radio shack or bearcat?

[dalan57]

I have always had radio shack scanners and usually good luck with them...but a few of the radios don't seem to pick up as well as they should not sensitive enough, and I am not sure how to tweak one..thought I might try a Bearcat scanner, needs to be apco25..hope to find one at an affordable cost...any suggestions on what model to buy?

 

[ecps92]

Couple of Questions before you waste your hard-earned $$

What make/model of RS do you currently have ?
What system are you trying to listen to. ??

So many possibilities of what it could be, and your radios may actually be fine.

I have always had radio shack scanners and usually good luck with them...but a few of the radios don't seem to pick up as well as they should not sensitive enough, and I am not sure how to tweak one..thought I might try a Bearcat scanner, needs to be apco25..hope to find one at an affordable cost...any suggestions on what model to buy?

 

[dalan57]

I have pro 197's and pro 106's........

 

[Nasby]

I have pro 197's and pro 106's........

If you are using them for the Ohio MARCS System, then you really can't do much better (unless of course it's a Simulcast system).
Both of those scanners are excellent performers on the MARCS System.
Many reception problems are caused by erroneous programming.

 

[dalan57]

they are programmed right..but have to set them in certain windows to get good reception...county is working on new towers..supposedly...seems like they are not quite sensitive enough...i use the 800MHZ antennae..anything else is really bad

 

[DJ11DLN]

You may need an outdoor antenna. Those scanners have a pretty sensitive front end. Some say too sensitive. If you're having trouble you may just be in an area where signal strength is low. Or your residence may have foil-backed insulation in the walls, or aluminum siding, either of which will block signals very effectively. Getting the antenna outside and up in the air a bit will eliminate this problem.

I have a 197 and a 651, the later-issue version of the 106. They are great scanners and work very well.

 

[W8RMH]

Nearby cell towers can affect reception too.