What frequencies should I be using in my area??

[hydrasports]

Is it best to get a scanner that is pre-programmed like what marksmith is suggesting or something I program the frequencies I want like what I have right now? I have a table top that was pre programmed and to be honest I didn't like it as much as my bearcat sportcat. I mean if I go the the CT section at this forum and find the frequencies for New London County and input the State Police frequencies that should be it right?

 

[oilmillcharlie]

So it sounds as if digital scanners can do everything analog scanners can do so I guess the question now is should I get a trunked digital scanner or just digital scanner? Does getting the trunked digital scanner pick up more to listen to then the just digital scanner? Once I know I should get a trunked digital scanner or just digital scanner I can then shop around to find a good one. If anyone has suggestions I'm all ears on what to buy!

I recently bought a Pro-668 scanner handheld and it should do everything you would need including free software that has downloaded frequencies from this site already built in. With a upgrade found on this site you can also hear Mohegan Sun Casino DMR if you are not to far away. This is my go to portable scanner now. It has many great features.

 

[doctordialtone]

Programming

Is it best to get a scanner that is pre-programmed like what marksmith is suggesting or something I program the frequencies I want like what I have right now? I have a table top that was pre programmed and to be honest I didn't like it as much as my bearcat sportcat. I mean if I go the the CT section at this forum and find the frequencies for New London County and input the State Police frequencies that should be it right?

I program my scanners manually using :FreeScan (Free) and the "EZGrab" feature.

To each his own

Either way, there is a learning curve..

 

[hydrasports]

doctordialtone, could you explain this FreeScan (Free) and the "EZGrab" feature? I would imagine the EZGrap feature is it scans all frequencies and when it picks something up on one you just click a button to save that frequency?

Would either of these features be on either Uniden BCD436HP or the BCD325P2? If these are good scanners to get one is quite less $ then the other just wondering why the difference? Is the more expensive one that much better and why?

Thanks

 

[doctordialtone]

FREEScan EZGrab

doctordialtone, could you explain this FreeScan (Free) and the "EZGrab" feature?

Would either of these features be on either Uniden BCD436HP or the BCD325P2? If these are good scanners to get one is quite less $ then the other just wondering why the difference? Is the more expensive one that much better and why?

Thanks

EZGrab works like the Windows Clipboard.

It allows you to select certain data from the database and import it to FREEScan, then "Paste it" to a file that is sent to the scanner.

It is supported on the 325P2.

Read here:

FreeSCAN - Sixspot Software

 

[hydrasports]

With either of these scanners can you just manually input the frequencies from say this forum to the scanner in your "favorites" like I do with my Bearcat Sportcat? It also states that The BCD436HP and BCD536HP are unsupported and will never be supported for the FreeScan.

 

[doctordialtone]

Yes

With either of these scanners can you just manually input the frequencies from say this forum to the scanner in your "favorites" like I do with my Bearcat Sportcat?

Yes

Here is the "Easier To Read" Manual:

http://www.marksscanners.com/325/325.shtml

 

[hydrasports]

WOW, these look a hell of a lot harder to program then my analog Bearcat. When I go to this section New London County, Connecticut (CT) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference at radioreference.com and input all the frequencies in my location are these all I need? Or are there many other frequencies for police/fire/EMS that are not listed here? Does this page cover all trunked and digital frequencies in my area? I input all that are listed for my area in my analog scanner but I don't hear very much.

 

[gonefishn1]

Get the BCD536HP its very easy to program or you can just enter your ZIP code and let it rip.

 

[doctordialtone]

radioreference.com

When I go to this section New London County, Connecticut (CT) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference at radioreference.com and input all the frequencies in my location are these all I need? Or are there many other frequencies for police/fire/EMS that are not listed here? Does this page cover all trunked and digital frequencies in my area? I input all that are listed for my area in my analog scanner but I don't hear very much.

Since the database is made up of user-submitted data, that depends. The database is not 100% complete.

