Worth Buying Scanner in 2022

[KJ7POP]

Hello. Amateur Radio operator and lifelong scanner enthusiast living in Las Vegas. I’ve not owned a scanner since the 90s and do not have one. Only my Amateur HT (Anytone 878) I am looking to purchase a Uniden Digital scanner but have some concerns. I’ve been using apps to listen to police, fire, ems over the years and see the limitations of apps. Fewer channels and the inability to program. Combined with many sectors encrypting traffic, reduced choices to listen to. The Anytone, while some have programmed for scanning outside Amateur radio use, I’ve tried it and it’s been a frustrating experience.

Before I look into spending money, is it worth it living in Vegas in terms of having content to listen to buy a scanner? I do not travel as I work from home. If it’s worth it, should I get a radio that does simulcast and spring the 600-700 bucks for the SDS lineup or can I drop to the 350 range of BCD325P2.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

 

[AZMONITOR]

I resided in Las Vegas for 26 years and later moved one county to the South, into AZ. I visit LV often and always have multiple scanners with me during my drive to and my stay in Las Vegas. I enjoy the BCD996P2 as well as the BCD325P2 as my primary radios. Each one of these is programmed the same and includes multiple systems so that I can monitor most anything in the county SNACC system, the state EDACS system, and other conventional channels. Take a look at the database in Radio Reference for Southern Nevada and it will give you ideas as to what you might want to monitor. There is a lot to choose from. When I resided in LV it was not unusual for me to have a dozen scanners on at the same time. Searching out the unknown is also a lot of fun. There are entities not showing in the database that you can find if you just search blocks of frequencies. Unlicensed stations can be interesting also. Some don't need a license if it's a low powered one. Finding new federal or military frequencies can be fun also.

There is a lot to monitor. Purchasing a BCD325P2 gives you portability over a base/mobile. If you choose to shop for a new scanner compare prices and buy from an established business. I have enjoyed every scanner purchase from Bearcat Warehouse with competitive prices also.

Enjoy the hobby.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Thank you in advance for your advice.

Browse this DB and see what interest you.

Clark County, Nevada (NV) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Clark County, Nevada (NV)

www.radioreference.com

Looks like NLV Police TGs are encrypted, so nothing to hear there.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Before I look into spending money, is it worth it living in Vegas in terms of having content to listen to buy a scanner? I do not travel as I work from home. If it’s worth it, should I get a radio that does simulcast and spring the 600-700 bucks for the SDS lineup or can I drop to the 350 range of BCD325P2.

Welcome to the forums. Having a look at the database you can forget about listening to Las Vegas Metro Police as all (but one?) talkgroups are fully encrypted (as denoted in the "Mode" field per talkgroup table as "TE" and "DE", uppercase "E" signifying full encryption). Encrypted talkgroups cannot be tracked by any (non-affiliate) receiver, period. Fire talkgroups (if of interest to you) are in the clear so that's definitely good news. You may run into trouble on SNACC Las Vegas Simulcast while using a BCD325p2 due to potential simulcast distortion issues

 

[737mech]

I would consider the BCD536HP or 436HP with the DMR key added. Most hotel and casinos are DMR. As posted above the SNACC is still very active. The NSRS is due to go P25 encrypted but I’m not hearing when? There are many other things to monitor it depends on what you are interested in. The new Uniden SDS scanners I hear are nice but I don’t have one so I can’t comment on them.

 

[n4njj]

There's plenty of stuff out there to listen to. Personally, I'm only interested in law enforcement, which I know is somewhat of a "dying breed." Fire, business, and aviation aren't that interesting to me. As of now, Henderson PD, CCSD PD, and marshals are in the clear on the SNACC system. North Las Vegas and Metro aren't. NHP is in the clear on NSRS, but they will be going P25 encrypted, which is currently undergoing testing.

It ultimately depends on how you look at it. $400 for a scanner that you will use every day out of the year comes to around $1.09 a day. Say you get two years of listening to law enforcement in the clear before it's all gone... that comes to $0.54 a day.

It's hard to beat that bang for the buck entertainment value. Plus, it has an intrinsic value as a safety tool.

Of course, there's a lot more than just law enforcement to listen to. It all depends on what you're looking for, and only you can answer that.

 

[k7sti]

Being happy with my 536HP and 436HP! No issues with simulcast in my area.

 

[6079smithw]

Welcome to the forums. Having a look at the database you can forget about listening to Las Vegas Metro Police as all (but one?) talkgroups are fully encrypted (as denoted in the "Mode" field per talkgroup table as "TE" and "DE", uppercase "E" signifying full encryption)

Add Boulder City to that as well...