Uniden BC250D ?

[grbell]

Hi
I am new to this forum and would like to post a question. I have decided to get a scanner and live in Southern Calif. After a lot of thinking I have decided to get the Uniden BC 250D. I am not going to get the digital card yet since most of the law enforcement in this area is encrypted. I also looked at the BC 245XLT. I like the idea that I can someday go digital if needed. Also there are a few more features on the 250. Can anyone that knows much about this radio shed some light. Like it or not?
Thanks in advance and I am looking forward to many mor discussions about scanning in the future.
George

 

[Waldo325mvfd]

you can hear any thing from 25MHz to about 513MHz uncut than 800MHZ to 868.9875MHz, 900MHz to900something, than 1200MHz(1.2GHz)to 1300MHz(1.3GHz). You can hear NOAA,FD,PD,HAM(Amature)radio above HF,VHF Low and High, UHF High/low,Fast food drive ins,Military air(225-399MHz and 137-143.999 and 148-150(all are AM)), military base mobles(About 50 MI or so, Hotells,FED(Non ENC),TV reporters,TV Stations, Regular radio(88.5-107.9),GMRS,FRS, civilian Aircraft,trains,racing,Boats,CB, and what ever you can think of that has an antenna.+trunking. 8)

 

[AZScanner]

Hi
I am new to this forum and would like to post a question. I have decided to get a scanner and live in Southern Calif. After a lot of thinking I have decided to get the Uniden BC 250D. I am not going to get the digital card yet since most of the law enforcement in this area is encrypted.

Welcome George! The BC250D is a great scanner, I got one when they first came out and I've used it so much that it needs a new battery pack! For SoCal this is a good scanner, as you can pick up LAPD just great with it (you'll need the digital card for that though) plus it also covers a bunch of bands that will come in handy, and it will track Edacs and Motorola systems like a champ. I'd recommend it for what you've described. Look for a bundle that includes the card, trust me you'll want it. I love listening to LAPD when I'm out there.

Enjoy!
-AZ

 

[Dubbin]

Look for a bundle that includes the card, trust me you'll want it.
-AZ

I think the BC296D would be better if he was going to go ahead and get a card.

 

[grbell]

Thanks guys....Sounds like I am going to enjoy this radio. I am getting it without the digital card with the intention of getting it later. I live in Huntington Beach and from what I have read most of the Law enforcement around here is encrypted (spelling). So I would not be able to listen anyways but I do plan on getting the card.
I really like the idea of being able to listen in on ham operators. Do peopleget better antenas for better reception or is it not needed.Hey this is a great forum and plan on hearing more from this novice in the future so that I can get the most out of my scanner.
George

 

[Dubbin]

The reason I say to get the 296D is because the 250D will not work on 9600 baud systems.
As far as antennas go, the Radio Shack 800 and the GRE 800 antennas are good performers.

 

[Dave_N]

I've had a 245XLT for a couple of years, but just used it off and on. Lately I've gotten into scanning/radio more and just bought a 250D (with the digital card). In fact, I just got the 250D this afternoon!

The 245XLT is really a nice scanner, but it seems a little over-priced right now to me. For the same price, or a little less, you can get a Radio Shack Pro-95 ($150) which has a lot more features, including alpha tags.

The main reasons I bought the 250D were: Alpha tags, military air band, CB band (no biggie, but it's neat to have it), and digital (the only digital in my area so far is the State Police, and they are P-25). After a few hours off and on use today, I like the 250D better than the 245XLT, if only for the alpha tags. From the price comparisons I did, the 250D (w/o digital) will runs about $100 more than the 245XLT, but for me it would be worth it. The digital card model (250DID) is only about $50 more than the non-digital (250D), but like others have said, it's limited in which digital signals it can receive.

About the only thing I don't like about the 250D so far is that there are only 10 banks for the 1000 channels. I don't live in a large metro area, so my scanning is broken up into several smaller "chunks" for the different things I monitor. It would have been nice to have 20 banks, or user-definable banks like on the new 246T. Oh well, that will be on my next scanner...

 

[GM]

BC250D Scanner

I also have the BC250D and think it's a great scanner, with three downfalls to it. First, if you listen to it heavily, you may want to invest in getting some extra battery packs, as the battery time is limited to three-six hours of continious listening (depending if the transmission is digital or analog); the second is when listening in on digital transmissions, it will only receive the 3600 baud version, instead of both types; and also in digital mode, you have to manually set the settings for digital clarity for the different bands. Otherwise, for what your going to be using it for, it's a top of the line unit. Mine is already used so much that the keypad is worn out and the side grips smooth to the touch! And, I've passed up the RS Pro-96 for this unit because it has some features that the Pro-96 doen't have (activity ID in trunked mode; easier accessibility to talkgroups in trunking banks; ability to listen in on I-Call's, which are always funny, since half of the time their yelling at each other on their "secure/private" line, others, etc.) Everyone has their own personal preference of what they need and want, and what the unit can offer them.

 

[Dubbin]

Re: BC250D Scanner

ability to listen in on I-Call's, which are always funny, since half of the time their yelling at each other on their "secure/private" line, others, etc.)

I really wish my local PD made use of I-Call on there trunked system

 

[grbell]

Thanks again guys for all the tips......What is I calls?

 

[rdale]

If you are going to get a BC250D but don't want digital, you'd be better off with the BC246T instead...

- Rob

 

[W4KRR]

Thanks again guys for all the tips......What is I calls?

Basically, an I-Call is an individual call, where two users have a conversation on the system with each other, as opposed to a group call, where everyone on the talkgroup hears the message.