I thought I would jot down and share some of the things I have learned and discovered in the first week or so of picking out and owning a new trunking scanner. Maybe someone else can learn from my mistakes or misconceptions. And those with more experience can maybe get a laugh from it. Believe it or not I do have a pretty good sense of humor and don't mind being poked fun at. I know it wouldn't seem that way after my argument in another thread, but that is pretty out of character for me. Not sure what hit a nerve with on that one.
If you or a family member had a scanner back in the 80's and 90's, or if you have never had any experience with them there is a learning curve. The technology has changed quite a bit and things don't work quite like you think they would.
First of all, do your homework and research. I don't really think any of the newer scanners in the $300 and up range are junk. However they do have various features and capabilities that you might need or would be useful to you. Like say for instance you live in Michigan and wanted to listen to railroad systems. You pretty much have two options, the TRX-1 and TRX-2, because they are the only scanners that can handle the system some railroads are on. I think it's called NDXD, I may have the letters in the wrong order. Then some systems are DMR, which not all scanners do. Then there is APCO Phase I and II. So the moral of the story is know what you want to listen to, research what systems are in your area and make sure the scanner you get can receive them. Don't be afraid to ask either. Either in this forum or the forum for your state, start a thread and give your location and what you are interested in hearing. You may find out you don't need anything real fancy, or you may find you need the most feature rich one. Heck you may even find out most of your area is encrypted and you wouldn't hear anything no matter what you bought.
I also discovered that programming them really is not that hard. At least not on my Uniden 325p2. I downloaded some free software, watched a few videos, asked a few questions and played around with it. Within in a day I had a pretty good handle on it. Oh, a RadioReference subscription helps too, so you can access the database. You can do it manually, but it is pretty time consuming. I think I could re set my scanner and program it in about 15 mintues now, maybe half an hour if I wanted to get fancy with the layout. I can't say how easy or hard other models are since I don't own any of them. I doubt they could be a whole lot harder though. You might have to buy the software though. And some of them come with the RR database pre installed on an SD card. You can put in your zip code and it should at least get you headed in the right direction. It is possible you might get a bunch of channels you really don't want that way.
I am NOT saying don't bother with having it pre programmed or that it is a waste of time and money. Depending on your situation it may be well worth it to you. If you are not very good with a computer, like you can figure out how your email works, how facebook works or Youtube you might find this frustrating. Or if you are really impatient, don't like technical stuff and just want to turn it on ;and listen to it. In that case the 40 or 50 dollar charge might be worth it to you. Finding the best deal on a bare bones package from some fly by night company is not always the best choice for every person. I paid about 100 dollars more for my scanner then I could have if I shopped around on the internet. I do not regret it though. I got mine from a local shop that installs and repairs systems for the police and fire department. It was in stock, the guy programmed it with exactly what I wanted to listen to and updated the firmware. I got to see it work before I paid for it, and he showed me the basic functions before I left the store. I came home, turned it on and it worked. I was picking up my local police and fire department. Which is what I wanted. I have read some threads on here were people have not been happy. Maybe what they ordered isn't what they thought it was after seeing it in person. In some cases they couldn't figure out how to get it up and running and programmed. It either took them a few days to sort it out, or had to have someone else do it for them. And in some cases people have gotten stuff that was either broke or just didn't work out of the box. That is the down side to mail order, always has been, even before the internet.
Also as I said before, a lot has changed since the 80's and 90's. Don't expect to hear everything you thought you would. Police don't rely on their radios as much as they used to. They have computers in their cars and cell phones they can talk directly to other agencies or people with. Gone are the days of Smokey and the Bandit where police used hopped of versions of a CB and heavily relied on their radios. Sometimes now all you might hear from a traffic stop is the officer telling dispatch he has stopped, and the type of car and maybe the plate number. Then a little while longer that he or she is "clear". They used their in car computer to do everything else. I still hear quite a few names and vehicles being ran by dispatch though, so it still happens. Especially if there ends up being a warrant or some kind of issue. Also in my area they don't seem to use a lot of 10-codes and stuff anymore. They just pretty much talk normal.
