This system (
McKinney P25 Trunking System, McKinney, Texas - Scanner Frequencies) is an X2-TDMA system and the only radio current able to receive it is the GRE PSR-800 -- which, as you dig deeper, you will find is no longer being produced. You can find them (mostly used) - but the prices are running high due to the demand.
BTW - that McKinney system is showing police as encrypted.
It looks like Collin County (
Collin County Public Safety Trunking System, McKinney, Texas - Scanner Frequencies) is still analog and should work on your current radio -- is that correct?
This has been addressed before in a previous
thread.
While the McKinney system is 'listed' as X2-TDMA, because the band plan reported by the control channel includes talkgroups of that type, in fact there are no X2 or TDMA groups in use on the system at this time. That same statement applies to a couple of other Collin County systems,
Frisco and Plano's
PAWM. Those two systems 'report' themselves as Phase II and X2-TDMA respectively, but like McKinney, no talkgroups are using that format, and no plans have been indicated that this will change in the near future for any of the three systems.
There are no active systems using X2-TDMA or Phase II in the DFW Metro area at this time. However, Irving has announced that they are working on a replacement for their current EDACS
system that will be Phase II. That's 18 months to two years away from activation, I believe.
For McKinney, the PD is 100% encrypted, so no scanner will hear them, regardless of what format is being used.
McKinney apparently went digital a while back, my PRO164 is useless here. If I want to buy a new scanner that will pick up McKinney, and all of the other D/FW departments, what scanner do I need? I understand that McKinney uses some special type of digital signal that is difficult to pick up. I'd want analog and digital and trunking, and alphanumeric capability. Portable, if possible. I'm a little confused as to which model will give me everything I want.
Any of the current model digital scanners will handle what you want at this time. If, in the future, Irving activates their Phase II system, one of the Collin County cities switches to X2 or Phase II, or Dallas
finally builds a new system (using Phase II), then at that time you would need either a PSR-800 or perhaps a new Phase II scanner from Uniden, assuming that they release one before long. At this time, Phase II/X2-TDMA is not a factor, unless you're spending time in an area where it is in use, such as Houston.
GRE manufactured scanners:
GRE PSR-500 (Handheld)
GRE PSR-600 (Base/Mobile)
GRE PSR-800 (Handheld)
RadioShack Pro-106 (Handheld)
RadioShack Pro-197 (Base/Mobile)
RadioShack Pro-18 (Handheld)
The above were manufactured by GRE, which has ceased production. While a few new units may still be found, they are rapidly diminishing in availability. For the PSR-800, its price has escalated considerably above the original market pricing. This is largely because the PSR-800 is the only current scanner that will handle X2-TDMA/Phase II talkgroups. Besides checking dealers for any remaining ‘new’ stock, don’t overlook the used market, either in the classifieds here, on eBay, other online sites, or occasionally local pawn shops. For any GRE manufactured scanner purchased used, make sure it's complete (all parts included, including battery holders), and in good working order. With GRE now no longer in the picture, parts and service support may be problematic.
[FONT="]Current Uniden Models
Uniden BCD396XT (Handheld)
Uniden BCD996XT (Base/Mobile)
Uniden HomePatrol-1 (Base/Mobile)
Slightly Older Models (discontinued, but can be found in used, but good, condition):
Uniden BCD396T (Handheld)
Uniden BCD996T (Base/Mobile)[/FONT]
