Wanting to Scan in Madison

[rsthomson]

Hey Guys -

I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions on a scanner model that would be able to pick up the madison area frequencies, such as Madison Fire and Madison Police. More importantly what kind of scanner would I need to pick up these frequencies? If you could suggest some cheap ones that would be awesome becuase I am a student and I don't have alot of money.

Thanks

 

[bc780l]

With the assumption you know about trunking, digital, and rebanding:
1) You'll need conventional analog scanning for UW, Capitol, State, Dane Co, airport, and Municipalities, in general.
2) You'll need analog trunking for most City of Madison services.
3) The only digital services I know right now are Truax security, fire, and ops. Unless you're in the viscinity of the airport, may not be an issue.
4) You'll need to consider future digital trunking requirements for Dane Co and the State. That may be a while (due to RFPs and budgets, etc.), so unless you're not sticking around in Madison, the point may be moot. However, depending on where you move after school--so MANY places are going digital it may be a good investment now. If you do any travelling, or plan on keeping this for a while, get digital.
5) Costs: A good analog handheld, i.e., Uniden 246 or 300 is about $225. A good digital handheld, i.e., Uniden 396 is about $525. You can find used ones at reduced prices that'll do the job at a few dollars less. Watch out for some of the sales, i.e., Radio Shack Pro-97 would be a great analog trunking scanner for now--still on sale for $150 at many stores, but it'll not be friendly, according to reports, when rebanding is required (which may also be a while in this area--schedule is uncertain). These are handhelds--you may also wish desktops/mobiles (but handhelds seem to be more popular if you're mobile a lot). Search the forums and you'll find more discussion on places to buy and prices.
6) Rebanding is going to make some scanners obsolete. Read the articles below. Avoid spending $$ on a scanner that can't handle rebanding.

The following may help clarify more (also use the Wiki to search for more info):
Rebanding (inititially scheduled to be done by 2008, now just started): http://www.wpascanner.com/wiki/index.php?title=800Reband
and http://www.grove-ent.com/radiorumors.html
Programming/Trunking: http://www.grove-ent.com/SCANNERPROGRAMMING.htm
Frequencies you indicated of interest:
Dane Co: http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&ctid=3064
Madison: http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=1451
Statewide: http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&stid=55
Where to Buy (check around, but get from a big dealer with good service), some examples (no preferences impled)--again, search the forums for other opinions:
http://www.grove-ent.com/unidenscanners.html
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanners/1396.html
http://www.scannerworld.com/content/product/model/BCD396T
http://www.scannermaster.com/
http://www.123radios.com/BuyItNow.asp?PID=509

You will want to consider using computer software to program the scanners--it's much more enjoyable than programming via the keypad. Uniden scanners come with software--free on the digital ones--that's quite acceptable. Many prefer low-cost commercial pieces of software from Butel for either Uniden or Radio Shack scanners (have some enhancements): http://www.butel.nl/ Other popular Radio Shack programming packages: http://www.starrsoft.com/

That should be enough to chew on for starters. Hope it's a brief but to the point discussion. My bottom line recommendation? Go digital with something like the Uniden 396 (but feel the $ pain) if you're in it for the long run, or go for something like the Pro-97 if you're in it for only the short run (but know it'll be obsolete soon).

 

[rsthomson]

Thanks!

That was exactly what I was looking for!

When you say the Pro-97 won't be good for long is that because most systems will be going digital?

 

[bc780l]

Go to the Wiki, http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Main_Page and in the lower right corner is a list of manufacturers. Check out the Radio Shack and Uniden groupings, for example, and you can see all the models and drill down the features.

The Pro-97, an analog radio (that does conventional as well as trunked analog systems, such as the City of Madison), is stated to NOT support rebanding and will NOT support digital systems. That's a double whammy against it if you need those features in the future. For NOW it's fine in the Madison area, but when the future comes, it'll be at least partially obsolete for what you were wanting. Standard analog simplex and repeater systems, EDACS and LTR systems will continue to function just fine with it, but after rebanding it'll not trunk track the City of Madison nor will it ever pick up digital channels. Dane Co and the State will eventually go digital trunking (how many years, yet?). The City will likely stay as it is (BUT eventually on the new rebanded frequencies--within a year?). How long until those changes take place? I'm no longer in the loop to say ... but perhaps spend a bit more for a rebandable analog radio (246/330) or go the nine yards for a digital (396) or base equivalents. These newer radios can have their system software reflashed (BIOS updates) and give more longevity. Also remember that there will always be analog systems in place to monitor (interroperability will require that), giving life to the older radios--that'll give you a chance to add more radios--and more fun. ;-)