Recommendations on a digital scanner?

[noahyc]

I'm looking to upgrade from the PRO-97 and go digital. Can anyone recommend a good digital scanner? So far, I'm looking at the Uniden® BCD996T. I'm not too familiar with the technical side of these scanners so please excuse any dumb questions.

One thing I would like to do (if possible) is program the scanner via software. Am I correct in thinking that I can download a frequency file from the Web, and program my scanner via software? That would make things a lot easier than having to manually input all the freqs.

Any advice on good digital scanners is much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[zzdiesel]

I bought the Radio Shack GRE based Pro-197 at Christmas and have been well pleased with it. It's only downfall to me is it having only 20 scanlists. The Uniden has several more. I use the Win500 software for my Pro-197. It is real simple to use.

 

[davidmc36]

I'm looking to upgrade from the PRO-97 and go digital. Can anyone recommend a good digital scanner? So far, I'm looking at the Uniden® BCD996T. I'm not too familiar with the technical side of these scanners so please excuse any dumb questions.

One thing I would like to do (if possible) is program the scanner via software. Am I correct in thinking that I can download a frequency file from the Web, and program my scanner via software? That would make things a lot easier than having to manually input all the freqs.

Any advice on good digital scanners is much appreciated.

Thanks.

You are correct, with a premium subscription here at RR you can download directly to many software programs and use the file you create to program your scanner. I only have Unidens in my digital stable, so am biased that way. The 996 is a great scanner. The location based scanning with a GPS connected is a great feature if you plan to use it mobile. The other current digital scanners are very nice too and have some differences. I always like to find the manual for a unit on-line before I buy something and get an idea how it works. I know Unidens are available on their site and suspect the others are too if you look for them. The new handheld 396XT is shipping to retailers soon. The date was announced in the thread at the top of the Uniden Scanners forum, look near the last page. It will also include location based scanning. Good luck on your decision, there is a lot of info to absorb. Check the WIKI articles here on RR too for info about different models. It is very well laid out for easy comparison of different models.

 

[adamsdawson]

I love my BCD 369T.

 

[Patch42]

I bought the Radio Shack GRE based Pro-197 at Christmas and have been well pleased with it. It's only downfall to me is it having only 20 scanlists. The Uniden has several more. I use the Win500 software for my Pro-197. It is real simple to use.

The object oriented approach of the GRE-based digital scanners will often require a somewhat different way of looking at things. The limit of 20 scanlists doesn't necessarily limit you to 20 "systems", particularly if many of the systems you have programmed are trunked. For instance, you can put, say, multiple police systems in a single scan list and turn individual systems off by locking out the TSYS object for the system. Unfortunately, the lack of a CSYS (conventional system) object to allow grouping of conventional frequencies does limit the usefulness of this approach if you live in an area with primarily conventional systems.

I know this wasn't what the OP was asking about, but since the 20 scanlists was mentioned as a downfall, I thought I'd throw out an alternative approach that may work for a lot of people.

 

[mtindor]

The PSR-500/600 and RS PRO-106/197 are great digital scanners. My personal opinion is that their abiility to decode digital audio exceeds that of other scanners at this time. Of course, others will say differently.

A few things to consider if you decide to purchase one of the above-listed scanners:

1. They are significantly more sensitive on VHF and 800 Mhz than any other scanner I have ever used (including a BC396, BC996, PRO-90, 92, 95, 97). I do not know how they compare to a PRO-96/2096.

2. Along with the increased sensitivity comes the higher likelihood of front end overload by strong local transmitters (paging, TV, cell). I find this mostly happens on VHF. It is less likely that you would experience this at UHF / 800.

If you live in an urban area or an area close to a lot of high power transmitters, you may find yourself in need of a filter to attenuate an offending signal that swamps the receiver front end.

I currently have 7 trunked systems, some consisting of 5-10 sites, programmed into the scanner. So far, the 20 scanlist limit has never been a problem for me. But I can see where it would be for some. There is plenty of memory capacity to store a lot of data in these scanners, especially with the VFolders.

With that said, I would agree with David that you also should consider the fact that Uniden is coming out with an updated model of their 396 (the BCD396XT) with some signfiicant improvements, especially with regard to storage for data. The Unidens are fine scanners. I have owned both the 396 and 996.

The handheld versions of the GRE/RS scanners feel like feathers - they are nearly all plastic. I don't like them one bit, although I do have a PSR-500 handheld and some other handhelds and just live with it. The 396 is a solid handheld, and is also smaller. When you hold a 396 it actually "feels" like a substantial piece of equipment. I don't know if the 396XT will do the same or not.

David is a huge proponent of location-based scanning, where I on the other hand could care less. He has convinced me though that this can be a very useful feature for those who travel a lot. So that is something to consider as well - If you will travel mobile a lot and would like a scanner that can turn off certain systems and turn other ones on as you leave one coverage area and enter another, you're only option is a Uniden.

I would never ever give up my PRO-197 base/mobile digital scanner. I love nearly everything about it (aside from its ability to attract unwanted signals - i.e. overload). It does everything I need it to do, and the sound quality of the digital audio is great.

NOTE: You should look around and read about the various trunked systems you are wanting to monitor. If any of those systems are digital systems that are also simulcast systems, then you could experience problems with simulcast distortion - and those problems would exist regardless of the brand of scanner you have.

Mike

 

[MississippiPI]

I have the GRE600, works great.

Be Safe

 

[smokeyjones666]

I'm a big fan of my PSR-500. I live in a somewhat dense metropolitan area so I find myself using the vfolders a lot - not from a lack of memory in the scanner, but from the perspective of organization since I tend to use a lot of scan lists for each area. For me, this simplifies things because when I want to listen to a different county or a different type of system (Public Safety, Utilities, Aircraft, Railroad, etc...) it's easy to load an entire new profile from the vfolders.

My only real frustration has been with the sensitivity. With the collection of powerhouse fm and tv transmitters near my location I have found it necessary to use a FM broadcast band filter. When I get to the other side of the metro, away from the transmitters, my frustration eases.

 

[DesertRatt]

Gre Psr-500/600

I would have no problem recommending a GRE America PSR-500 (handheld) or PSR-600 (mobile/base). GRE is best at what scanners are supposed to do. Bring in signals.
Uniden thinks that they can add some pretty back lighting and features that GRE already had and then their new/old XT scanners will be better. But they will still have the same guts.
I will give the BCD396T credit though its blue screen is pretty and it is smaller than the GRE PSR-500. But in my opinion, the GRE digital scanners are better at bringing in signal.