Shopping for MSP, Minnesota area..

[K9KLC]

Simulcast 6 tower system
Locally…
996P2….👎
536…….👎
SDS100🤔
G5…….👍👍👍👍👍👍👍(in my home environment with an inside antenna

I'm gonna have to agree on the Unication G5. Made anything else I've ever used at my home look poorly.

 

[jjhendo]

Here's the deal, In MY area, on the Day I tested it, on the System I checked it on, I could not tell any difference between the SDS 100 and a BCD536. Again that was that one time for about an hour (or so) on a simulcast system I monitor day in and day out. People will tell you or argue with you that they cannot do Simulcast. People that know the truth will tell you it may not, but it depends on your location to the towers in your area. If you have one tower close and the others are "some distance off", obviously that has a better chance of working than if you're right in the middle of all the simulcast towers. To be sure, if you're wanting to listen to simulcast, you should likely go with the SDS series unless you care about things like I don't know VHF analog or such nonsense. That's where the SDS stuff lacks. Of course you already have a good analog scanner so you could do what I do and use one device for the simulcast and the other for the analog duties.
IF you understand the limitations of a Unication voice pager that's the better choice for heavy simulcast. But again, it has limitations compared to a normal scanner. I'm told the SDS uses the same software the 536 does (and it says so when I open it up also) so it's not too daunting at all to program of you put a little effort in it. Everything is a learning curve. If I'm not mistaken the uniden DMR upgrade is $75.

Hmmmm, ok. I'm not too sure of the tower locations (or how to find out.) Little more digging to do. Think I'm looking for an analog with a few more features now, too..

 

[jjhendo]

I'm gonna have to agree on the Unication G5. Made anything else I've ever used at my home look poorly.

Ohh, ok. I haven't even looked at those yet.

 

[ryolsen8]

Hmmmm, ok. I'm not too sure of the tower locations (or how to find out.) Little more digging to do. Think I'm looking for an analog with a few more features now, too..

Are you wanting an analog scanner or a digital one? Public Safety wise, there is very very little analog in Minnesota anymore.

 

[jjhendo]

Are you wanting an analog scanner or a digital one? Public Safety wise, there is very very little analog in Minnesota anymore.

Maybe both to cover the bases? I get about twenty analog EMS and one or two law enforcement stations now. Or at least I was going to if I got an SDS, not sure about other BCDs..

 

[ryolsen8]

Maybe both to cover the bases? I get about twenty analog EMS and one or two law enforcement stations now. Or at least I was going to if I got an SDS, not sure about other BCDs..

There is virtually no VHF in-use anymore in Minnesota... What VHF frequencies are you picking up? We use the ARMER system, a P25 Phase I system. You'd want an SDS to properly monitor it.

 

[jjhendo]

There is virtually no VHF in-use anymore in Minnesota... What VHF frequencies are you picking up? We use the ARMER system, a P25 Phase I system. You'd want an SDS to properly monitor it.

There's still some EMS believe it or not. I'm trying to round up eight for an old crystal scanner. I might barely make it, ha.

 

[Robdobb]

There's still some EMS believe it or not. I'm trying to round up eight for an old crystal scanner. I might barely make it, ha.

I got 5 active vhf frequencies for fire and ems in Wadena county.

 

[K9KLC]

The "real" radios, as expected, perform the best on our simulcast system. The Unication comes very close. However these are very limited in the number of things I can monitor

Can you elaborate on this compared only to your "real radio". Also can you say what "real radio" you have ?

 

[jjhendo]

I got 5 active vhf frequencies for fire and ems in Wadena county.

Not bad!

 

[AAFC]

Unication.... G4 or G5 and you'll never be disappointed! Seriously. It provides 100% P25 audio with zero simulcast distortion. Even the SDS scanners can't offer that.

For the record, I don't own an SDS but I've been told by people who do that even though they are "good" they are still not perfect. My Unication G4 IS perfect on MN ARMER simulcast here in the Twin Cities.

However, it won't be long and NO scanner (or voice pager) will be able to monitor any public safety frequencies in the Twin Cities, or the entire state of Minnesota as a result of Encryption. The majority of the metro area is already encrypted.... It may not be worth buying a new digital scanner or voice pager.

 

[ryolsen8]

However, it won't be long and NO scanner (or voice pager) will be able to monitor any public safety frequencies in the Twin Cities, or the entire state of Minnesota as a result of Encryption. The majority of the metro area is already encrypted.... It may not be worth buying a new digital scanner or voice pager.

Law Enforcement primarily are Encrypting. Not necessarily Fire/EMS.

Unfortunately, a lot of people consider their scanners “useless” just because LE is Encrypting.

 

[AAFC]

Correct. I should've said "no law enforcement" instead of "no public safety".

I really only care to monitor crime in my local area..... I don't need to hear fire and medical calls.

"scanners" may not be useless..... but "digital scanners" pretty much are. At least for me.

 

[wogggieee]

Correct. I should've said "no law enforcement" instead of "no public safety".

I really only care to monitor crime in my local area..... I don't need to hear fire and medical calls.

"scanners" may not be useless..... but "digital scanners" pretty much are. At least for me.

Major crime usually results in injuries. With law enforcment encrypted its still possible to know whats happening based on EMS calls.

 

[AAFC]

Major crime usually results in injuries. With law enforcment encrypted its still possible to know whats happening based on EMS calls.

I've been listening to Police (and fire/medical) radio traffic in my local area on a daily basis for the last 15+ years..... I can tell you with 100% certainty that MOST crime does NOT result in fire or medical being called. Sure, major events and car crashes, etc.... But average daily crime events are never aired on Fire/medical radio talk groups.

 

[wogggieee]

I've been listening to Police (and fire/medical) radio traffic in my local area on a daily basis for the last 15+ years..... I can tell you with 100% certainty that MOST crime does NOT result in fire or medical being called. Sure, major events and car crashes, etc.... But average daily crime events are never aired on Fire/medical radio talk groups.

Most crime isn't really worth hearing about. Major stuff, the interesting stuff, typically results in fire/ems involvement whether there's injuries/death or they just need to block traffic.