Uniden 895 XLT

[WillB]

I am trying out a 895 before I possibly buy this scanner and have some questions about it. I can't seem to pick up near as much distance wise as I was hoping. I have a Kenwood TK 2170 radio that I use for my FD with several other surrounding counties programmed in it that I can pick up but I can't seem to pick them up with the scanner. The farthest I have a dept programmed in is about 60 miles away. I am trying to pick up S.E. Iowa and I am located in the center of all the other surrounding counties. Would I be better off with a small antenna either up on the peak of my house or in the attic and attach that to the scanner?

What are some other features of this scanner? I understand that this doesn't do digital which isn't a big deal because other the the state patrol cars there really isn't much for digital around here. Is this an overall good scanner?

 

[ka3jjz]

This scanner is 20 or so years old - you can see the various specs by looking it up in our wiki, specifically...(anything in blue is a link)

BC895XLT - The RadioReference Wiki

It was good in its day, but it can't scan both conventional and trunking at the same time. In addition it only handles one type of trunking (Motorola), and only on 800 mhz.

You really can't compare a scanner and a commercial radio - the commercial radio is optimized for one set of frequencies, and there are other significant differences. Certainly an outdoor antenna is going to improve things, but before you do that, let's take a closer look at our database entry for Henry County Iowa

Henry County, Iowa (IA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

155.07 is a P25 frequency; the 895 won't be able to decode this. Nor will it hear the RACOM system (go to the very bottom of the page where the trunk systems are linked).

If it were me, and I wasn't interested in hearing 155.07, a more modern analog trunktracker would be the way to go. Certainly an outside antenna (along with the coax, etc.) would have to factor in the budget. We have a very comprehensive list of these here, however, you would be better off posting a question in the Iowa forum (duplicating the same thread in more than one forum is a no-no) and see what folks in your area are using. Let their experience be your guide

Category:Analog Trunktrackers - The RadioReference Wiki

Best Regards...Mike

 

[WillB]

This scanner is 20 or so years old - you can see the various specs by looking it up in our wiki, specifically...(anything in blue is a link)

BC895XLT - The RadioReference Wiki

It was good in its day, but it can't scan both conventional and trunking at the same time. In addition it only handles one type of trunking (Motorola), and only on 800 mhz.

You really can't compare a scanner and a commercial radio - the commercial radio is optimized for one set of frequencies, and there are other significant differences. Certainly an outdoor antenna is going to improve things, but before you do that, let's take a closer look at our database entry for Henry County Iowa

Henry County, Iowa (IA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

155.07 is a P25 frequency; the 895 won't be able to decode this. Nor will it hear the RACOM system (go to the very bottom of the page where the trunk systems are linked).

If it were me, and I wasn't interested in hearing 155.07, a more modern analog trunktracker would be the way to go. Certainly an outside antenna (along with the coax, etc.) would have to factor in the budget. We have a very comprehensive list of these here, however, you would be better off posting a question in the Iowa forum (duplicating the same thread in more than one forum is a no-no) and see what folks in your area are using. Let their experience be your guide

Category:Analog Trunktrackers - The RadioReference Wiki

Best Regards...Mike

The 155.07 I knew it wouldn't pick up but 153.81500 is a repeater channel out of a town 8 miles away that I have programmed in that my radio picks up. I programmed that in and figured it would pick that up but it doesn't seem to.

As for the trunked and Racom, no law enforcement, EMS or fire departments are on either of those.

 

[IowaGuy1603]

The 155.07 I knew it wouldn't pick up but 153.81500 is a repeater channel out of a town 8 miles away that I have programmed in that my radio picks up. I programmed that in and figured it would pick that up but it doesn't seem to.

As for the trunked and Racom, no law enforcement, EMS or fire departments are on either of those.

Type in 453.375 & tell me if you can receive that.

8 miles you should be able to recieve


Didn't you have a question like this before-----or was in on ScanIowa?

 

[WillB]

Type in 453.375 & tell me if you can receive that.

8 miles you should be able to recieve


Didn't you have a question like this before-----or was in on ScanIowa?

I take it that is the prison freq? I can pick that up and depending on where I have the scanner in my house I can pick up the repeater channel better. The farther away channels, basically out side Henry County it still doesn't seem to pick them up very well, if at all.I ordered a small antenna off of radioshack.com that I will put in my attic and see what that will do. Is there away to turn these scanners up a little? I guess Im just a little frustrated. I thought that the scanner would be able to pick up everything that my little Kenwood 2170 2 way would but I guess that's what I get for being a newb at this.

I've never been on ScanIowa. Where can I find that site at?

 

[ka3jjz]

Scan Iowa is a Yahoo based email list for scanning in Iowa, to wit;

scaniowa : Scan Iowa

If you have enough vertical space in your attic, you should consider putting a ScanTenna, discone or other full size antenna up there. It will make a world of difference from just listening with that little whip that comes with the radio.

73 Mike

 

[WillB]

This is the one that I bought.
Outdoor VHF-Hi/UHF Scanner Antenna - RadioShack.com

 

[WillB]

I have another question. A few of the counties that I have programmed in use the same frequency. Is there a need to program that freq in multiple times or will whatever is being broadcast on that freq be heard no matter what county is talking on it?

 

[eaf1956]

PL Tones

I have another question. A few of the counties that I have programmed in use the same frequency. Is there a need to program that freq in multiple times or will whatever is being broadcast on that freq be heard no matter what county is talking on it?

If you just enter the FREQ w/o a PL tone you will get whatever is broadcast on that FREQ (that your scanner can receive) If you put in the PL tones then you will need a channel for each one. I had a 895XLT years ago but I don't remember if it even was capable of PL tones. Back in the 895XLT, 9000XLT days....Think about maybe getting the BC 15X or the older BC 15.

 

[ka3jjz]

Yes it is PL capable, but can't do DCS 73 Mike

 

[WillB]

Yes it is PL capable, but can't do DCS 73 Mike

Could you please explain what that means? I'm not familiar with those terms.

 

[ka3jjz]

Our glossary has the definition of the terms - PL is the Moto shorthand that means 'Private Line', but is really better known as CTCSS

Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System - The RadioReference Wiki

and as for Digital Coded Squelch, or DCS...

DCS - The RadioReference Wiki

DCS availability in Uniden scanners didn't come around until much later...best regards..Mike

[edit] Just like any hobby, we've got a plethoria of terminology that may sometimes be confusing - our wiki has an online glossary that can be very helpful

RR Glossary - the RR Wiki