Scanner Advice

[WaveJam]

Hello....

Can someone please suggest a scanner for me? I've been running a website for the City of Frederick in MD called the Frederick Scanner (The Frederick Scanner - Frederick, Maryland). Its been utilizing an ancient and ailing RadioShack PRO-90 Trunk Tracker Scanner. I'm looking to replace it and I'm not really sure what to get. Bottom line is, I want to scan the channels specific to Frederick as seen here: Frederick County, Maryland (MD) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference and if I can mix in the Frederick Airport frequencies, then even better. I have a low budget, so price is critical. I don't really care if its handheld or desktop as long as it has an audio out/headphone jack.

What do you suggest?

P.S. I also like the websites that have integrated the scanner display into the website so you can see what channel is being heard at that time. I assume that would be a feature in a digital scanner and further away from my price range?

I'm mainly interested in a cheap scanner that can handle all of the Frederick freq's. So mainly looking out for specs on that scanner. But if you would also suggest something to help me integrate the display on the website, that would be great (but optional). Also, if anyone is willing to trade a decent scanner in exchange for advertising on the Frederick Scanner, please let me know. You would be the only advertising on the site (hopefully for a long time).

Thanks so much for your time!

Signed,
Scanner illiterate....

 

[ka3jjz]

Well you have some choices here. If you are interested in hearing the DoD or JNCR sites (as well as the Catoctin NPS, which uses P25) as listed at the bottom of the database, you will need a rather expensive digital trunktracker. While it is possible to get some used gear, you can expect to spend USD300-400 for a used one and more expensive new.

However if you can live without the digital, the analog trunktrackers will do just fine. Now you need to narrow your needs to either a handheld or base/mobile model. See this article from our wiki (anything in blue is a link)...

Category:Analog Trunktrackers - The RadioReference Wiki

Let's stick to the newer models for a moment - they would be the BC246T, 346XT, BC898T, BCT15, BCT15X, PSR-300 and 400 (the 310 and 410 models aren't out yet), PSR-700, Pro-107, PRO-160 through 164.

You might want to ask on our Live Audio forum about which scanner would be best suited for integrating into the Live Audio service here on RR from the list above. In this case, digital vs. analog has no real bearing, except in the traffic you want to be able to broadcast. See which one(s) folks recommend, since they'd have the experience.

Me, if I weren't interested in the P25 digital stuff and had a limited budget, the BCT15 would be a strong choice....73 (best regards) Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Sorry I meant to say the Streaming/broadcasting forum. The Live audio forum is for folks streaming their audio via RadioReference...by the way I checked out your link, and it sounds great!

73 (best regards) Mike

 

[troymail]

Hello....

Can someone please suggest a scanner for me? I've been running a website for the City of Frederick in MD called the Frederick Scanner (The Frederick Scanner - Frederick, Maryland). Its been utilizing an ancient and ailing RadioShack PRO-90 Trunk Tracker Scanner. I'm looking to replace it and I'm not really sure what to get. Bottom line is, I want to scan the channels specific to Frederick as seen here: Frederick County, Maryland (MD) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference and if I can mix in the Frederick Airport frequencies, then even better. I have a low budget, so price is critical. I don't really care if its handheld or desktop as long as it has an audio out/headphone jack.

What do you suggest?

P.S. I also like the websites that have integrated the scanner display into the website so you can see what channel is being heard at that time. I assume that would be a feature in a digital scanner and further away from my price range?

I'm mainly interested in a cheap scanner that can handle all of the Frederick freq's. So mainly looking out for specs on that scanner. But if you would also suggest something to help me integrate the display on the website, that would be great (but optional). Also, if anyone is willing to trade a decent scanner in exchange for advertising on the Frederick Scanner, please let me know. You would be the only advertising on the site (hopefully for a long time).

Thanks so much for your time!

Signed,
Scanner illiterate....

Giving an idea of your budget would help narrow it down.

Also think about your interest in using the radio as a "stationary' receiver (i.e. it's never leaving your house, etc.) vs. any desire to use it away from the analog trunking system in Frederick.

As was mentioned, to listen to the other (federal) P25 systems in your area (and others should you want to use it away from home) - more and more are already or becoming digital.

Frederick is analog but you are surrounded by digital systems just over the county line in every direction (except Carroll) in Maryland. Keeping this in mind will help lower your frustration level later.

 

[WaveJam]

However if you can live without the digital, the analog trunktrackers will do just fine. Now you need to narrow your needs to either a handheld or base/mobile model. See this article from our wiki (anything in blue is a link)..

Tremendous help! Thank-you. I've already started the search for an analog trunktracker. I found a couple BCT15's on ebay that I may bid on. But still shopping around.

As for base or mobile. It really doesn't matter as long as the thing works. The current one is a handheld that is literally attached to the computer rack, an external antenna, and the audio out from the scanner goes into the webserver (see picture). So bottom line, this scanner will always be "parked" on the computer rack. In the picture you can see the black wire in the background which goes through the wall and to an external antenna outside of the office.

by the way I checked out your link, and it sounds great!

Awesome! Thank-you and thanks for checking it out. Its my pet project at the moment.

 

[WaveJam]

Giving an idea of your budget would help narrow it down.

Also think about your interest in using the radio as a "stationary' receiver (i.e. it's never leaving your house, etc.) vs. any desire to use it away from the analog trunking system in Frederick.

As was mentioned, to listen to the other (federal) P25 systems in your area (and others should you want to use it away from home) - more and more are already or becoming digital.

Frederick is analog but you are surrounded by digital systems just over the county line in every direction (except Carroll) in Maryland. Keeping this in mind will help lower your frustration level later.

In terms of budget, I'm hoping for under $200 so I'm looking at used and refurb's. I'd rather get a used higher end model vs a new lower end model. And yeah, this scanner will never see the outdoors as its job is to pump audio into the website 24/7/365. And the cool part is, I can stream the audio to my iPhone no matter where I am (which is usually just around town). I guess I could use my current Radio Shack handheld as my mobile scanner if I find something to replace it. So, if the only difference between a mobile and desktop scanner is just the size, then I really don't care which kind I get. However, if the desktop gives me some sort of advantage of the handheld, then thats where I want to go.

Thanks some much for the reply!!! Big help!