk system, because /\/\ wanted them to buy everything but the kitchen sink when the initial game plan was laid out for wants/needs out of a possible new system. The county also has a strong dislike of digital, as they claim it hinders interoperability.

The new channels (and a few other to be granted yet) will most probably be a narrowband-analog setup, with simulcast capabilities in the second phase of the roll-out. The first phase would be to use the channels in a line-up similar to the current PD & EMS channels, with the remainder being shared tactical channels.

I'll know more by the start of April...

 

[HM1529]

The county also has a strong dislike of digital, as they claim it hinders interoperability.

The new channels (and a few other to be granted yet) will most probably be a narrowband-analog setup, with simulcast capabilities in the second phase of the roll-out. The first phase would be to use the channels in a line-up similar to the current PD & EMS channels, with the remainder being shared tactical channels.

I'll know more by the start of April...

I'm not sure I understand how using UHF digital equipment would be a hinderance for interoperability to Hunterdon.

Somerset, Mercer, and Morris in NJ and Bucks in PA all have or are developing UHF trunking systems that are either mixed mode or totally P25 digital systems.

While it doesn't really matter whether Hunterdon itself is digital, it would be foolish for them to NOT buy equipment (such as Moto XTS-5000's coverin 450-512) that could be programmed for all of these systems with proper M/A agreements (each system could be in a different radio bank). You'd have near total interoperability that way (with the exception of Warren to the north).

Either way they go, I'll be keeping an eye on this since I work up that way from April thru September.

 

[SUPZ]

based on your recommendations I will look into purchasing a PRO97 - I hope it will not be too difficult to program, but if so I'll post here and hopefully get some answers
It's not in my best interest to purchase a pro91 if it will be virtually useless in two years.

 

[W2SJW]

I'm not sure I understand how using UHF digital equipment would be a hinderance for interoperability to Hunterdon.

Somerset, Mercer, and Morris in NJ and Bucks in PA all have or are developing UHF trunking systems that are either mixed mode or totally P25 digital systems.

While it doesn't really matter whether Hunterdon itself is digital, it would be foolish for them to NOT buy equipment (such as Moto XTS-5000's coverin 450-512) that could be programmed for all of these systems with proper M/A agreements (each system could be in a different radio bank). You'd have near total interoperability that way (with the exception of Warren to the north).

Either way they go, I'll be keeping an eye on this since I work up that way from April thru September.

I agree with you whole-heartedly. I'm a ham, and I love digital. I own P25 & D-STAR gear, and I have no qualms about trying & embracing new technology (I'm an alarm tech, and that kind of mindset is needed in my line of work).

Many hams that I am friends with & others that are involved with county systems & services suffer from serious cases of 'who moved my cheese' syndrom...

Just look at the stuff going on with Phoenix FD - they demand that their move to the PRWN system be augmented to support analog simplex 800 MHz operation that 'must' be monitored at all times in the alarm room, no matter where the incident is in the valley! (ahem - NOT going to happen!)