I am an old scanner hound, going back to the days when you had ones with crystals for the frequencies !
Had several BC, using RS PRO2096 now. It has seemed awfully quite for some time, and didn't dawn on me.
Anyhow, they have moved to P25 Phase 2 which the 2096 will not get.
Not stupid about programming, and I think I understand the basics. Just want a base scanner for when it snows and when I hear fire and rescue go by.
Any recommendations ? I have not heard of Whistler but they seem pretty neat.
BC536HP ? or WS1098 ?
Does anybody know of anybody around Roanoke that tinkers with these things ?
What should I do with the old 2096 ?
Any feedback appreciated. Thanks
Hi Greg
Welcome to RadioReference.
Whistler entered the scanner market when they bought the intellectual property (as in patents) previously owned by the now defunct GRE. GRE is the company that manufactured your Pro-2066 for sales at Radio Shack under the Shack's label.
Either the Uniden BCD536HP or the Whistler WS1098 would work for what you desire. Opinions on which are like the old 'Pepsi vs Coke' or 'Ford vs Chevy' arguments. A lot of the advice you'll get will be based on personal preferences as much as anything. Having said that, my preference is for the 536HP. I prefer Uniden's 536HP, because I feel that I have more flexibility in setting up my programming using their DMA system. Others will tell you the system used by the Whistler scanners (Object Oriented Scanning) is better. Bottom line is that either will get the job done.
The WS1098 has a removable head for use in a vehicle. You can mount the scanner itself out of sight or out of the way, and mount the small control head in a convenient location on your dash. For desktop use at home, just leave the remote head on the scanner itself.
Both scanners can receive the P25 (digital) formats in use (both Phase I and Phase II), Both can also receive DMR (the best known version of this is MotoTRBO). However, for the Uniden scanners, such as the 536HP, DMR requires a paid upgrade ($60.00). For the WS1098, the DMR upgrade is available at no charge. Both scanners have the entire US & Canada databases from RadioReference loaded on their memory cards, and both come with supplied software to access that information to create a set of systems and frequencies to monitor.
I don't own the WS1098, so I can't personally speak for how it might perform. I have no issues with my 536HP here in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. However, certain systems in some areas seem to be handled better by one scanner type or the other., As that varies greatly by the specific system involved, you may want to check with someone in your state to get a better idea of which would be your best choice. To do that,
do not create a new thread. Instead, click on the red-outlined triangle of your first post, to "report the thread". In the pop-up box that appears for your reason for reporting, make a request that your thread be moved to the Virginia State Forum, so that someone much closer to you is more likely to see it and respond. I would also suggest that you update your profile with your location, which will help in seeing what specific systems you may need to monitor. You'd get a much better answer than simply using saying you are in 'Southwest Virginia'. City (or at least County) and state would be sufficient.
For your Pro-2096, there may still be some analog channels in use, especially by small volunteer fire departments, which could not afford new digital radios for every member. Other possible uses include aircraft monitoring, and perhaps railroads (as long as the carriers in your area have not yet converted to NXDN, which will happen eventually).