My town is switching public services over to 800Mhz Ap25 trunked system. All my scanners are older, Radio shack radios, and no more shack. I'm thinking of Uniden Bearcats, since I see some prices in low$300 range.

Any suggestion and feedback on Bearcats, and who is a good online supplier?

Thanks

PS, just changed line to Police and Fire.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mountain Man,

Nobody here uses bearcat scanners ?

I haven't seen a scanner since being back at my MIL's house in WV 15 years ago, she loved listening to it...

If you have a smart phone, lots of folks use scanner apps to pickup signals, you download the app, pick you locality and bob's your uncle...

here are a couple of examples, you can check them all out and see what works...

As to Uniden, always was a good company back in my CB days.... can't say as today.. Buddy works for Motorola in the Public Services sector, many are going to digital radio

5.0 Police Scanner

Scanner App Police and Fire

Maybe add the word Police or Radio (or both ) to your subject line...Every time I see your thread the 'Digital Scanner' I'm thinking of scans photos and/or documents. Good Luck

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Maybe add the word Police or Radio (or both ) to your subject line...Every time I see your thread the 'Digital Scanner' I'm thinking of scans photos and/or documents. Good Luck

^^^This. My first thought when I saw the subject was "Epson". Pretty sure they don't make anything police band...

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Maybe add the word Police or Radio (or both ) to your subject line...Every time I see your thread the 'Digital Scanner' I'm thinking of scans photos and/or documents. Good Luck

Thanks, I can see the confusion.

I don’t have any suggestions, since I get a $5,000 radio that won’t shut up.

But I second scanner apps. Sometimes I need to listen to multiple channels, or agencies not on my radio, and I’ll turn the scanner app on my phone.

Going to 800mhz requires special scanners right? Or is that what you’re already looking at? Any idea if they are encrypting their new frequencies?

Back in the days when I was an active firefighter I had a Uniden Bearcat scanner. Our local police department was on the 800Mhz system and it worked good back then. I had the scanner on an external antenna and had great reception. We were close enough to listen to FDNY radio frequencies.
I did a quick search on Amazon and they had a few for sale.
Back in the days before the internet there was a full page add in the back of Firehouse magazine for a company that sold scanners but I cant remember their name.

I feel your pain. I've had a great BC796D Apco 25 for 15+ years, an out of state pal programmed it for me remotely. I hear some action and lots of less exciting calls.

https://www.universal-radio.co...g/scanners/3796.html

But not for long. Local agencies are doing a P25 migration (no, I don't know what that means) which I'm certain includes encryption. Within a year or so my scanner will be useless for the public safety channels. Air bands will still work fine.

They ain't cheap but they work great...

https://www.amazon.com/Uniden-...rgency/dp/B00JJY6S72

https://www.amazon.com/Uniden-...uction/dp/B07DK26FDN

Uniden updates their database frequently. Enter your zip code and it will basically program everything in your area or let you chose what you want to listen to. Very easy to program/set up.


Problem with scanner apps is you don't have a lot of choice on what to hear and not all agencies share their talk groups.

Make sure the agencies you are wanting to listen to aren't planning on going full encrypted as you won't hear anything. Most agencies don't encrypt everything, just the secret squirrel shirt but leave regular dispatch frequencies unencrypted.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 911Boss,

Yes to Home Patrol II. Very easy to use. Programming is very simple. Before you buy anything make sure that the scanner and the system you want to listen to are compatible.
Also, make absolutely sure that the new system isn't encrypted. They encrypted our local system about 6 months after I got a HP II. Enjoy

Take a look at the Radioreference.com site - it will tell you what is being set up. Make sure to check whether they are going to implement encryption. If they are, you won't be able to listen to it.

I have a Uniden SDS100 - that is the portable. The desktop version is the SDS200. These will handle anything coming up (except encryption).

The HPII is good, and has some options if you're really wanting to run utilities to find groups and frequencies on a system. The SDS units, while more expensive, have more growth to them. I have the HPII as well.

The forums on the above web site will give you a chance to see what might fit your needs.

Are you wanting a handheld or stationary unit?

Mountain Man - Would this unit work for your needs?? If so I will email you and KARMA this to you....It is like new in the box.....Found it sitting in a closet at my moms house when we were cleaning it out after she passed and I do not think she ever used it. Does not look like it has ever had a battery in it and has the antenna and the wall plug also....Let me know with your reply here on this thread first please and then I will email you at your profile email address.....Mark

I like my Uniden Home patrol. Lots of features but you pull it out of the box, enter zip code and away it goes. Check out youtube vids if you haven't already.

Is my old BCT7 Beartracker any good nowadays??

quote:

Originally posted by DonDraper:
Is my old BCT7 Beartracker any good nowadays??

I think it will receive a lot of stuff but won't get the digital signals. In Hardin County Ohio the Sheriff department is digital. All the local PD's, squads and fire are still on old stuff so there's radio traffic there.

quote:

Originally posted by SigSAC:
Take a look at the Radioreference.com site - it will tell you what is being set up. Make sure to check whether they are going to implement encryption. If they are, you won't be able to listen to it....

Great site! Scott County is going to the SARA Network. I did not see the word encryption on this link, but I'm certain that soon my 896D will no longer pick up everything.

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=6673

quote:

Originally posted by sigarmsp226:
Mountain Man - Would this unit work for your needs?? If so I will email you and KARMA this to you....It is like new in the box.....Found it sitting in a closet at my moms house when we were cleaning it out after she passed and I do not think she ever used it. Does not look like it has ever had a battery in it and has the antenna and the wall plug also....Let me know with your reply here on this thread first please and then I will email you at your profile email address.....Mark

Thanks for offer, but it won't work. I have a radio shack digital scanner, but with the new ap25 phase 2, you need a much newer scanner.


I'm looking at the uniden, might have to drop real coin to tune of 400 for something auto programmable.

I would also use a scanner app. P25 systems can be complicated to scan and can be encrypted. If you invest in a high-end scanner and the agencies decide to encrypt the traffic, your scanner is useless.