What's a good entry level DIGITAL scanner?

[Porkchop]

What is a good all around digital scanner for a beginner/newbie? One that'll have good coverage and recieve but at a fair price? Also fairly easy to learn how to operate would be a plus.

We're talking portable now, not desktop or nothing like that. Price range I guess isn't an issue if we're really talking "entry" level.

 

[Raven95150]

Unfortunately, digital scanners are top of the line models so there isn't really an "entry level" digital scanner. By "portable" I assume you mean handheld so your 2 main options are the Uniden 396 or Radio Shack PRO-96. For a beginner, I would probably recommend the PRO-96 because it seems to perform a little better, and has less bells and whistles than the Uniden, so it is a little less complicated. Either way, you are lookng at about $500 for a new one. Check the for sale forum here on RR and also check out eBay, you can probably find a decent deal on a used scanner. There is also an older Uniden model...the 296 that would work for you as well. They don't make these anymore, so your only option is a used one.

Also, the Uniden 796 and 996 and the Radio Shack PRO-2096 would work for you. These are models that can be used either as a base unit or mounted in a vehicle.

Where are you? You may not need a digital scanner. Check the RR database for info on radio systems in your area.

 

[Stick0413]

Unfortunately, digital scanners are top of the line models so there isn't really an "entry level" digital scanner. By "portable" I assume you mean handheld so your 2 main options are the Uniden 396 or Radio Shack PRO-96. For a beginner, I would probably recommend the PRO-96 because it seems to perform a little better, and has less bells and whistles than the Uniden, so it is a little less complicated. Either way, you are lookng at about $500 for a new one. Check the for sale forum here on RR and also check out eBay, you can probably find a decent deal on a used scanner. There is also an older Uniden model...the 296 that would work for you as well. They don't make these anymore, so your only option is a used one.

Agree with you 100%. There is no "entry level" digital scanner. Also saying but the 96 is also a good point. For a beginer they are 10 times easier to program and get to know. Plus IMO they are better at digital decoding and digital audio. If you can wait a few months you could try to wait for the new GREs (who makes the Pro-96 for RS).

 

[Porkchop]

I guess asking for an entry level digital was a dumb question...duh. Sorry for asking such a stupid question but I'm glad you still understood what I was asking.

I'll look around for the mentioned scanners and probably wait to see what's coming out too. I appreciate the answers guys. Any more are welcome as well.

Kevin

 

[Raven95150]

Even if your area has gone digital, there is probably still quite a bit of stuff you can listen to without digital. In my area, fire calls are still paged out on VHF analog and many digital talkgroups are patched to VHF frequencies for interoperability.

 

[Porkchop]

Well I'm in North Carolina, Columbus County. I know from asking in other sections here that there is VIPER in use. I guess there is some digital going on. I've got 3 scanners, a BC60XLT, BC245XLT and a Pro-2006. None of which will do digital and two of which will do 800mhz but I can't figure out the HEX and DEC and talkgroup thing yet. So basically those sections of my scanners are useless to me anyway. Hence the reason I was asking for an "entry" level scanner that would be easy to understand.

I'm just new...I'll get past that part. Plus I haven't really used my scanners enough to be familiar with them yet. But I can tell I need to go digital if I want to keep up. Plus the rebanding issue that I'm seeing about here too will be a concern, I think.

 

[ka3jjz]

Both the BC296(handheld) and BC796(base/mobile) would be, I think, a good entry level digital scanner. They have, unfortunately, been discontinued by Uniden, but show up on occasion in the various used and for sale lists. These, along with the PRO-96 (and its brother the 2096, are indexed on this article, as mentioned in the previous thread. Just click on the model of interest and away you go.

Our wiki also has extensive links to articles about Trunking
. Basically speaking talkgroups can be thought of as groups of users; you can safely ignore the 'hex' listings as they are pretty much for programming professional (i.e.Motorola) radios.

The link for the Trunking, as well as the digital trunktrackers index, are in blue. 73s Mike

 

[safetyobc]

My best advice is to wait for the GRE PSR-500. Check it out here:

http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/PSR-500

 

[Porkchop]

That seems like a pretty nice one. Wonder what the cost will be? Don't they make one that will basically cover everything without any lapse in coverage? Do scanners go higher than 1300mhz?

 

[safetyobc]

Price has not been set, I would guess it would be comparable to other digital scanners.

To my knowledge there isn't any digital scanner that covers "all bands." There are wideband receivers like the Icom R20, Icom R5, Uniden BR330T, and many more, but those are not digital scanners. The wideband receivers in the US will have a gap for cellular because it not legal to recieve those frequencies.

They make specialized recievers that go higher than 1300 MHz, but not in a typical scanner. There isn't any public safety that you can monitor above that range (to my knowledge).

 

[hsdtech]

You also need to check and see if your area might be going to 700MHz digital. If so some scanners like the Pro-96 won't do 700MHz.
Don't know if this was mentioned so I thought I would let you know.

 

[Porkchop]

Thanks I appreciate that. I highly doubt they will change around here as far as the local/city stuff goes. You'd have to live here to understand that statement.