P25 scanning for Alberta and BC

[yycwrangler]

Hi guys. Brand new to the site but first responder for 30 years.
In Alberta and I believe BC where I travel often, I believe they are going to the P25 system. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
I do enjoy listening to calls while travelling and in past, as an Advanced Paramedic , I have actually been able to assist. Also as a District Chief of a large Alberta fire department, I have been able to help out at various incidents.
I would like to continue monitoring as I travel and would like your feedback on the best portable P25 scanners available. Doesn’t have to be the most expensive but one that will be able to handle changes down the road. Plan to have an external antenna on vehicle. Cheers Al

 

[32dave]

My advice is Uniden SDS 100 Handheld or SDS 200 base both are upgradable through firmware and weekly updates. It does DMR P25 etc through codes that you have to buy. There is the Uniden BC-D325P2 handheld as well. Here is a link to check out the radios Scanners and Shortwave Receivers | Radioworld
The reason I listed the SDS series is they do simulcast where as people have had problems with other models I do not own any of these maybe one day but not at the moment. lol

 

[Reconrider]

Hi guys. Brand new to the site but first responder for 30 years.
In Alberta and I believe BC where I travel often, I believe they are going to the P25 system. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
I do enjoy listening to calls while travelling and in past, as an Advanced Paramedic , I have actually been able to assist. Also as a District Chief of a large Alberta fire department, I have been able to help out at various incidents.
I would like to continue monitoring as I travel and would like your feedback on the best portable P25 scanners available. Doesn’t have to be the most expensive but one that will be able to handle changes down the road. Plan to have an external antenna on vehicle. Cheers Al

P25 is easy to monitor. The hard part is if it's simulcast/LSM then you'll need a scanner like the SDS series to get past it - you can use others like the 436 or 325, but they don't have a good fight against simulcast.

My advice is Uniden SDS 100 Handheld or SDS 200 base both are upgradable through firmware and weekly updates. It does DMR P25 etc through codes that you have to buy. There is the Uniden BC-D325P2 handheld as well. Here is a link to check out the radios Scanners and Shortwave Receivers | Radioworld
The reason I listed the SDS series is they do simulcast where as people have had problems with other models I do not own any of these maybe one day but not at the moment. lol

I have the SDS100 for I think 2 years, I've bought a second one just because I like it so much. One is my daily that's always with me when working( construction environment ) and has yet to get nasty - dropped a lot also. lol

My state has very, very, heavy simulcast, no issues for the SDS100.

My second site's at home on the night stand to hear calls from home town, neighboring and state trunk.

 

[harryshute]

If you are going to monitor around the Edmonton P25 simulcast area you will want one of the SDS series radios.

 

[BC_Scan]

BC Ambulance Service aka EHS is all analog up to the Vancouver/Victoria areas. Freqs are listed here. Use a scanner BCD436/SDS100/TRX-1 all are newer and will be best bang for buck.
No P25 except for police. In BC all ENC. If you are travelling lower highways closest to us border you will here all kinds of P25 coming from Washington state.