Scanner Suggestions for frequencies in Will County (Shorewood, Joliet, Wescom?, etc)

[usatec70]

This is my first post so please bear with me. My dad just told me he would like a scanner for his birthday next week and I would like to get him one.

I’ve done a bit of research but I’m not sure which type of scanner I need. I looked at the frequencies and can’t tell which are analog, digital or encrypted. I would be so appreciative if someone could recommend a scanner that will allow him to pick up frequencies in Shorewood, Joliet, Wescom and perhaps even other nearby communities. My dad is not very tech savvy so simplicity would be nice too. Also, I’m not sure how much he’ll use it so I would prefer to spend less than $200.

This reasonably priced one got strong reviews on Amazon for its simplicity but it’s analog:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C73X4FK/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

As far as digital scanners, I have no idea which one! Lol

I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the options and short on time so thanks for any guidance you offer!
Tracy

 

[N9JCQ]

Although they are not in your price range, for simplicity sake the Uniden 436, 536 or Home Partol II (not "1") might be your best options. You just enter the zip code you are in, select what you want to hear (ie. Police, Fire, EMS, etc) and off you go. It's not quite that simple as you have to understand what you want to listen to and how to select it. Also, although I am up in Buffalo Grove, understand that there may be agencies down your way that are encrypted and no scanner will decode that. I can tell you, just about all of the north shore and north suburban agencies are encrypted. The ISP, for the most part, is in the clear though. We have a huge scanner roup in the Chicago area called CARMA and I am sure members down your way will add to this discussion. I hope this helps you a bit.

 

[jonwienke]

You'll need a digital scanner for most of the public safety traffic in Will County. Will County's STARCOM site is simulcast, so you'll need a scanner that can handle simulcast to reliably receive transmissions. The only scanner models currently designed for simulcast are the Uniden SDS100 (handheld) and SDS200 (base/mobile). The 436 536, and HomePatrol models are not designed for simulcast and may or may not work; moving from one end of a parking lot to the other can make the difference between perfect reception and nothing. The SDS models will recive simulcast anywhere the signal is strong enough to hear.

Unfortunately, all of those models are more than $200. The HomePatrol, 436, and 536 are between $400 and $500, the SDS100 is $650, and the SDS200 is $700.

 

[usatec70]

Wow! Thanks for offering your help and expertise! I’m so glad I asked before I bought the one I saw. I think I’ll have to come up with another idea for my dad’s gift! $600-700 on something he may or may not use seems a little pricey to me. Although, if you happen to come up with some work arounds please post them. Many thanks!

 

[RoninJoliet]

Joliet is not a city he can monitor as there Encripted....I have the Uniden 996P2 mobile-base and the 325P2 H/H moderatly priced from the Bearcat Warehouse $350 , the 996P2 is a great scanner easily programmed by hand or Freescan software......It scans Starcom, Wescom and Will County perfect considering your location to the Starcom tower T113 or T102 which are listed in the database here on this web site.....

 

[usatec70]

Joliet is not a city he can monitor as there Encripted....I have the Uniden 996P2 mobile-base and the 325P2 H/H moderatly priced from the Bearcat Warehouse $350 , the 996P2 is a great scanner easily programmed by hand or Freescan software......It scans Starcom, Wescom and Will County perfect considering your location to the Starcom tower T113 or T102 which are listed in the database here on this web site.....

This is great information, RoninJoliet. Thanks for the details on the Uniden 996p2. I just looked and it appears I can get one before my dad’s birthday on Tuesday. Be aware....I might be reaching out to you again in the next couple of weeks with help getting this set up. Thanks again!

 

[frankdrebbin]

Joliet is not a city he can monitor as there Encripted....I have the Uniden 996P2 mobile-base and the 325P2 H/H moderatly priced from the Bearcat Warehouse $350 , the 996P2 is a great scanner easily programmed by hand or Freescan software......It scans Starcom, Wescom and Will County perfect considering your location to the Starcom tower T113 or T102 which are listed in the database here on this web site.....

I have a question for you. How well does the 996P2 work on simulcast? I have St. Clair Co. sites in but actually am a little far away to hear them. If it would scan simulcast I could take it to my Mom's place in the county to see if it would work or not.

 

[jonwienke]

Just like any other non-SDS scanner. In some places it will work perfectly, in others you'll get nothing. It's a location-based crapshoot.

 

[tommypickles]

I presently use a 996 P2 to monitor site 113 and some days it just does not work.
I am about 9 miles from one of the simulcast locations, but at times I do get other locations on this site that messes up the reception.
I just use the back of set antenna extended in a horizontal direction about two sections.
If you are mobile in a site you definitely need a radio that can handle LSM, in a fixed location you can try, first before buying a SDS or Unication.
Just my two cents worth.

 

[RoninJoliet]

Every area will perform different, here in Joliet i live near T113 and have no problem at all....I also use a attic antenna with RG213 coax 30' on a RS groundplane and my newest 996P2 will receive T102 with 3 bars perfect....I have another attic RS ground plane using RG6U and it receives 80% T126 25 miles north of me....It is a crap shoot.....

 

[werinshades]

Every area will perform different, here in Joliet i live near T113 and have no problem at all....I also use a attic antenna with RG213 coax 30' on a RS groundplane and my newest 996P2 will receive T102 with 3 bars perfect....I have another attic RS ground plane using RG6U and it receives 80% T126 25 miles north of me....It is a crap shoot.....

If asked for my recommendation, I suggest a SDS 100 or 200. A friend of mine purchased a 536 for his sister in Indina after I cautioned him about simulcast distortion issues etc. He purchased a SDS 100 for himself earlier this year. He called me yesterday from her house and did a side-by-side test of his SDS 100 and 536hp which I duplicated the programming. The 536 was almost deaf compared to his SDS 100, from what I was hearing. I hate being right!

As of this morning, the 536 is being returned (fortunately the 30 day window was still open), and a SDS 100 is enroute. I'm sure if you wait 3 more years you might get a better scanner etc., but for the immediate future this is the way to go. Don't take the chance and try all all the tricks and waste your time. Purchase the right scanner for the area and enjoy it.

 

[AC9BX]

Also consider if you want desktop (which can be moved around or used in a vehicle) or portable (which can also just set on a desktop).

Yep, sadly there's quite a lot you would be able to hear but it's encrypted. But there's a fair amount of good stuff left. There isn't much P25 Phase 2. But there may be some you'd want. That will somewhat set limits on which scanner to buy. You're looking at quite a bit more than $200 for an advanced digital model.

If you're willing to settle for analog, which isn't all bad, you can get a new model for under $100 (Whistler 1010/1025), used for much less. There's still a fair amount of interesting stuff in analog. However, it's likely there will be less in the future. For now as an example WESCOM North and South dispatches are still in analog and likely will be for some time but not forever. But most all area police are digital.
Whistler's lesser digital models, 1040/1065 are a little over $200, are very capable radios, and a good choice for your area, for now. The top models, TRX1/TRX2, are twice as expensive, but offer built-in recording (which can be glitchy) and P25 Phase 2, NXDN (of which there's a fair amount in the area) and DMR decoding, plus pretty good free software. ... Just an example for one brand.

If it were me, for myself, I'd pick up a used under $30 radio for analog only. There's so little analog trunking left it almost doesn't matter if the radio can hear that or not. Beyond that you'll want a digital model. Although the latest features aren't needed for most listening, to future-proof my purchase as much as I could I'd get the latest radio.