Trunk scanning
- Thread starter jlibarkin
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captclint
Mentor
First, you have to determine if there are any trunking systems in your listening area. Check the RR database for all counties that border on yours, as well as your own. If there are any digital ( EDACS, APCO, Etc), that will determine what scanners to get. Check this link for more:
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Trunking
Here's a link that should help, although it may too much help :wink:
http://myweb.cableone.net/marksscanners/Comparison/comparison.html
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Trunking
Here's a link that should help, although it may too much help :wink:
http://myweb.cableone.net/marksscanners/Comparison/comparison.html
K9GTJ
Member
Welcome to RR.com. You have lots of options and they can seem overwhelming.
My suggestion would be to buy a trunking scanner from Radio Shack or a Uniden from a local store. I would start off having the store program the scanner for you to start which will get you going right away.
As you listen, you can learn more about scanning and programming your scanner.
As for suggesting a scanner, look for one that isn't too feature rich as it can be very daunting to understand. If you get into the scanning hobby, you will want more than one anyway and if you just want to listen to the basic public safety, then what you get will be just fine.
You might also search on "Warren" in the VA forum for some conversations. Also asking questions in the VA forum might get you some more specific answers from users in your area.
My suggestion would be to buy a trunking scanner from Radio Shack or a Uniden from a local store. I would start off having the store program the scanner for you to start which will get you going right away.
As you listen, you can learn more about scanning and programming your scanner.
As for suggesting a scanner, look for one that isn't too feature rich as it can be very daunting to understand. If you get into the scanning hobby, you will want more than one anyway and if you just want to listen to the basic public safety, then what you get will be just fine.
You might also search on "Warren" in the VA forum for some conversations. Also asking questions in the VA forum might get you some more specific answers from users in your area.
programminc bc246t scanner
i live in philadelphia i juse brought the bc 246t having trouble setting up scanner all the talk groups are set up for police and fire dept but when i go to scan all i get is hissing is their any body on here from phila that know how to program this scanner send me a email at tmaddox123@comcast .net did iput in central channels and still the same
i live in philadelphia i juse brought the bc 246t having trouble setting up scanner all the talk groups are set up for police and fire dept but when i go to scan all i get is hissing is their any body on here from phila that know how to program this scanner send me a email at tmaddox123@comcast .net did iput in central channels and still the same
If this Philadelphia system is the one you're trying to set up, the 246 is not going to work out for you. This system is a mostly APCO-25 (digital) system. The 246 is an excellent scanner, but it cannot receive digital. That's why all you get is hissing.tmaddox said:
For digital, you'd need either the BCD396T, BC296D (discontinued, but can still be found at a few dealers or on Ebay, or in the For Sale forum here), or the Pro-96 from Radio Shack. If you wanted a base/mobile instead of a handheld, then the BCD996T, the BC796D (same discontinued comments as the 296), or the Pro-2096.
If it's a different system you're trying to monitor, please specify.
I was told by the person who programmed my Uniden 396t that Philadelphia Fire Tactical talkgroups are encrypted. I can't confirm that because I live out of the area and only travel there occasionally. The person who told me that lives in the area and is an experienced scanner user.tmaddox said:
1075,
According to the database information, you are correct. Fire tactical groups are marked as "E", encrypted. But what's odd, at least to me, is that the Police groups are not encrypted, simply labeled as "D" for digital. Where encryption is in use, you also expect it to be on sensitive PD communications, like tacticals (SWAT), narcotics, surveillance, etc.
Regardless, no scanner, digital or otherwise, will receive any encrypted talk group or conventional frequency. Your 396, as you've probably experienced (if you've tried the system) should get the regular digital channels that are unencrypted.
According to the database information, you are correct. Fire tactical groups are marked as "E", encrypted. But what's odd, at least to me, is that the Police groups are not encrypted, simply labeled as "D" for digital. Where encryption is in use, you also expect it to be on sensitive PD communications, like tacticals (SWAT), narcotics, surveillance, etc.
Regardless, no scanner, digital or otherwise, will receive any encrypted talk group or conventional frequency. Your 396, as you've probably experienced (if you've tried the system) should get the regular digital channels that are unencrypted.
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