Unication question/advice

[viscid240]

I currently have a pro96 which is obviously outdated. I'm in the west valley. Simulcast G is my primary focus. anything Glendale PD/FD. and of course west valley phoenix north phoenix by the I-17 thunderbird area and west phoenix Westgate area. As for the G-5 question is which one? or do I save money with a G-4? I'm looking more into the G-5 do too dual band. if the G-5 which wouldn't surprise me if advised, any help with describing which model and why would greatly be appreciated.

I have very little interest in the SDS100 which might sound unfair but this is due to using scanners since the mid 90s up to the pro96 back in 03 which i purchased new. I always felt a bit wanting better quality. to me the scanner is a great "jack of all trades master of none" type of deal, whereas the Unication seems to fit the bill. I don't mind learning all over again for something that will have better end results.

Thank again,
Andrew

 

[blackbelter]

The learning curve between PRO 96 and Unication is huge , however I am confident that with the dedicated resources available you can program and learn these amazing devices . With G5 I can monitor my local P25P2 and a single DMR systems perfectly . I would suggest a G4 to monitor your 700/800 Systems. The effectiveness of my G5 with its factory blue banded stubby antenna to receive every key up is 100 percent however with my SDS 200( using a RS 800 antenna) the same experiences ranges between 90 to 95 percent .

 

[Enjoi19]

You mentioned a few different areas here - just a reminder you can only monitor 1 site at a time with the Unication pagers. Can’t scan multiple sites at once like a regular scanner would.

 

[Netupsar]

I have had a G5 for about a year. I just bought a G3 VHF/UHF so I can listen to UHF LEO(still active UHF) AND the Railroad locally as I ride up and down the RR on the greenway. {Not LONG RANGE}
I have an SDS200 in the garage and an SDS100 to warm myself if needed.
Hands down Unication is the be$t ever heard by these VA compensated ears!
And BLUETOOTH!!!! Uniden? Uniden? BLUETOOTH!

All the uni needs is a way to get an external ant connected for the VHF and it would the best ever.

 

[viscid240]

Thanks for the replies it much appreciated. I am aware of monitoring one site at a time which is no big deal. Just really trying to know if a G5 is the go to and which model and what i could expect to cover locally. Or if the savings of a G4 would be worth it.

 

[jonwienke]

If you're OK with monitoring one site in a single system at a time, a G4 is adequate. If you need to switch between sites/systems in different bands, get a G5. If you need to monitor more than one system, get a SDS100.

 

[DanRollman]

If you're OK with monitoring one site in a single system at a time, a G4 is adequate. If you need to switch between sites/systems in different bands, get a G5. If you need to monitor more than one system, get a SDS100.

Assuming you're looking to stay in the $700 or less range, I agree with all of that. If your budget is (much) more flexible, then the BKRadio KNG-P800 or KNG2-P800 would beat them all, including the Unication, at monitoring/scanning talkgroups on a single Phase II P25 simulcast site. I have a SDS100, a Unication G5, two KNG-P800's on the desk, and a KNG2-P800 in the car (because it is even louder than the KNG-P800's) so I have a good base on which to compare these models. I like them all, and would part with none. The SDS100 is indeed my 'jack of all trades master of none' scanner and I use it for Discovery Mode and the like too. I use the G5 when small size is valuable and I need more reliable decode than the SDS100. But I use the KNG radios 98% of the time and strongly prefer them over the G5. Even better decode and audio performance, ability to manipulate scanlists on the fly, 16 knob positions per zone, ability to turn scan on/off on a particular channel, etc. The G5 is much closer to operating and performing like a public safety grade radio does than the SDS100. But the KNG literally is a public safety grade radio (and, unlike the Motorola APX line and others, has a true RX only option where no system key hacking is needed and there is zero chance of affiliation - it is designed to be able to operate as a scanner from the factory, and unlike Motorola the factory is happy to sell you the cable and software to be able to do it, for a couple hundred bucks extra).

 

[KB7MIB]

I'm in the west valley. Simulcast G is my primary focus. anything Glendale PD/FD. and of course west valley phoenix north phoenix by the I-17 thunderbird area and west phoenix Westgate area.

