Pro-106 or Pro-18?

[orucco]

Hello, I am new and looking at buying my first portable scanner. Radio Shack has both these scanners on sale until 9/8/12 for $100 off so the 106 is $299 and the 18 is $399. Is my thinking correct that the Pro-18 would be better buy because of the included "ISCAN" software and standard USB cable and appears is easier to learn?...........................Thanks!

 

[jamesa53]

You'd be better off getting the GRE PSR-800 as its the same scanner as the 18 but has more features than the 18. They can be bought for less than 399 (new) on eBay or other places..........here are some of the features the PSR-800 has that the 18 does not:

Recording / playback
200 scan lists (PRO-18 has 100 play lists)
Tri-color alert LED
Discriminator output
V-Scanner II
Scan Sets
Clock display while "off" (and connected to external power)
Auto power-on ("alarm clock")
"Extra" audio alert tones (PRO-18 has the 7 from PSR-500; PSR-800 has 8 more)
Power-on password

Nice thing about the 18 or PSR-800 is that you dont have to be a premium subscriber to import freqs from the RRDB, it comes with that ability. Also you can import by zip code.

Having said that I have a 106 and like it very much.............its killer on P25 700MHZ (IL STARCOM 21)
and has Roam or Stationary multi-site capability. Neither the 18 or PSR-800 have that (yet).

However, IMHO, to program the 106 you will need software like WIN500 (think its $25), a USB cable (maybe 20) and a premium subsciption to RRDB if you want to import frequencies and not type all of them in by hand.

 

[orucco]

Thanks!

Thanks for the reply. I think I will look for an 800.

 

[AC2OY]

I hear that!!

 

[orucco]

Would I be better off with the 106 because of the inability of the roam option and I am seeing a lot of folks disappointed in the battery life on the 18 or 800?

 

[oneeyebear]

I was just gonna bring up the fact that the 106 is 100$ off with free shipping to my home, was just gonna ask if it was a good scanner. I really don't think I will need any of the features that the 800 offers even though they sound nice and fancy haha... also I had a scanner before that was messed up it was pro-164 I believe and I had no problem programming that by hand even though I did end up getting the 40$ software/usb combo from radioshack shortly after I bought the 164 and it saved a lot of time programming. Glad you had this brought up, I would like to go digital in the hopes I don't ever really need to replace the scanner should my local dept. ever feel like upgrading. the price fits for the 106 but I only have a few more hours to decide I think! haha

 

[vans113]

i have a pro 106 i love it i picked it up locally off a guy on craigs list with a usb cable and upgraded atenna for 150 =P got a steal on it. in wonderful shape i love it though i used software to program and it make it super easy. I'd reccomend it to anybody though.

 

[oneeyebear]

Thanks sold me, bought the 106 and usb for about 350 or so online after tax

 

[vans113]

nice =D tell me how you like it when you get it i use psredit500 to program mine what systems you going to moniter with it?

 

[oneeyebear]

Will do, i plan on monitoring local pd/fire for sure. I know my local mall has a system as well for their security so that could be interesting. CalFire will probably be on there as well. Local businesses and checking what i can pickup from scanning the close call feature or whatever it's called should make for interesting listening also. Mostly gonna use it for pd/fire though... it is always fun to me to hear a call go out then right outside the window hear the sirens haha

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2

 

[fredva]

The PRO-18 is not usually a good deal when bought new, because of the previously-mentioned fact that the PSR-800 has more features and goes for the same price or less. However, the price of the 18 is more reasonable on ebay auctions, where it can often be had for $250-$275, sometimes less. Keep in mind I'm talking about auctions, not "buy-it-now" offerings for about the same price as you could buy it in the store.

 

[jaspence]

Pro 106 vs pro 18

I have the Pro-106 and the PSR-800. They both have positives and negatives, but the the big difference is that the 800 handles simulcast much better in my situation.

 

[vans113]

i looked at your systems and you should have no problem hear anybody really when you program it.