PRO 405 ( Digital Scanner ? )

[philip58]

I thought I would be able to listen to my local police dept. on my new scanner, key word, thought. I was told it is a digital scanner and so far I'm not impressed. Villa Park, Il. is now broadcast on Starcom 21 and I have not been able to hear anything. The 153 pre-programmed channels work fine but I'm not interested in the city of Chicago police frequencies and I'm at a loss. Did I just waste a few hundred dollars in a scanner and accessories? (HELP)
Thank you,
Phil

 

[gewecke]

I thought I would be able to listen to my local police dept. on my new scanner, key word, thought. I was told it is a digital scanner and so far I'm not impressed. Villa Park, Il. is now broadcast on Starcom 21 and I have not been able to hear anything. The 153 pre-programmed channels work fine but I'm not interested in the city of Chicago police frequencies and I'm at a loss. Did I just waste a few hundred dollars in a scanner and accessories? (HELP)
Thank you,
Phil

Well... sort of. Whoever told you the 405 was "digital" was wrong unless they were simply referring to the display?
You need at least a pro-197, or a pro-106 to make starcom21 possible for you.
Sorry you were misled.

73,
n9zas

 

[SquierStrat]

A few hundred bucks??? ouch! that scanner goes for $100 brand new... As said above, it can technically be advertised as "digital" because it has a digital display (ive seen this alot). I bet youll do a little more research next time you drop that kind of money lol!

 

[gewecke]

I'm sincerely hoping the op spent $200 on accessories, otherwise I would be pissed at whoever slipped it to him like that! :evil:

73,
n9zas

 

[scannersnstuff]

i can't emphasize enough. when making a new purchase. research,research and more research. i should have waited when it came to a certain scanner that i purchased. but i had to buy it hot off the press. now it's nothing but a hot steaming mess.

 

[mainetrunk]

I knew a guy that wanted to sell me a (digital) scanner. He thought it was digital because of the display-real smart! He thought analog scanners had tose rolling numbers--like the old gas pumps.

 

[ColonelMike]

I thought I would be able to listen to my local police dept. on my new scanner, key word, thought. I was told it is a digital scanner and so far I'm not impressed. Villa Park, Il. is now broadcast on Starcom 21 and I have not been able to hear anything. The 153 pre-programmed channels work fine but I'm not interested in the city of Chicago police frequencies and I'm at a loss. Did I just waste a few hundred dollars in a scanner and accessories? (HELP)
Thank you,
Phil

If your within the return time, take it back and get a real digital scanner.

 

[xxdanielt3]

Your going to need at least a scanner with trunking capabilities if you want to monitor your area.. I see most of your area still uses LTR which doesn't use a control channel. Other parts of your area use Motorola Type II Smartnet, this can also be monitored with a scanner with trunking capabilites. For P25, your going to need a digital scanner. Don't be confused with digital display.

Trunked radio system info - Trunked Radio Systems - The RadioReference Wiki
LTR - http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/LTR
Type II system - Motorola Type II SmartZone - The RadioReference Wiki
P25 system - APCO Project 25 - The RadioReference Wiki

Digital scanner comparison chart: Digital Scanner Comparison Chart - The RadioReference Wiki

If your area has intentions of having a P25 Phase II system the only scanner that can currently monitor this is a PSR-800.

 

[philip58]

THANK YOU for all your help. I e-mailed Radio Shack yesterday (Sunday) and they will get back to me within 24 hours. I purchased the scanner on line because I was told at the Radio Shack by my house that the hand held scanners were all they had and I wanted a desk top. I went back for headphones, speaker etc. and a different guy told me that they in fact carried desktop scanners but I had already ordered one on line. I have a feeling Radio Shack will make it all better since they steered me wrong, only time will tell. Thank you very much! I sure am glad I hooked up with all of you. Philip 58

 

[Techy]

Phil, im sure if you receive the scanner or have it already, returns can be done at the store near you. Hang onto the packing receipt in the box and any other info thats in there as well.
Then get a nice new scanner thats ready for your area. And please enjoy! Any other info always post with us here at RR. I have learned so much from the members here.