Uniden BC780XLT TrunkTracker III - Should I buy?

[BuggyChaser]

I found a Uniden BC780XLT TrunkTracker III on eBay (listed here: Uniden BC780XLT TrunkTracker III Police Fire Scanner - eBay (item 290295822950 end time Feb-21-09 16:29:02 PST)) and wanted to know if this is a good one to get. My old one is pretty crappy and this one is brand new. Any opinions? I need an answer before this auction ends!

 

[ka3jjz]

For EDACS trunking or conventional (including milair), it's a great starter radio. However it will not do digital P25, and is not being supported for rebanding. If either of those are going to impact your area, look elsewhere.

Lots of software for the 780, too 73 Mike

 

[BuggyChaser]

The price looks good (currently at $170). I heard that you could update the software on this model.

 

[ka3jjz]

That's a bit high of a price. AFAIK you cannot update the firmware on the scanner (think of that as the brains of the radio); however, there are many software packages (for PC applications) that support the 780; perhaps the most powerful and comprehensive is ProScan. You can find that software linked in the 780 article in our wiki (link below), among many others.

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BC780XLT

You haven't said what you are trying to use the scanner to hear. That's an important consideration when buying any scanner, new or old

73 Mike