Something else I have gotten a crash course in is antenna's and reception. In some cases people are trying to listen to frequencies from 30-900mhz. One cheap little antenna is not going to cover all those bands very well. Even if it is an after market one. Most people if they just want to listen to police, fire and rescue are going to be trying to get 150.00, 450.00 and 850mhz. Unless everything in your area has switched to Apco systems, then I think it is probably mostly 850mhz. If you are living in a small city figure on maybe 10 miles of range from the stock antenna. Maybe more, maybe less, it varies by location and possibly the model of scanner you get.
And as I found out yesterday, even with a good antenna you still might not pick up a trunked system you want to hear if it is out of range. I guess they specifically design them to have limited coverage so they don't bleed over to other areas and counties. Makes sense from their end I guess. So look at the database to see what is in your area and what the coverage for each site is. If you look at the trunked system section of the database for your area it will list all the sites and towers. Click on the name of the city or county, or the ID and it will show you a map of the coverage area for that particular tower or area.
For instance, I wanted to listen to the state highway patrol just outside of detriot. It is about 40 miles from me and is on a statewide trunked system. I figured since I could pick up a system tower near me I could hear the whole state. NOPE, doesn't work that way. I can pick up analog signals from detroit, but not a chance on a 800mhz tower from the michigan trunked system. And it is because they designed it that way so it would not interfere with other areas that they don't need to communicate with. Great idea for them, kind of sucks for us huh. I also learned that some of the people on this site apart from knowing a bit about scanners, now a LOT about antenna's and receivers. This site is worth joining just for that knowledge base on its own.
I also found you can overscan, at least that is what I call it lol. Meaning that you scan too many channels and or too large of an area. When I got my scanner I wanted it to hear the local police, fire and ems. Maybe the local state highway patrol. Then I fell into the trap of seeing how far I could reach, and how many channels I could get. What happened is I was scanning so many channels and getting so many hits from out of my area I was actually missing the local calls I WANTED to hear. I got so excited once I learned how to program the scanner I filled it with stuff from all around me. And I didn't lay it out in a manor that made it easy to shut stuff down.
I really wanted a base/mobile unit too. I just planned on plugging it in in my basement and listening to it at night. However I kind of actually like the hand held unit. If I want to toss it in the car, or I can take it outside if I want. Heck I even mowed the lawn with it today. Need to get some cheap headphones or earbuds though. My B&W headphones got yanked off my head by a low tree limb lol.
If you or a family member had a scanner back in the 80's and 90's, or if you have never had any experience with them there is a learning curve. The technology has changed quite a bit and things don't work quite like you think they would.
First of all, do your homework and research. I don't really think any of the newer scanners in the $300 and up range are junk. However they do have various features and capabilities that you might need or would be useful to you. Like say for instance you live in Michigan and wanted to listen to railroad systems. You pretty much have two options, the TRX-1 and TRX-2, because they are the only scanners that can handle the system some railroads are on. I think it's called NDXD, I may have the letters in the wrong order. Then some systems are DMR, which not all scanners do. Then there is APCO Phase I and II. So the moral of the story is know what you want to listen to, research what systems are in your area and make sure the scanner you get can receive them. Don't be afraid to ask either. Either in this forum or the forum for your state, start a thread and give your location and what you are interested in hearing. You may find out you don't need anything real fancy, or you may find you need the most feature rich one. Heck you may even find out most of your area is encrypted and you wouldn't hear anything no matter what you bought.
I also discovered that programming them really is not that hard. At least not on my Uniden 325p2. I downloaded some free software, watched a few videos, asked a few questions and played around with it. Within in a day I had a pretty good handle on it. Oh, a RadioReference subscription helps too, so you can access the database. You can do it manually, but it is pretty time consuming. I think I could re set my scanner and program it in about 15 mintues now, maybe half an hour if I wanted to get fancy with the layout. I can't say how easy or hard other models are since I don't own any of them. I doubt they could be a whole lot harder though. You might have to buy the software though. And some of them come with the RR database pre installed on an SD card. You can put in your zip code and it should at least get you headed in the right direction. It is possible you might get a bunch of channels you really don't want that way.
