Newbie Question

[sremlap5]

I'll start by apologizing for my ignorance (as will be represented below ), but I have a newbie question:

I live in an area that has one trunked system -- motorola type II smartnet, with 3 talkgroups on 5 freqs. (The State Police is also trunked, but they are slated to go digital in late '05/early '06. I'm not ready to fork over the cash for a digital scanner, so they're out.)

My question is with only this one small city trunking, what would be the advantage in upgrading my scanner rather than keeping my conventional (kids bought me a BC 350C for Christmas) and just programming each freq?

Thanks for any guidance you can provide.

 

[crayon]

I'll start by apologizing for my ignorance (as will be represented below ), but I have a newbie question:

No apologies are needed here. Welcome!!

I live in an area that has one trunked system -- motorola type II smartnet, with 3 talkgroups on 5 freqs. (The State Police is also trunked, but they are slated to go digital in late '05/early '06. I'm not ready to fork over the cash for a digital scanner, so they're out.)

okay.

My question is with only this one small city trunking, what would be the advantage in upgrading my scanner rather than keeping my conventional (kids bought me a BC 350C for Christmas) and just programming each freq?

One advantage is that with a trunked system you can lock out unwanted traffic and only listen to the activity that you want to. With a conventional scanner you are forced to listen to *everything* that happens on the system. Given that the system only has three talkgroups may mean that it is not heavy with activity, you still might would want to take a trunking scanner with you as you travel ..

Closely related to that is being able to follow a conversation as it skips frequencies.

HTH's

 

[fmon]

Welcome to forum.

Your premise is reasonable and certainly not ignorant. With a five channel trunking system, 4 are likely rotating daily as control channels and will need attending each day to lockout the current control freq, (the one with the noise) and unlock the previously locked out control freq, which is now a voice channel.

Otherwise, your scanner will do fine if you have limited talkgroups as you stated. Watch for expansion though, if the system grows, then a trunk tracker may be needed.

 

[sremlap5]

Thanks for the welcome, and especially the info! I think (for now) I'll keep what I've got. If it becomes to much of a headache, you'll see me back asking for advice on upgrading!

Thanks again!