Thank you Nick for your great post. I'm studying the web site you
referenced. Very informative. Can you tell me, is an outside antenna a
good
accessory and can it be attached to the scanner without much technical
knowledge? Is one type of antenna better tyhan another?
Samantha
"cnick6" <cnick6@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:48e298d2$0$89872$815e3792@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sam,
>
> As others have suggested, you need to do some quick research. I highly
> recommend http://www.radioreference.com
> to see what your local PD/Fire/EMS system is using...
>
> In the past, you could just buy one scanner to do it all - but that's
not
> really the case any more. I have one for trunking and one for
> conventional. Then I have a ****table handheld scanner as well.
(Actually
> I have 3 of those, but I only use one regularly.)
>
> If you are in an area that is using a trunked system, then you need to
> find out if they're using digital. It's called APCO P25. If you see
this
> in the description, then you're limited to only a few scanners. Also,
I
> should point out that there's also no guarantee that the Police won't
> encrypt certain channels. If you look at the radio reference site,
there
> are forums by state. Check around and see what other people are doing
in
> your area.
>
> I can highly recommend the Uniden BC396T as it comes with programming
> software (you can download at no charge.) It can decode the "digital"
> mode (P25) and it's also a conventional scanner as well. This model is
> right around the 400-500 price range. This is a handheld model. (They
> have a 996 model which is the base version.)
>
> If you're in an area that is not digital (you'll see it say Motorola
> 800mhz Type II or Smartzone) then you have a bit more options. A good
> scanner is the Uniden BCT15. This model is around $200 - but you do
have
> purchase the programming software ($25.) This model is a base scanner
> (or mobile.)
>
> So you see it depends on what your local community is using for their
> radio system. Like another person suggested... take a trip to your
local
> radio shack and chances are they can help you figure out what you need.
>
>
> -Nick
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