WS 1040 For First Trunking Scanner?

[WNCmotard]

I haven't owned a scanner in over 20 years, and apparently there have been a number of changes during that time. The biggest being trunking. I've been looking around, and it seems the 1040 can be head very reasonably these days. All I really want to do is listen to local law enforcement, EMS, etc. I don't want to spend a ton of money, until I see if I actually use it a lot. I've been using a Baofeng UV-5R with TX disabled via CHIRP for a poor mans scanner, but I'm well aware of all the limitations and shortcomings of the platform. So is the 1040 still a viable option, or would you pass and look at something else?

 

[KMG54]

were are you in WNC? That would tell us if you need a phase 1 or phase 2 scanner.

 

[WNCmotard]

I'm in Macon County nmelfi. From my research, it's P1 around here. But I could be wrong, I'm new to this.

 

[SteveSimpkin]

[ Deleted ]

 

[WNCmotard]

Looks like I misspoke, it's P25 phase 1, not P1 (not sure where I came up with that) for this area that they're moving to if my research here at RR is correct?

 

[KMG54]

The 1040 will work fine for you. The only digital you have is the NC Viper system and the 1040 can handle that.

 

[WNCmotard]

Order placed, thank you sir.

 

[Nasby]

You're getting a great scanner!

 

[WNCmotard]

You're getting a great scanner!

That's great to hear. I'm on the road quite a bit these days for my job, and here in podunk where you can't use Google maps to see if traffic is backed up due to a wreck, etc, the scanner should come in handy for hearing if I need to take an alternate route, severe weather alerts while on the road, etc.

Scanner will be here on Monday, and I'll dowload the trial versions of Win500 and PRSedit to try out with my RR subscription as well. Time to start pre-reading that edited manual from RR also.

And, I'm a professional nerd, so I love my gadgets.

 

[DJ11DLN]

Within its limits that scanner will have some of the best audio and decode quality there is, period. I have the RS version, and the older (Grecom) RS B/M version, and they are my favorite scanners...my newer stuff is only here because I have DMR now and P25 P2 is on the way for me. The front ends are a little wide open, but if you live/commute away from major RF areas, they are fine radios.

 

[PriorMike]

Within its limits that scanner will have some of the best audio and decode quality there is, period. I have the RS version, and the older (Grecom) RS B/M version, and they are my favorite scanners...my newer stuff is only here because I have DMR now and P25 P2 is on the way for me. The front ends are a little wide open, but if you live/commute away from major RF areas, they are fine radios.

Hmm, I may get one if they come back up under clearance w' Whistler.

 

[WNCmotard]

Within its limits that scanner will have some of the best audio and decode quality there is, period. I have the RS version, and the older (Grecom) RS B/M version, and they are my favorite scanners...my newer stuff is only here because I have DMR now and P25 P2 is on the way for me. The front ends are a little wide open, but if you live/commute away from major RF areas, they are fine radios.

That's great to hear as well. I live in a very rural area, and most of my driving for work is here in the sticks so I shouldn't be in a RF saturated environment, but you never know.

Hmm, I may get one if they come back up under clearance w' Whistler.

Not sure what the Whistler direct price was, but both Amazon and Walmart have them for $235 NIB.

 

[PriorMike]

Not sure what the Whistler direct price was, but both Amazon and Walmart have them for $235 NIB.

They had refurbs for $165.

 

[WNCmotard]

They had refurbs for $165.

Gotcha. With my luck, I'm not a fan of refurbs.

 

[TrackChatter]

A month ago I purchased a WS1040 off Amazon for $238, others were considerably higher priced. Whistler has them for $399. Considering I looked deeply into this for a couple months I believe it's a great buy. Now, a month later I'm still struggling with setting it up properly. After several emails back and forth with Whistler techs I've found information here is more readily available. Reading the forums here helps but what other people know and take for granted isn't always easy to extract with manageable solutions.

Everyone is heavy with programming help but very limited with proper combinations between talkgroups, frequencies and their proper use with one another. Using Win500 to (menu click) File, Web import, radioreference (dot) com IMO has been the most helpful tool. So far trial and error has taught me more than anything.

 

[WNCmotard]

Yeah, it's different for sure from my reading and research. My regular coverage area for work is five different counties in western NC, so I'll need all of those. I'm undecided on whether to put them all into one scan list, or break them up into multiple lists. Scanning speed vs. convenience of not having to manually change over when entering another county I suppose. The other big thing for me is weather alerts. Cell phone coverage up here is still really spotty in outlying areas, so mobile NOAA alerts will be nice to have.

 

[TrackChatter]

The multiple county's in the same or different scan list is something I'm mulling over too. I'm in Wright County, MN and travel about from here to the Twin Cities to northern MM, at times west of here, etc.

 

[K9DAK]

I did the individual scanlist thing when I had a PRO-197 in my car (before I got a new car with no room for it). My 23 mile drive to work spanned five different agencies, so I had each in their own scanlist... it was easy to punch the scanlist buttons as I crossed the boundaries between agencies... then reverse the order on the way home.

 

[WNCmotard]

Thanks guys, I think I'm going to start out with all of them in one scan list. That way if I forget to hit the button, I don't miss something. Being in a very rural area, it won't be that many objects. All I want is LEO, EMS, and public works objects mainly to be notified of anything that may have a road closed so I can detour if necessary. Getting stuck in the gorge for two hours for a wreck sucks. If scanning is slow, I can always break them down later. And I travel to GA to visit family about once a month. I'll create a virtual scan list for those objects. Speaking of which, how easy is it to switch over to a V Scan list on the fly?

 

[KMG54]

Another thing to try out is NCHP is still using low band in the mountains. If you can find a telescoping antenna for try them out.