What scanner for DFW area?

Status
Not open for further replies.

nascarchuck

Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Messages
2
I have owned 3 scanners in the past, but never anything that picked up trunked systems. I am new to trunking and have searched the forums for the answer. If it's there somewhere, I overlooked it. Sorry.

I am in SW Fort Worth area. I am interested in scanning Ft. Worth PD & FD, Medstar, Careflight, Parker County SO, Tarrant County SO, NE Tarrant County PD's (Keller, NRH, HEB) and anything else in between!

I was asking for scanner recomendations on rec.radio.scanner and was refered here to ask in this forum.

Over there they mention Motorola and EDACS, digital and analog, etc... I'm so confused!!!

I am looking at the RS Pro-95. Will this scanner work with the systems that I am wanting to scan? Any other recomendations on a "budget" scanner?

Oh, and just what does the pc transfer cable do for the Pro-95? Am I able to D/L frequencies or just back up what I already have?


Thanks a million in advance for any help that you can provide...

Chuck
 

KE5BCP

Analog Man
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
1,361
Location
Lewisville, Texas
Hi Chuck.

The Pro 95 is an awesome scanner. It will scan Motorola, EDACS, and of course the analog conventional frequencies, but will NOT do digital. Check the section of this site marked "database" to see what type the systems you wish to monitor use.

The PC transfer cable works with Don Starr's FANTASTIC and FREE software to program the Pro 95 (the 95 CANNOT be computer controlled, but can be programmed). As most 95 users would agree, it is HIGHLY suggested that you get both the cable and the free software. It can be downloaded at:

http://www.starrsoft.com/freeware/win95/default.asp
 
Joined
Jan 14, 2004
Messages
1,025
Location
Texas
PRO-95 is a ***** to figure out how to program with out that cable. If you want one that is cheap and easy to program, go for a 94. A few RS's still carry them on clearance so you can get what you need at a low price.
 
Joined
Jan 14, 2004
Messages
1,025
Location
Texas
Wait, I just remembered what made it so difficult, I was programming it for a freind of mine...well when he brought it he kinda forgot to bring the instruction manual. Luckily all trunking scanners older than 99(?) are programmed in the same basic manner. But it was really frustrating when I programmed in Carrollton's system (10 freqs) and the thing said that I was on channel 9. So I thought I had skipped a frequency when I entered them and up with the same result. Took me five minutes to realize that it actually had a channel 00 that was programmable, whereas the PRO-94 starts at 01.

:oops:
 

INDY72

Monitoring since 1982, using radios since 1991.
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Dec 18, 2002
Messages
14,729
Location
Indianapolis, IN
LOL.. the GRE made for Radio Shack scanners from the PRO-92 up thru the 99 all are basically programmed the same way, and have the open/closed modes... etc.... the 94/2052 are Uniden made for Radio Shack and are simpler to program manualy, though have less features than the GRE's.

For the 92, 93, 95, 96, and 99, get the cable iether directly from GRE America, for $15.00 + $5.00 S&H, or from RS for thier $24.00 price, then download the amazing software from Starrsoft.com (Free, except the full Win96 which requires a registration fee.) This will save you lots of finger pain and time, as well as open things up on the 95, and 96 that you can't do manually!
 

nascarchuck

Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Messages
2
Thanks for the help guys...

Sounds like a Pro-95 may be the next scanner that I own...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top