Recomend a scanner for me please.

[flyingwolf]

Ok. I am in the market for a scanner now. Will be saving up to get it probably mid summer but I ma looking for items to watch right now.

So here are my requirement.

I live in SW ohio. Cincinnati area, line of sight of the OSP post 8 transmitter. (in other words I have no problem picking up the signals lol)On the MARCS system here so definatly need didgital and APCO 25.

Dont really care if its a HH or a Base/Mobile but would prefer to be able to take it with me easily.

More channels the better. Would like to be able to set the number of channels per bank but it isnt a must.

Would like the largest coverage possible.

Computer Control/Programming definatly needed. Programming a definate. Control a very nice plus.

That seems to be about my list of wants/needs.

Oh and it must be the most up to date thing for all time (J/K)


So any suggestions on where I should start looking. Links to the sites, model numbers all great.

Thanks.

P.S. I have been looking and it looks like either the Pro 96 or the BC396 would be definate candidates.
So which would work best for my needs up above.
Any and all thoughts are as always welcome.

 

[Joseph11]

I'd either get the PRO-96 or the PRO-2096.

 

[timmer]

I suggest the pro-96. It is the most up to date I believe, and you don't have to worry about voice/sound quality on digital. It automatically adjusts itself for the proper volume. I can't tell you anything about the uniden models because I have no experience or knowledge about them whatsoever. Oh, and the pro-96 uses regular double a batteries, no battery pack to charge.

 

[gatorhater]

I'd suggest the PRO-96. I plan on buying one this summer. Why? Portability, if something bad happens, like a hurricane or flood you can operate a handheld model without having to recharge it. I know, remember Hurricane Andrew in south Florida? Hopefully many learned from it.

 

[flyingwolf]

Let me know if this is at least mostly correct.

When comparing the BC and the 96 the only major difference (besides specs and other technicals and the v folders of course)
is that the 96 is computer programmable and the BC is computer controlable.

Is this pretty much correct.

 

[click23]

How about a BCD346t, that is when it comes out. It has computer control, the same memory layout as the 246t( more of it though), and several other nifty features. Here is the board for it.


Robert

 

[eyes00only]

Is the 346 the the new super hot one coming out the end of summer? The major bummer is that I think the price will be $700 or $800 / OUCH!

Jerry

 

[scanfan03]

Is the 346 the the new super hot one coming out the end of summer? The major bummer is that I think the price will be $700 or $800 / OUCH!

Jerry

Yup, and I doubt it will be $700. When the BC 246T came out it was only $200, the same price as any other new non digital scanner. I bet the 396 will be about $500, same price as the Pro-96.

 

[unitcharlie]

wolf: i prefer the pro 96 because they are easy to operate while trying to do nine other things at the same time... can't computer control the 96 but it does work very well on-the-fly... good set of rechargeables (everyready 2300 mah here) works for 12 hours on a good charge... good backlighting on the display and keyboard (that 12 hours is with the backlight set to "on with first key touched", time set to zero)....

and, semper fi!

 

[scanfan03]

On the MARCS system here so definatly need didgital and APCO 25.

More channels the better. Would like to be able to set the number of channels per bank but it isnt a must.

Would like the largest coverage possible.

Computer Control/Programming definatly needed. Programming a definate. Control a very nice plus.

So which would work best for my needs up above.
Any and all thoughts are as always welcome.

BC 396 covers all of your needs/wants, with Comp. control, user definable banks, LTR trunking, I think it will take 2 AA batteries, but not sure, maybe 4? (UPMan can you confirm?), plus tack on a frequency counter built in and a FD Pager, you can program station tones and put the scanner in stand by mode so it will only talk if that station's tone is toned out, just like a Mot Monitor pager.

 

[Videokid]

flyingwolf,

Based on the features you listed the BCT396D would be the one to get. If you can wait until it comes out in late summer, early fall (based on the thread in the Uniden forum) it would be worthwhile. It's going to have some neat new features too like Fire tone - out and Close Call RF Capture.

 

[flyingwolf]

I think I will be waiting on the BC. Mainly becuase that is when I expect to have the money saved up and mainly becuase it has the features I like it would seem.

Though I may have to give the 96 a try for a bit. I have a cousin who just got one and he is willing to let me borrow it for a week to give it a good test run.