Thank again,
Andrew

Simulcast G will give you:
Phoenix PD 200, 800, 900
Glendale PD
Tohono O'odham PD at the Desert Diamond Casino (by Westgate in Glendale)
Peoria PD
El Mirage PD
Surprise PD
Tolleson PD
Avondale PD
Phoenix Regional Fire EMS calls, except possibly K7 and K8. Fires and HazMat calls are assigned to VHF-High channels on A-deck.
Phoenix Regional Fire E-deck admin TG's used by departments other than Phoenix FD. Some are more active than others, such as Surprise FD which has been very active on their E2 and E3 recently at their stadium. (Glendale FD, and North County FD have also been heard in the past, but nothing recent.)
Maricopa County Community College District public safety (Glendale and Estrella community college's.)

Goodyear PD is on Simulcasts G and J, but is fully encrypted.
Buckeye PD is on Simulcast J, but is also fully encrypted.

The I-17 and Thunderbird area is Phoenix PD 600. They're on Simulcast A. (The border between 900 and 600 is roughly 27th Ave.)

There's a strip of Phoenix running north-south along the westside of I-17 that Phoenix FD runs EMS calls on K8. They're on Simulcast B. (There's a map in another thread here that shows the channel boundaries.) The rest of the West Valley is either K6 or K9, with Northern Ave being the rough divider.

If you're interested in the Sheriff's Office in the West Valley (District's 2 and 3), they're on their own separate trunked system.

DPS Metro West and Metro Central are on both UHF, as well as on the AZWINS trunked system. (Although not quite 24/7. I can sometimes hear activity on UHF and nothing at all on AZWINS, particularly Metro West.) During Cardinals home games, DPS handles security at State Farm Stadium at Westgate, on an AZWIN TG.

Luke AFB FD and security forces are on their own trunked system.

So keep in mind that you need to receive not only Simulcast G of the RWC, but Simulcasts A & B, as well as VHF-High, UHF, and possibly 3 other trunked systems, depending upon where exactly you happen to be in the West or North Valley areas, and what exactly you want to listen to. More than one G4/G5 may be needed, if you don't want an SDS-100/200 to cover all of it.

Full disclosure: I do not own a G4/G5, so I have no first hand experience with them, or how flexible they are with programming. I only know what I've seen mentioned here on RR. The same can be said in regards to the KNG radios. I own a GRE PSR-500, a Uniden SDS-100, and a much older Realistic PRO-43 and PRO-2020.

John
Peoria

 

[RetiredVolunteer]

The second band of a G5 utilizes an internal antenna only which definitely affects reception on that band. As has already been mentioned, since the agencies in the Phoenix area utilize VHF, UHF, and the 700 / 800 P25 trucked systems, so your listening preferences will determine which type of unit will be best for you.

 

[viscid240]

DanRollman - I appreciate the breakdown and your response. the KNG would be great. Unfortunately I have made some big purchases these last few months which is why I listed the G5/4 rounding out max price range.

KB7MIB - This post is very much appreciated. More than I probably deserve, I thank you... I am wondering if a different antenna (hopefully) I could pick up better vhf/uhf with my pro96 have on the Remtronix 800. If not it is understandable with its age. Looking deeper into the database I think the G5+vhf might be the one. You did get me to look more into the SDS100 as I am more familiar with scanners. Just from what I have read locally the SDS seems to have a bit more on the miss side than the Unication. I can deal with turning the knob for site searching, that is not a concern, although might be annoying coming from a scanner. If it can locate and run then that is worth it to me. Having the ability to scan more at once but getting distortion or partial connections is not worth it as I have dealt with that plenty in the past. I am positive the Unication is not going to be the complete solution but if it can do at least 40% better I am all in.

I am not going to say the Unication is a slam dunk although from the way I sound it does seem that way. I plan to look at the SDS100 a bit more. Neither one of these tools are cheap and would not be nice looking paperweights. Will continue to research more before making a purchase. Like always every bit of input is taken into consideration and greatly appreciated.