Questions about mobile setup

[glovedo]

So, I am somewhat new to radio's. I say somewhat because I have only used radio's that someone else has installed/maintained. I am a police dispatcher but know relatively squat about how our system works. I just got supervisor in dispatch and wanted to install a radio in my truck to be able to hear the traffic (without changing batteries every week in my scanner) and to learn something about our system. I am looking for a relatively cheap mobile unit (not WT) to go in the truck, along with an antenna(s) and whatever else I would need to put it in. I would like to keep from having 10 antennas and such, so maybe just 1 radio that can scan the different VHF freqs. I just need a little guidance on what to get, and don't really know where to start. Please help, thanks so much!

 

[jfhtm350]

Are you trying to listen to the Auburn Police Dispatch or something else? There are many different types of systems and knowing what you are wanting to monitor will help guide you in the right direction.

Look here and see what system or frequencies you would like to monitor:
Lee County, Alabama (AL) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Are you wanting to put a radio or a scanner in your truck? Two different things.

 

[n5ims]

I would start off talking to the folks that maintain your radios to see exactly what type of system(s) you need to monitor. There are some fairly low end base/mobile scanners that will handle some of the standard conventional and some analog trunking systems (if you don't know what these are don't worry, the radio folks will). For some digital systems (P-25 conventional & trunking) you'll need a high end scanner (list around $500). Other digital systems (Motorola MotoTRBO for example) no current scanner will allow you to pick up. If the traffic is encrypted then federal law prohibits any scanner from decrypting the transmissions.

One other thing that your radio shop may do is tell you if you might be able to get one of their older radios to use (since you're a supervisor it may be allowed, but not guaranteed).

Once you find out what type of system you need to monitor, respond back and we'll be glad to help you with selecting the correct scanner for your area.

 

[glovedo]

Thanks for the response. Preferably I would like a radio as opposed to a scanner (only to use in absolute emergency situations since I have no other reason for it, but would still be a nice capability if needed). I also spoke with another supervisor who said me having a radio wouldn't pose a problem with the FCC since I already broadcast from work, as long as I am not stupid and broadcast burps or something. LOL
We operate on a regular VHF system (I know it is analog and not trunked). I know Opelika (neighboring city) runs digital, but everywhere else around here is VHF (Lee Co Sheriffs, Ambulance, Auburn Fire). I already have the freq's and PL Tones for them all. Just don't know what kind of radio/antenna to get that would for sure work for our VHF system or what to look for. I would ask the radio shop but since I am a new supervisor, I don't have any connections yet and not sure how well it would go over. I have wired sub-woofer speakers throughout my old car before and programmed many scanners and WT's, so I don't foresee the install being a huge deal, just don't really know what to get. Thanks for the help so far, hope this helps yall.

 

[jfhtm350]

If your wanting to go with a radio then you will probably have to talk to a radio shop because if you want an external antenna and want to transmit you will have to have the antenna cut/tuned/matched to the frequency you want to talk on. If you do not have the antenna tuned you run the risk of high SWR's and burning up something in the radio. Another thing is that if you want to talk on more than one frequency, you may have to have another antenna if the frequencies are very far apart. Im sure a radio shop will ask for credentials before programming in the local PD frequencies and PL Tones if they do not know you.

You could just use a mobile and the antenna on it that is for the system you want to transmit on and carry it in your vehicle. Recieve and transmit will not be as good as with an external antenna, but may suffice for you.