Pro 97 Scanner

[SEC675]

Recently I purchased a PRO 97 scanner by Radio Shack I am really enjoying it so far.
What I am trying to find out does any know if Raleigh has switched to the digital system or if they are still analog.
If someone has switched to the digital system can you still scan them with an analog scanner.
What are some good digital scanners to buy all I have ever used has been Radio Shack products I have looked at the Radio Shack PRO 96 and the Uniden BCD396 T.
Any advise would be good thanks.
Sincerly, Steve SEC675@aol.com

 

[jeffmulter]

>> What I am trying to find out does any know if Raleigh has switched to the digital system or if they are still analog.

Raleigh Fire was scheduled to switch over from VHF to the Viper (State of N.C.) trunked system in January. Their talkgroups would be digital.

I believe Raleigh Police are still on their conventional UHF channels.

Much of the rest of Wake County is already on the Viper system, with both analog and digital talkgroups.

>> If someone has switched to the digital system can you still scan them with an analog scanner.

If the SYSTEM has switched, the answer is no. A P25 digital system uses a 9600 baud control channel, which an analog scanner won't decode.

Many Motorola trunked systems are mixed mode, with some analog and some digital talkgroups (like the Viper system). The control channel is 3600 baud, which an analog scanner CAN decode ... although the scanner still won't be able to decode the digital talkgroups.

>> What are some good digital scanners to buy all I have ever used has been Radio Shack products I have looked at the Radio Shack PRO 96 and the Uniden BCD396 T.

Besides the RS Pro 96 (handheld) and Pro 2096 (base / mobile), and the Uniden 296 and 396 (both handhelds), Uniden will be selling the 996 base / mobile unit in the spring.

The Uniden 250 / 785 will decode digital channels / talkgroups, but CANNOT decode 9600 baud control channels.

Here's a thread that appeared on RadioReference, with ALOT of comments about the differences between the Pro 96 and Uniden 396. I have both, but personally prefer the Uniden 396 for most uses.

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17894


Jeff Multer
Fort Mill, S.C.

 

[scannerpro]

Hi Jeff, The Raleigh Fire has switched over to the Trunking System. I have a copy of all the radio information if your interested pop me a email. My email is included with this post.

 

[jeffmulter]

Thank you for the offer, but most of my traveling is southbound anymore. I could occasionally catch the Wake area on VHF, but I have no chance of hearing Raleigh or Wake on 800 down here.*

One of these occasions, though, I would like to catch one of the meetings of the Tarheelscanner folks (once a month, on a Monday evening).

( * if I understand Viper correctly, I might catch a Raleigh or Wake talkgroup on a Viper site down this way ... on a "roamer" talkgroup, or if there's an affiliation with a local site)


Jeff