InterceptRadio.com Forums

I'm just returning to the scanning hobby after about a decade. All this trunking and digital vs. analog stuff is new to me. I just want to listen to SPD and SFD in my neighborhood (Ballard.)

What is the cheapest scanner I can get away with? Would a BCT8 work?

All you need is analog. You might want to look at Pro 97 at Radio Shack. I have one it's really nice. Welcome back to scanning.

I look up BCT8 it will work

Oh good, I had looked at the Pro 97. Those are going for around $125 plus shipping on eBay, and I think it was $200 new at Radio Shack. Does that sound right to you?

My understanding is that SPD & SFD use a Motorola II system, but I was concerned about having to upgrade to digital in the near future. No sign of that any time soon?

Do I need to worry about P25?

Thanks so much for your assistance!

- Lauri

Anther good scanner is the Uniden 898 simple and easy to use

_________________
born to be wild

P25 digital is on its way to the pnw
WASP should have afew p25 sites in operation by 2010
also jiwn is using P25 but probably all encrypted????
DHS mandate is to have various law enforcement agencies
use P25 digital for interoperable communications in the future
its just a matter of time until spd is using P25
as for sfd I doubt they will follow suite due to digital signal/ building penetration.

xjf79
bc296d
bcd396t
bcd996t

Dave A - I did a search on ebay for Uniden 898 and got nothing. Are you sure that's the right model number?

xjf79 - thank you for the info - that was exactly what I was worried about. You had several model numbers listed at the bottom of your post, but I wasn't sure if you were recommending them for my situation, or if they were part of your sig. (Rank beginner to this BBS as well.)

I looked up "bc296d" on ebay and found nothing but a battery. I googled it and found this URL: http://www.bc296d.com/ and the unit is sold out. Must be a good one! Looking at the specs, it seems that it would totally meet my needs for some time to come, if I could a) find one, and b) afford to buy it. Do you have any ideas on price and availability?

I found the bcd396t here: http://www.scanners-r-us.com/index.asp? ... stom&ID=78 and choked on the price - $529.95! Perhaps I'll be settling for SFD until I win the lottery.

The bcd996t is going for around $550 on Amazon. Jim Hunt, one of the customer reviews, says this about it: "Alert For New Scanner Users - I will frankly say that the BCD996T is complex and I think any new user will be overwhelmed with this scanner. Unless you really want to devote a significant amount of time learning this scanner, you really should consider another model." Plus, the price makes this another lottery-dependant purchase for me. This is problematic as I don't play the lottery.

I could ask for a $500+ scanner for my birthday, but that's not until May. Living a block from a fire station without a scanner is killing me! I may have to put a hundred down now for a basic unit and save up for a P25-friendly scanner when it becomes necessary.

Your thoughts?

- Lauri

OK, uniden bearcat BC898T You can get it from HRO I think for 245.00 with the software for it

_________________
born to be wild

Ahhh. I should have been able to figure that out on my own. Thanks, Dave!

The BC898T is going for about $200 (including shipping) on eBay.

You guys don't seem to like eBay - is this an "old school" thing? Or is there some other reason?

Well if you buy it from HRO shiping is free, and the price also includes the software( Ithink it dose) SO for 40 dollars more you can get a brand new scanner with the warrenty,and if something goes wrong with it you can send it back to HRO..
If you shop around you might be able to buy a new one for 189.00

for the price difference I would go for a new one

_________________
born to be wild

State is going digital? SPD not going all p25 maybe a couple of talkgroups.

Washington State Patrol

Statewide Interoperability
Funds are provided to improve tactical emergency communications capabilities statewide. Geographic coverage of
existing mutual aid frequencies will be expanded and the number of mutual aid channels increased. Radio over
Internet Protocol will be deployed to tie tribal, local, state, and federal systems together in an interoperable
environment. A digital (P25) pilot will be conducted in Homeland Security Region 1. This pilot will support the
2010 Olympic Games and serve as a planning tool for future technology migrations. (General Fund-State,


processes,
public safety infrastructure,
and statewide emergency
communications
interoperability.
Action Plan
1. Purchase and deploy
digital capable, narrow
band, P25 capable mobile
and portable radios.
2. Expand the number of
Area Repeaters statewide.
3. Prioritize and license
narrow band VHF
frequencies.
4. Migrate WSP’s LMR
infrastructure to
narrowband capability.
ACCOUNTABILITY LINK:
Electronic Services Division
Objective
Migrate the existing voice
radio system to a digital,
standards-based, narrow
band, statewide radio system.
Improve system coverage in
critical areas.
Increase system
interoperability with other
public safety organizations.
Percentage of new mobile
radios deployed
5% of new mobile radios
deployed
100% of new portable and
mobile radios deployed
Number of Area Repeaters
that are operational within
Washington
85% of viable area repeaters
installed
100% of viable area
repeaters installed
Percentage of WSP radio
frequencies that are licensed
as narrow band
0% of available appropriate
frequencies are licensed as
narrow band
100% of available
appropriate frequencies are
licensed as narrow band
Performance Measure Baseline – April 2006 Target – June 2011
Technology

Wow. Thanks for posting that. I only understood about every other word, but it looks like it's funded. Where do you *get* this stuff?

I have my sources :)

ps google is your friend too

xjf79