Question regarding Marylands use of Smartnet radios

[mike_h]

mods: if this is in the wrong section, I apologize but please correct it.

This may be complicated or maybe I'm just thinking it is.

I reside in maryland and I was a volunteer FF for awhile, since getting out of that gig for the time being due to a back injury.. I would like to atleast chime in on the actions around my area.

I spoke to the EMS supervisor and he advised me that Anne Arundel Fire does not use digital systems however police does, which are type 2 smart net systems (800mhz) and the radios are the XTS series.

I'm use to the old school motorola portables so I'm not sure how to go about this.

I am looking for a radio for around ~350 on eBay etc that I can use to listen to MSP, Anne Arundel County Fire as well as police and Annapolis Police and possibly a few others locally. I ran across an MTX8000 for sale and I was wondering if that radio would be able to be programmed for my purpose? I know I will be recommended a scanner, but I do not want a scanner due to the fact I'd purchase two of whichever radio would be compatable for personal use as well.

If the MTX8000 isn't the one I would need for the job, what radios could I set my eyes on for my price range (~300,each)?

I appreciate any helpful replies, and yes I am probably asking for too much but I would like better understanding in the search for the radio I could use.

 

[bezking]

1. Buy a scanner. I know you don't want to, but you should. It's not worth the trouble. Unless you get permission from the administrator of the system, you will not be programming any Motorola radio onto a trunking system. Not legally, at least. Even if you do find a System Key to program the radio with, you run the risk of having the System Admin kill your radio remotely if you aren't very very very careful..

2. It's not really clear from your post whether or not you do need to monitor P25 digital. If you do, you are going to have a very hard time finding a P25 Motorola that does trunking in your price range. One thing to watch out for on the XTS - if it has BOTH FPP and Trunking on the flashcode, the FPP will disable the Trunking option. WHY Moto did this is anyone's guess. Keep in mind that the programming software will cost at least $250, not to mention the required programming hardware.

If you do NOT need P25, you could find an MTS2000 in your price range, but the same problems as above (System Key and Programming) would apply. As with an XTS, you want to make sure that Trunking is enabled as an option on the flashcode - but on the MTS you don't need to worry about FPP because the MTS2000 does not support that.

Hope that helped!

 

[davidgcet]

as stated you will not be able to get this radio programmed. the drawback to SMR systems is that if the radio is programmed for the channel it CAN transmit if you know how to trick the system. there are certain ways this can't happen, but the vast majority of systems it is possible. there is no option in the radio to make a talkgroup RX only, so it is almost impossible to get a system admin to allow your radio to be programmed.

personally i would go with a scanner with trunk capabilities and a P25 decoder.

 

[Skypilot007]

All good advise above. The only way you're going to get a moto to do what you want is to do it yourself which will require a lot of reading, research and way more then $350 bucks. Have at it or take the easy way out and get a scanner.

 

[KG4INW]

I know I will be recommended a scanner, but I do not want a scanner due to the fact I'd purchase two of whichever radio would be compatable for personal use as well.

You said they're on 800 MHz which would mean you could not use them for personal use anyway.