So I’m new to police scanning. I listen to the local scanner on my phone but because the multi minute delay and just wanting an actual scanner is pushing me to get a scanner I just don’t know what to get. Idk how to tell from the database if I need a trunk scanner or not I know I need digital but hopefully not a trunk scanner. If anyone knows what type of scanner I need for LaPorte county IN that would be great and any scanner recommendations would be awesome as well.
Scanner recommendations.
- Thread starter Katahgii
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- police and fire
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LaPorte County is using SAFE-T, so you'll need a P25 capable scanner. It's also simulcast so you'll probably do better with a Uniden SDS100/200
Also, LaPorte Police are encrypted. Michigan City and County Sheriff are in the clear, though.
doctordialtone
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SDS200 - The RadioReference Wiki
SDS100 - The RadioReference Wiki
Reconrider
Inside the Galaxy
The first question that should have been asked is, are you trying to take this device to listen to the pd/fire/ems out of the house to listen as you go?
If yes, then you 100% need a handheld/portable scanner.
If no, then you can buy a cheap SDR for about 40$ and use free programs or a cheap program to listen to the system.
scannersnstuff
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Just my .2 cents. Get a sds100/sds200, or save up. It's the latest/greatest.
My .002 cents. The Unication G5 pager is the “gold star” as far as receiving a simulcast system. While it is not a scanner, it is a great radio. I have the SDS 100 and the pager is a better receiver to my ears!
scannersnstuff
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But the op's question was "scanner recommendations". Insert smiley emoji here.
Ok I know it’s almost a year since I asked but what is the difference between a pager and a scanner?
scannersnstuff
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The scanner is an all around purpose receiver. The pager,on the other hand is limited to a few band's. The feature's, IE "banks" are not as easily customizable. From a few reliable source's, the Unication actually does simulcast better than the sds100. If I had my choice of only one <actually have my choice of none> I would take the sds100. There is a steep learning curve to the scanner,and the cost of both is astronomical. The Unication also act's like a fire dept.pager. I am not sure if it will do both alerting and scanning at the same time. And yes, while the sds100 can be used as a single channel pager, it is not purpose built for that.
Comparison of Unication Gx pager to a Digital Scanner:
Similarities
Similarities
- Excellent P25 Simulcast reception
- Two-tone paging
- Color display
- Compact size/weight
- Battery lasts a long time
- Harsh environment design
- No "on the fly" programming
- Can only monitor a single control channel at a time (no multi-site or multiple system scanning)
- Cannot mix scanning of P25 control channel and conventional frequencies.
- G4 is only 700/800
- G5 adds a band but you have to choose which one (VHF, 380, 400, 450) conventional analog or P25 and/or P25 Phase 1&2 Trunking. DMR Conventional is a $25 mail-in upgrade.
- Doesn't support Motorola Smartnet/SmartZone Analog, EDACS, LTR, NXDN, DMR Trunking
- Programming software (PPS) design isn't intuitive
- Status