Poor bastard knows nothing about radio but has disposable income. Dont you hate that.

Thanks for all the ideas.

Jim

 

[scanfan03]

damn!! I wish I had a disposable income!!!! :lol: :lol: lol!!! :!: :!:

 

[eyes00only]

Though I may have to give the 96 a try for a bit. I have a cousin who just got one and he is willing to let me borrow it for a week to give it a good test run.




Jim

Gee, can I borrow it after you? :lol:

Jerry

 

[scanhoog]

I went back and forth on the Pro-96 vs 296D for some time. I ended up with the Pro-96, mainly because RS discounted them and tipped the balance. I also wanted plain old rechargeable batteries, not a proprietary battery pack. I never teather the radio, just swap battery sets. I-calls on some systems and LTR tracking would be nice though ;-).

The good news is that it is very straightforward, does what it says, easy to use, and the Win96 program for only $30 is terrific.

The downside is there is nothing else. THe Uniden models with computer control and deeper option settings will give you more flexibility and learning curve fun. How useful those few extras become, I don't know.

If it were the 96 vs 396 at 500 vs 600, I would choose the 396. However, RS frequently discounts 100-200 making the radio more cost effective for a non-essential item.

By the end of the year, I'll probably own both. THe 396 looks really appealing and I'd like one radio teathered to power and antenna plus a portable.

Happy Scanning

 

[radioscan]

Wolf, as you know I live just north of the Cincinnati area and NW of you.

If you plan on listening to the Hamilton County at all, you need to get the Pro-96. The 96 provides much better audio on
Hamilton County than the 296 does. Plus with the 296 you will be constantly re-adjusting the digital audio between the Clermont County, MARCS and Hamilton County systems. The Pro-96 does this automatically. If you have no desire to listen to Hamilton County and the computer control is more of main concern that go with the 296. I can assure you that among our MONIX club members we have done side by side comparisons of both scanners and the 96 wins hands down.

Mark

 

[scanfan03]

Wolf, as you know I live just north of the Cincinnati area and NW of you.

If you plan on listening to the Hamilton County at all, you need to get the Pro-96. The 96 provides much better audio on
Hamilton County than the 296 does. Plus with the 296 you will be constantly re-adjusting the digital audio between the Clermont County, MARCS and Hamilton County systems. The Pro-96 does this automatically. If you have no desire to listen to Hamilton County and the computer control is more of main concern that go with the 296. I can assure you that among our MONIX club members we have done side by side comparisons of both scanners and the 96 wins hands down.

Mark

He's comparing the 96 to the BC 396 (which isn't out yet), not the BC 296. The 396 wins hands down against the 96, I think the 396 will have that digital AGC thing to, so you don't have to adjust the audio settings or whatever for every digital system.

 

[radioscan]

I will definitely be interested to see how the 396 does on the
Hamilton County system. It does not sound all that great on the 96,
but it is horrible with the 296. Although I still contend it is an issue with the system and not the scanners.

Mark

 

[Voyager]

Ok. I am in the market for a scanner now. Will be saving up to get it probably mid summer but I ma looking for items to watch right now.

So here are my requirement.

I live in SW ohio. Cincinnati area, line of sight of the OSP post 8 transmitter. (in other words I have no problem picking up the signals lol)On the MARCS system here so definatly need didgital and APCO 25.

Dont really care if its a HH or a Base/Mobile but would prefer to be able to take it with me easily.

If you want to monitor the MARCS system (and continue to do so), your choices are:

HH: PRO-96 or BC296D
Mobile/Base: PRO-2096/BC796D

By the summer there will also be the BCD396T which will have the same list price as the BC296D, and will likely replace it.

As for which to go with - the PRO or BC, see this thread:
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=12413

There are features that are unique to each model, and you will have to decide which feature list you like more.

A big issue for many people is the fact that the BCs won't track multiple P25 systems at the same - you have to adjust the quality settings for each one. As MARCS is P25, that mean you may not be able to monitor any other P25 systems such as Federal or other local systems. I know someone who has that problem with a BC296D. There are three systems and none of them have settings that are compatible with the others.

Joe M.

 

[flyingwolf]

I think I have decided to go with the pro 96. I wil lbe making the purchase this summer once I save up enough money.

Thanks for all the help.

So what is the difference between the 296 and the 396 that is comming out?