Rookie scanner advice

[OldGuyRidin]

Evening All,

Just registered and I'm interested in listening to police and fire departments mainly. Live in Baltimore County, Maryland and didn't see police listed in tge frequency database. Is there a reason why I can't access those frequencies?
Thanks

 

[maus92]

Sounds like you need to do a lot of reading through RadioReference to get yourself up-to-speed with the various types of radio systems in use today. Baltimore County (and most jurisdictions in Maryland) uses a trunked radio system that shares / reuses frequencies between agencies rather than having specific frequencies assigned to any one service.

Baltimore County Trunking System, Various, Maryland

Baltimore County Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

 

[tvengr]

Evening All,

Just registered and I'm interested in listening to police and fire departments mainly. Live in Baltimore County, Maryland and didn't see police listed in tge frequency database. Is there a reason why I can't access those frequencies?
Thanks

Do you have a scanner? If so, which model? At my location in Baltimore County, the only scanners that will work are the Uniden SDS100 handheld and SDS200 base/mobile. The Baltimore County site is simulcast and any other scanner may or may not experience simulcast distortion depending upon your location in relation to the towers.

 

[OldGuyRidin]

Sounds like you need to do a lot of reading through RadioReference to get yourself up-to-speed with the various types of radio systems in use today. Baltimore County (and most jurisdictions in Maryland) uses a trunked radio system that shares / reuses frequencies between agencies rather than having specific frequencies assigned to any one service.

Baltimore County Trunking System, Various, Maryland

Baltimore County Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

This is really helpful and, yes, I do need to educate myself. I turn 70 next month and crime is working it's way into my area so I thought perhaps a scanner could keep me abreast of activities in my area. Being a newbie I was looking at the Uniden BC125AT.
Thanks for your outstanding input.

 

[doctordialtone]

I was looking at the Uniden BC125AT.

That model is analog only, so you're not going to be able to use it for Baltimore.

You want one of the SDS scanners.

See here

 

[jtwalker]

Good news is Baltimore Co is (mostly) not encrypted, bad news is it is digital simulcast. You will almost assuredly need a Uniden SDS model scanner. Don’t bother with anything lesser. You could go to Broadcastify and see what is available from Baltimore Co. to listen to using phone or computer without a scanner.

 

[tvengr]

Being a newbie I was looking at the Uniden BC125AT.

The BC125AT is analog only. It covers only up to 512 MHz. The Baltimore County system is 800 MHz, It's for conventional frequencies only. It cannot receive P25 digital trunked systems such as Baltimore County. What is your city or town in Baltimore County?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

In case the OP isn't familiar with how trunked radio systems work...

Trunked Radio Systems - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Trunking Basics - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

And I'll throw in the simulcast distortion wiki as it will likely be a factor monitoring Baltimore County (threads are started daily here on the forums from posters dealing with the issue):

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[OldGuyRidin]

The BC125AT is analog only. It covers only up to 512 MHz. The Baltimore County system is 800 MHz, It's for conventional frequencies only. It cannot receive P25 digital trunked systems such as Baltimore County. What is your city or town in Baltimore County?

I'm right in the heart of Towson.

 

[maus92]

This is really helpful and, yes, I do need to educate myself. I turn 70 next month and crime is working it's way into my area so I thought perhaps a scanner could keep me abreast of activities in my area. Being a newbie I was looking at the Uniden BC125AT.
Thanks for your outstanding input.

You might consider software defined radio (SDR) solution if your computer isn't a relic. SDRTrunk and an AirSpy R2 is what I would recommend. It's less expensive than an SDS 100 / 200: < $200 vs. ~$700. If you don't mind more wires, three Nooelec SDRs instead of the R2 would save some money, but is slightly jankier.

Re: the crime encroaching. I have a friend who just moved back to Towson, and she is concerned by how much the area has changed since she attended university there in the late 1990s. She is frustrated by the crime she sees occurring but is not mentioned or addressed by local government or in the press. She feels the county is purposely keeping residents in the dark and wants a scanner to keep tabs on what is going on.

 

[tvengr]

I'm right in the heart of Towson.

Please click on the red envelope in the upper right area of the page. I have a message for you.

 

[OldGuyRidin]

Please click on the red envelope in the upper right area of the page. I have a message for you.

Sorry. I don't click on anything from someone I don't know.

 

[tvengr]

Sorry. I don't click on anything from someone I don't know.

I got your message. There is a reply waiting for you. That is just for personal messaging within Radio Reference to prevent information from being viewed by other members. Any information pertaining to scanner operation should be posted in the forums for the benefit of other members.

 

[rmb75]

You might consider software defined radio (SDR) solution if your computer isn't a relic. SDRTrunk and an AirSpy R2 is what I would recommend. It's less expensive than an SDS 100 / 200: < $200 vs. ~$700. If you don't mind more wires, three Nooelec SDRs instead of the R2 would save some money, but is slightly jankier.

Re: the crime encroaching. I have a friend who just moved back to Towson, and she is concerned by how much the area has changed since she attended university there in the late 1990s. She is frustrated by the crime she sees occurring but is not mentioned or addressed by local government or in the press. She feels the county is purposely keeping residents in the dark and wants a scanner to keep tabs on what is going on.

Trying SDR in southeastern CT - if I read the database correctly, I would need three such SDRs for complete Troop E simulcast coverage?

Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network (CLMRN) Site: Troop E Simulcast

Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network (CLMRN) Site: Troop E Simulcast Details

www.radioreference.com

 

[Ensnared]

Evening All,

Just registered and I'm interested in listening to police and fire departments mainly. Live in Baltimore County, Maryland and didn't see police listed in tge frequency database. Is there a reason why I can't access those frequencies?
Thanks

Here is something to consider: Baltimore City Police Encrypted soon

 

[OldGuyRidin]

Makes sense with all the violent crimes being committed. Criminals might use them.

 

[maus92]

Here is something to consider: Baltimore City Police Encrypted soon

Lol, old "news." Still in the works, but Baltimore City is not in Baltimore County (where the OP lives.)

 

[maus92]

Nah, doesn't make a difference to violent criminals, and surveillance and other tactical comms have been encrypted for years.

 

[OldGuyRidin]

Lol, old "news." Still in the works, but Baltimore City is not in Baltimore County (where the OP lives.)

Roger that! I pretty much stay out of the city. If I have to go there....I'm packing.

 

[tvengr]

Please click on the red envelope in the upper right area of the page. I have a message for you.

Please click on the red envelope again. There is a reply for your last message.