Smart Buy for Montgomery County?

[dsweet46]

I live in Montgomery County, MD, and I was wondering if the local agencies, such as police fire air traffic etc., are broadcasting on a digital trunking system. According to RadioReference, they are broadcasting on a analog trunking system, but when I posted a question of the same nature on Yahoo!Answers someone who seemed to know what they are talking about said they are on a digital trunking system. As this Christmas rolls around I am on the market for a radio scanner. I have had my eye on the Uniden BCT8 which is an analog trunking scanner. Would this be a smart buy for my area?

 

[TinEar]

I live in Montgomery County, MD, and I was wondering if the local agencies, such as police fire air traffic etc., are broadcasting on a digital trunking system. According to RadioReference, they are broadcasting on a analog trunking system, but when I posted a question of the same nature on Yahoo!Answers someone who seemed to know what they are talking about said they are on a digital trunking system. As this Christmas rolls around I am on the market for a radio scanner. I have had my eye on the Uniden BCT8 which is an analog trunking scanner. Would this be a smart buy for my area?

Unfortunately, no. You're going to need digital for Montgomery County.

 

[ka3jjz]

And all the models are listed here - just click on the link below, then click on the model of interest. Without going into too many details, avoid the BC250d and 785d, due to certain technical changes that will be coming down the pike...

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Category:Digital_Scanners

73 Mike

 

[MEBUCKO]

Darn it ka3jjz, I have a 250d and now I am worried. I know the pike and nothing that comes down it is ever good. What can i expect? Do I need to change my x-mas list?
Mark B.

 

[ka3jjz]

While the 250d might serve you now, when rebanding comes along, you're going to be SOL. This is the primary reason why I (and others) tend to steer folks away from the 250 and 785 (particularly since that optional digital card is a bear to come by used, if you happen to get a 250/785 without it).

So at some point, yes it's going to happen. When is anyone's guess. However, both scanners are quite good for other applications (such as milair), and for trunking in other bands that would not be otherwise impacted by rebanding (the DC 400 Mhz system comes to mind). So I wouldn't necessarily get rid of it, now or in the future, even when rebanding finally happens

73 Mike

 

[dsweet46]

Im a noobie to scanning. Can you explain what you mean by rebanding? And the "Pike"?

 

[ka3jjz]

Read this article from UPMan....(anything in blue or underlined is a link...)

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Rebanding

'Down the pike' is a common enough phrase. Coming in the future...down the road apiece...all mean basically the same thing. Something coming in the future 73 Mke