I am NOT saying don't bother with having it pre programmed or that it is a waste of time and money. Depending on your situation it may be well worth it to you. If you are not very good with a computer, like you can figure out how your email works, how facebook works or Youtube you might find this frustrating. Or if you are really impatient, don't like technical stuff and just want to turn it on ;and listen to it. In that case the 40 or 50 dollar charge might be worth it to you. Finding the best deal on a bare bones package from some fly by night company is not always the best choice for every person. I paid about 100 dollars more for my scanner then I could have if I shopped around on the internet. I do not regret it though. I got mine from a local shop that installs and repairs systems for the police and fire department. It was in stock, the guy programmed it with exactly what I wanted to listen to and updated the firmware. I got to see it work before I paid for it, and he showed me the basic functions before I left the store. I came home, turned it on and it worked. I was picking up my local police and fire department. Which is what I wanted. I have read some threads on here were people have not been happy. Maybe what they ordered isn't what they thought it was after seeing it in person. In some cases they couldn't figure out how to get it up and running and programmed. It either took them a few days to sort it out, or had to have someone else do it for them. And in some cases people have gotten stuff that was either broke or just didn't work out of the box. That is the down side to mail order, always has been, even before the internet.
Also as I said before, a lot has changed since the 80's and 90's. Don't expect to hear everything you thought you would. Police don't rely on their radios as much as they used to. They have computers in their cars and cell phones they can talk directly to other agencies or people with. Gone are the days of Smokey and the Bandit where police used hopped of versions of a CB and heavily relied on their radios. Sometimes now all you might hear from a traffic stop is the officer telling dispatch he has stopped, and the type of car and maybe the plate number. Then a little while longer that he or she is "clear". They used their in car computer to do everything else. I still hear quite a few names and vehicles being ran by dispatch though, so it still happens. Especially if there ends up being a warrant or some kind of issue. Also in my area they don't seem to use a lot of 10-codes and stuff anymore. They just pretty much talk normal.
Something else I have gotten a crash course in is antenna's and reception. In some cases people are trying to listen to frequencies from 30-900mhz. One cheap little antenna is not going to cover all those bands very well. Even if it is an after market one. Most people if they just want to listen to police, fire and rescue are going to be trying to get 150.00, 450.00 and 850mhz. Unless everything in your area has switched to Apco systems, then I think it is probably mostly 850mhz. If you are living in a small city figure on maybe 10 miles of range from the stock antenna. Maybe more, maybe less, it varies by location and possibly the model of scanner you get.
And as I found out yesterday, even with a good antenna you still might not pick up a trunked system you want to hear if it is out of range. I guess they specifically design them to have limited coverage so they don't bleed over to other areas and counties. Makes sense from their end I guess. So look at the database to see what is in your area and what the coverage for each site is. If you look at the trunked system section of the database for your area it will list all the sites and towers. Click on the name of the city or county, or the ID and it will show you a map of the coverage area for that particular tower or area.
For instance, I wanted to listen to the state highway patrol just outside of detriot. It is about 40 miles from me and is on a statewide trunked system. I figured since I could pick up a system tower near me I could hear the whole state. NOPE, doesn't work that way. I can pick up analog signals from detroit, but not a chance on a 800mhz tower from the michigan trunked system. And it is because they designed it that way so it would not interfere with other areas that they don't need to communicate with. Great idea for them, kind of sucks for us huh. I also learned that some of the people on this site apart from knowing a bit about scanners, now a LOT about antenna's and receivers. This site is worth joining just for that knowledge base on its own.
I also found you can overscan, at least that is what I call it lol. Meaning that you scan too many channels and or too large of an area. When I got my scanner I wanted it to hear the local police, fire and ems. Maybe the local state highway patrol. Then I fell into the trap of seeing how far I could reach, and how many channels I could get. What happened is I was scanning so many channels and getting so many hits from out of my area I was actually missing the local calls I WANTED to hear. I got so excited once I learned how to program the scanner I filled it with stuff from all around me. And I didn't lay it out in a manor that made it easy to shut stuff down.
I really wanted a base/mobile unit too. I just planned on plugging it in in my basement and listening to it at night. However I kind of actually like the hand held unit. If I want to toss it in the car, or I can take it outside if I want. Heck I even mowed the lawn with it today. Need to get some cheap headphones or earbuds though. My B&W headphones got yanked off my head by a low tree limb lol.
