programming

[jswisher8]

I just bought my mother a ws1025 for her birthday which she has been asking for for sometime. Now i cannot figure out how to program the thing. i did manage to print the frequency page of the county she wants and now i am stumped. can someone p[lease help me?

 

[DJ11DLN]

Elkhart County appears to be using the Indiana Project Hoosier Safe-T statewide trunked system. This is a P25 digital system that the 1025 cannot monitor. Sorry for the bad news but you need a better scanner if you want to hear much in the way of Public Safety. The 1025 can hear railroad, Civil Aviation, local Ham repeaters including Skywarn, and anything else that is still conventional/analog, but unfortunately that's about all.

 

[jswisher8]

Thank you for replying, so could you lead me in the right direction of what am i looking for? I am so completely lost and my mother's birthday was today, yikes thought i was gonna have a good surprise, oops i would so appreciate any help. thank you

 

[hiegtx]

Thank you for replying, so could you lead me in the right direction of what am i looking for? I am so completely lost and my mother's birthday was today, yikes thought i was gonna have a good surprise, oops i would so appreciate any help. thank you

jswisher,

Welcome to RadioReference.

The WS1025 that you purchased is a desktop scanner, so I presume that's the type you are looking for. As far as new scanners, Whistler's WS1065 is about your lowest cost option. ScannerMaster currently shows as 'out of stock', but is currently available at Amazon. It's probably also available elsewhere, and you might find a good condition, gently used one in the classifieds here on RadioReference, on eBay, Craig's List, and other websites. Don't overlook pawn shops, as well as garage and estate sales.

The Radio Shack Pro-652 is the same scanner, just re-labeled as a Radio Shack model. This radio was originally made by GRE, which went out of business a number of years ago. Their version of this model was the PSR600, or Pro-197 when sold at RadioShack. However, those would be much older units, which I would advise to avoid.

Older (discontinued) Uniden models that would work include the BCD996XT and Home Patrol-1. The current Uniden models range from the BCD996P2. Home Patrol-2, to the BCD536HP. However, these would be considerably more expensive as they also cover P25 Phase II systems, which you don't need (at least at this time).

Other Whistler models, also Phase II capable, would be the WS1095 (discontinued) and the very similar WS1098 (current model). Also the TRX-2.

Any of these scanners listed would be more expensive than the WS1025, but you may be able to find a deal with a previously owned scannr at the places suggested above,

 

[ScannerMan1989]

a merc is a ford and a ford is a merc

 

[jswisher8]

Im willing to pay more if it keeps mom happy😁 she is retired bored and wants to hear all the action. Police fire dept etc she does like the desktop type. These models in your reply. Will these get her the action she is so looking for?

 

[hiegtx]

Im willing to pay more if it keeps mom happy😁 she is retired bored and wants to hear all the action. Police fire dept etc she does like the desktop type. These models in your reply. Will these get her the action she is so looking for?

Yes, those will get the Safe-T trunked system which most public safety agencies are using.

I see a couple of agencies using DMR, a different form of digital, that some of the models I listed can't receive even with an upgrade. But those are the local correctional facility, as well as public works, which are probably not high on her list of interests.

While not a "true" base/mobile, the Home Patrol scanners (HP-1 & HP-2) have the best display of just about all scanners. Large, easy to read, text. The HP-1 is discontinued. I see some on eBay starting around $200, but of course you should verify condition and whether or not all the items included when sold new are being sent with the radio. The HP-2 does Phase II (which it appears you don't need), and is still in production. Starting price (new) is in the low $400's. Used should be less.


Looking at your county in the database, it appears that the Safe-T site in Elkhart County is not simulcast, so distortion likely would not be an issue.

 

[jswisher8]

Thank you. You have been a great help I was so lost and had no clue. I'm gonna get on this first thing in the morning