Recommendation Help

[DHDaniel]

Good afternoon folks,

I need a recommendation on a Scanner. I’m 59 y/o and I have a good understanding of Windows & PC use. I have a short tolerance anymore for complicated hobbies. I enjoyed scanners many years ago, just before trunking came about. I’ve been looking at the Unidens & Whistler Digital units on line, and its getting over whelming. I like the Idea of using a PC to Program the scanner. I’ve looked at the ARC series and it looks like a great program. I have an account setup at Radio Reference. I recently got a Uniden BC125, I like the way ARC125 works with RR interface, I know that’s a simple basic scanner but since getting it I am now Looking for more. I also see they have a few models that you can plug in your Zip code and go. Apparently there pre loaded. That sounds neat.

I’m located on the Texas Gulf Coast and I’ll list what I’m interested in.

I’ve been told I need a digital capable scanner.

Handheld so I can use at home or take it out on the go

Harris County Sheriffs Dept

Baytown Police, Fire & Ems

Texas City Police Fire & Ems

Trains

Aircraft (Houston IAH and other smaller airports)

I’m sure there’s more but that’s a start

I appreciate any help



Dave

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Hi there:
Per the RR database, the Harris County Sheriffs Dept, Baytown & Texas City all operate on the statewide trunked radio system here so at the very minimum you'll need a scanner that can track P25 Phase-II. Also, numerous sites in Harris County contain simulcast cells. Have a read about simulcast distortion here. It can really wreck havoc on a non-SDS scanner



Since you requested handheld I'd strongly recommend the Uniden SDS100 to ensure you don't run into any issues with simulcast. Steer clear of Whistler, they've been known to sputter and lock up on these types of TRS's.

Best wishes!

 

[timhir25]

DHDaniel: you got me laughing this afternoon. The part where you say I have a short tolerance anymore for complicated hobbies.
I think sometimes this can get a little bit complicated.
Stay Safe
Tim

 

[popnokick]

Welcome to your next "complicated hobby" (scanning digital radio systems).

 

[hiegtx]

Good afternoon folks,

I need a recommendation on a Scanner. I’m 59 y/o and I have a good understanding of Windows & PC use. I have a short tolerance anymore for complicated hobbies. I enjoyed scanners many years ago, just before trunking came about. I’ve been looking at the Unidens & Whistler Digital units on line, and its getting over whelming. I like the Idea of using a PC to Program the scanner. I’ve looked at the ARC series and it looks like a great program. I have an account setup at Radio Reference. I recently got a Uniden BC125, I like the way ARC125 works with RR interface, I know that’s a simple basic scanner but since getting it I am now Looking for more. I also see they have a few models that you can plug in your Zip code and go. Apparently there pre loaded. That sounds neat.

I’m located on the Texas Gulf Coast and I’ll list what I’m interested in.

I’ve been told I need a digital capable scanner.

Handheld so I can use at home or take it out on the go

Harris County Sheriffs Dept

Baytown Police, Fire & Ems

Texas City Police Fire & Ems

Trains

Aircraft (Houston IAH and other smaller airports)

I’m sure there’s more but that’s a start

I appreciate any help



Dave

Dave,

As Whiskey3 has already mentioned, in your area (Houston metro), a great many of the sites you would need or want to monitor are simulcast. While some of what you want to monitor will not have simulcast problems (trains & aircraft), most all of the metro area public safety agencies (law enforcement, fire, & EMS) are on TxWARN P25. That's a large regional system, with cities & counties in the Houston area, nearby counties in East Texas, as well as some up here in North Texas using the system.

Simulcast is extremely location specific. At times, that even boils down to making a big difference in reception by moving the scanner a few feet in one direction or another inside your house. Out & about in your vehicle, you might be OK in a specific spot, then lose pretty much everything when you drive a block or more. More details on Simulcast are in the Wiki:
Simulcast digital distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

As far as a scanner is concerned, the SDS series scanners (the SDS100 is handheld; the SDS200 is base/mobile) are your best choice. They are designed to deal with simulcast. The SDS100 would let you monitor a wide variety of systems and frequencies, other than ones that are encrypted. (Harris County S.O. is mostly in the clear. While much of Houston PD talkgroups are encrypted, dispatch TGIDs are not. Neither Baytown or Texas City show as encrypted.)

The SDS100 is a database scanner. Install the (free) Uniden Sentinel software on your PC, and download the latest database update. Enable the Service Types of interest in your Sentinel profile, and enter your location and desired range. Connect the scanner to your PC, and write the information to the scanner. Now, by using location control, you're up & listening. As you do that, you'll find that some things are more of interest than others. As you get more comfortable with the scanner, you can begin to set up Favorites lists that contain only what is of interest to you. Besides posts here in the forums, and articles in the Wiki, there are numerous videos on YouTube with tips on how to create lists, and use the various features of your scanner.

More on how Location works here:
How it Works: Location, Location, Location

SDS100 and SDS200 FAQ Page - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[DHDaniel]

I really appreciate all of this info. I had no idea it was this complex. I'll have to do some thinking. My budget was about 500. I need to sell some aluminum cans! I am interested. Thank you all for the great responses.

Dave