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  1. #1
    Good Citizen
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    110

    Default City uses a trunked system?

    I'm just starting to research a scanner purchase - it will be for my house not my vehicle. However, my city uses a "trunked system" - are there scanners out there that can effectively scan these types of systems?

    My early understanding (sorry I'm still doing more learning / research) is that I will need to specify "talkgroups" in addition to the frequencies I want to scan?

    Any help or helpful links would be appreciated...

  2. #2
    Good Citizen
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    110

    Default

    Slowly doing more reading and answering my own questions.

    I need to cover the following two systems:

    Motorola Type II Smartnet (link: http://radioreference.com/modules.ph...=TRSDB&sid=285)

    Motorola Type II SmartZone (link: http://radioreference.com/modules.ph...TRSDB&sid=4087)

    First one is trunked and analog only, second one is analog and digital (APCO). Thus I need a scanner that will do trunked systems, analog & digital. Any recommendations?

    I assume the links above along with the owners manual of the scanner I purchase will give me enough information to program?

  3. #3
    Yoda of Radar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    O'FALLON, MISSOURI
    Posts
    15,630

    Default

    Just get a UNIDEN or RADIOSHACK scanner that monitors digital.

    You will be all set. There is a local scanner site here in St. Louis that may be of some good use to you. There is lots of good info on his site.

    Heres the site for you to review...
    http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/toc.html
    Laser Interceptor Dual, Laser Interceptor Quad, Valentine 1 & The Escort 8500 X50 - Blue, Uniden BC296D, GRE500, Lasershield, 2011 Kia Soul +, Yamaha FZ6, 2005 Black Dodge Neon SRT-4,


  4. #4
    Good Citizen
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Posts
    110

    Default

    StLouis - thanks for the info, and great stuff on your page. I may PM you later with some further questions. I'm a newbie with scanning but I'm technical so I should pick things up pretty quickly.

    Anyway - right now due to cost I don't think I am going to pursue getting a scanner that monitors digital because they are all $450+ from what I see. I haven't found one that monitors digital for any cheaper.

    I'd like to start cheaper and just get one that does analog + trunking to properly monitor this system:

    Motorola Type II Smartnet for Cary, NC http://radioreference.com/modules.ph...=TRSDB&sid=285

    What would be your top recomendations in the Radio Shack and/or Uniden lineup for a scanner to monitor this system at $200 or less? Remember that I'll be primarily using it in the house so it doesn't need to be handheld.

    Also - would the stock antenna be sufficent or should I look into putting something on the house? What are the pros/cons and is it really worth the trouble?

    Feel free to PM me if you'd rather do that but I'll check back here as well. Thanks a bunch!

  5. #5
    Yoda of Radar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    O'FALLON, MISSOURI
    Posts
    15,630

    Default

    Well..... first off that is not my website but is one that I also use. Glad you found it helpful

    I'd say buy a handheld scanner so you can take it with you places rather than just keeping it at home. That way if you are out some where and see somethings going on or want to take it to a special event you can. As well as using it at home and hooking it up to a scanner antenna.

    As far as should you purchase a antenna for your scanner besides the one that comes with it? Well I would first reccomend that you get your scanner and program it to the frequencies you want to listen to and see if you can pick up everything you intend on picking up.

    You can usualy pick up frequencies with a strong repeater/trasnmitter about 30-45 miles away.

    If you are trying to pick up stations with a trasnmitter that does not go through a repeater you would most likley be able to pick up only 5-15 miles away max.

    If you can't pick up what you intend to hear, go buy a scanner antenna. This way you can save some money and use it on other things if the antenna is not needed.

    As far as what scanner to buy, I'M not really sure that again depends on what you want to listen to. If digital transmissions are not really an interest to you, then you can save some major money buy purchasing a basic scanner that picks up trucking. When you go to purchase your scanner make sure that it picks up the type of trunking you want to monitor. Most older scanners will pick up the Type 1 and 2 but not LCS and EADCS which are used. So look at the scanners box closely.


    Hope this helps.


    Stlouisx50
    Laser Interceptor Dual, Laser Interceptor Quad, Valentine 1 & The Escort 8500 X50 - Blue, Uniden BC296D, GRE500, Lasershield, 2011 Kia Soul +, Yamaha FZ6, 2005 Black Dodge Neon SRT-4,


 

 

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