InterceptRadio.com Forums

I have been attempting to monitor several Grays Harbor County Fire Districts. After receiving "poor" results that I used to receive well, I started talking with volunter firefighters. I was advised by many that not only did depts. Have to buy new radios but those who used scanners or had friend who used scanners also had to purchase new scanners. Is this what others on the board have heard or experienced as well? I have Bearcat 245xlt which I know can't be upgraded. Any suggestions brands/models to look for. I expect with the "Rescuing 911" article in The News Tribune I should be looking at P25 capabilities as well.
One quick note, my attempts to monitor with the original "rubber duck" antenna as well as an old mag mount mobile antenna.
Many thanks,

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Wayne
KF7FYL

Uniden BCD396XT
Uniden BCD996XT
GRE PSR500
GRE PSR600

These are currently the best scanners for narrowband and P25.

Agreed with Flash. Other option is to get a commercial radio, which would cost a lot more than a scanner.

I disagree. Narrow band radios have been out now for a while and can get them cheap (under $100). I did a search on ebay for Kenwood VHF radio and found a KENWOOD TK2107 136~174MHz VHF 5W 2-Way Radio+software new for $59 that can do 12.5 Khz...

I have an astro saber IIR in VHF that I'm selling.. P25, and of course, narrowband...




:mrgreen:

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Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! Help, help, I'm being repressed!

But can you find a P25 handheld for cheaper than a scanner? That's what I mean.

Would you like to wager on that? Lets go with a used P25 scanner, and a used P25 VHF Radio. The VHF radio can be found under $200.00 for a single radio (XTS3000 M1, Astro Saber M1, or M2, etc) or even under $100.00 if you buy in bulk. Even a used Pro 96 is going to run at best around $150.00 or more.


Anyway on a lot of the scanners that don't support narrow band one might be able to replace the front end filters with an off the shelf filter from Toyo, and change a resistor or two to increase your audio gain going to the AF amp.

I have been doing a lot of narrow band upgrades to Federal Signal Informers and it is only the 3 parts and a minor re-tune. I'm thinking about doing a few of he BCT8's that we have in service. Uniden should not be selling a radio that technically is obsolete without a easy way to upgrade it.


Jim

$60 for a 2170!? Does that include antenna, belt clip, charger, cable or software?

Like everyone does here just tune your scanner to the next freq ( for example .2575 punch in .255) and turn it up since narrow is half the bandwidth that the scanner is expecting and call it good :)

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Interoperability is an attitude, not a technology.

Price, firmware, flash, acc, and age of the battery?