You may "discover" others by scanning or learn of others from locals.

 

[pilotman6012]

I agree they are a pain to program to hand,but most of the newer ones have full SD cards loaded with all frequencies already built into them and have location based scanning,just plug in your zip code,what you want to listen too and the scanner programs itself with those frequencies for your area.

 

[gonefishn1]

Get the BCD536HP and buy the PROSCAN software. You will have the best scanner and PROSCAN is the best software to program and control the 536 period.

 

[hydrasports]

Get the BCD536HP its very easy to program or you can just enter your ZIP code and let it rip.

Only thing is the BCD536HP scanner is not a handheld version. Are there any handheld scanners that offer digital / trunked and have that zip code feature? Would that zip code feature offer ALL frequencies in my area and I can just lock out any I don't want to hear? These damn things have become so complicated from when I bought my Uniden Bearcat!! LOL

 

[hiegtx]

Only thing is the BCD536HP scanner is not a handheld version. Are there any handheld scanners that offer digital / trunked and have that zip code feature? Would that zip code feature offer ALL frequencies in my area and I can just lock out any I don't want to hear? These damn things have become so complicated from when I bought my Uniden Bearcat!! LOL

The BCD436HP is the handheld sibling of the BCD536HP.

While it is not a true handheld, the Home Patrol 2 is a portable scanner in that in can run on batteries, and easily moved from room to room in a house. There are mounts available to use it in a vehicle, and as one member posted some time ago, you can use a small tool pouch to carry the scanner while walking around (the HP-2 does not have a belt clip; the 436HP does have a belt clip). Both the HP-2 & BCD436HP can be programmed via a zip code, and, as is also the case with the 536HP, can be connected to a GPS, which will allow the scanner to enable and disable systems as they come into, or pass out of, range when traveling.

 

[ofd8001]

Scanners have gotten more complicated for two reasons. One is the radio systems they monitor are more complicated. The other is us users have demanded more features.

The 436 is the handheld version of the 536. It does just about the same exact things except it doesn't have the dongle for remote scanning (connecting to your home wifi, etc.)

You can do zip code based scanning and lock out the stuff you don't want to hear. Or you can create Favorites Lists via software (or hand-programming if you are hardcore).

Sentinel software can be used to program the scanner and is free. There are many Youtube videos and lots of help here to work you through it.

 

[marksmith]

435 has onboard database, recording capability etc, 425 does not. Price difference.

Mark
536/436/HP1/HP2/996XT/996P2/396XT/325P2/PSR800

 

[marksmith]

Your "sportcat" cannot receive all the stuff listed at the CT page of RR.

Mark
536/436/HP1/HP2/996XT/996P2/396XT/325P2/PSR800

 

[hydrasports]

I think I will be ordering the Uniden BCD436HP Sounds like what I have been wanting to get... it picks up analog and digital frequencies and also picks up trunked signals. I can put my zip code in for it to pick up the frequencies in my area so I don't have to go through 1 at a time to input the frequencies that are listed at this site for New London County, CT. Right now I see it at amazon for $429 https://www.amazon.com/gp/huc/view.html?ie=UTF8&newItems=CWRCMSHISQPMO,1 If anyone sees it somewhere better please post here to let me know.

 

[hydrasports]

Your "sportcat" cannot receive all the stuff listed at the CT page of RR.

Mark
536/436/HP1/HP2/996XT/996P2/396XT/325P2/PSR800

I totally agree. I put in all the frequencies of areas I want to get but I know most I can't pick up and in the end just lock them out. That's the big push for getting the BCD436HP so I can pick up all the channels I am missing.

 

[marksmith]

That sportcat can't do trunking, where a good deal of the police, fire and EMS is nowadays.

You can just do zipcode scanning on the 436, but you can also get into the rest of the hobby and learn the software so you can set it up to listen to just what you want, basically by clicking on yhings.

Mark
536/436/HP1/HP2/996XT/996P2/396XT/325P2/PSR800