Posted: 5/5/2012 7:18:42 PM EDT
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Im not sure if this is the most appropriate location for this thread so Mods please move if necessary.
I'm looking for a way to listen to some of the Police/Fire/EMS frequencies in the counties around me. Most have gone digital while my county is still analog. Is there a way to tell if their frequencies are scrambled/encrypted where i would be unable to listen even with a digital scanner? I'm looking at the Uniden Bearcat BCD996XT. Are there any other good but cheaper options out there. If i do get this scanner i plan on getting the software and RadioReference subscription in order to make programing it a little easier. Also i work for a company that according to radioreference uses EDACS Networked Standard system, can i pick up our frequencies? |
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RR should have any encryption info listed under your county. if all else fails you can ask in the forums over there. be warned, get the programming cable and software if you can. it makes programming this type of scanner almost fool proof. Thanks for the info. I guess if there is no info listed about encryption it means there is none so that's good. Now im thinking i might get the Home Patrol 1 seeing as it is more user friendly and more portable. I still like the idea of the traditional scanner that means its more customizable even though its more complicated. Also i read the Home Patrol does not have fire page out but since im on the volunteer fire dept i would like to be able to have the page out feature so if i dont have my pager on me at the time i will still hear the tones. |
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RR should have any encryption info listed under your county. if all else fails you can ask in the forums over there. be warned, get the programming cable and software if you can. it makes programming this type of scanner almost fool proof. Thanks for the info. I guess if there is no info listed about encryption it means there is none so that's good. Now im thinking i might get the Home Patrol 1 seeing as it is more user friendly and more portable. I still like the idea of the traditional scanner that means its more customizable even though its more complicated. Also i read the Home Patrol does not have fire page out but since im on the volunteer fire dept i would like to be able to have the page out feature so if i dont have my pager on me at the time i will still hear the tones. Here's where to look to see if RR indicates encryption. 
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Encryption can be enabled across digital systems (and analog trunked as well) with little more than a flip of the switch. Digital systems can also get really complicated under contingency or interop plans. Some systems go all encrypted in wide scale emergencies, while others go all open to benefit interpos. It really depends on the administrators of the system that you are trying to monitor, and your region's disaster preparedness plans. The point that I'm trying to make is that digital systems can change fast, and you may lose some of what you were able to hear until you can reprogram.
That being said, I consider my scanners to be essential whenever things get froggy with bad weather, etc, etc. The Radioshack Pro-106 goes on sale for $350 or even less a few times a year. Add in programming software, cable, a protective case (they are delicate), and a subscription to the radio reference.com database, and you will have a formidable source of data that will be far more useful and immediate than any HAM or shortwave radio for under $400. |
Maybe it's just me after listening for 10 years... Why in the hell would anyone want to listen to police frequencies on purpose... Bad enough I start hearing that garbage when I'm off..
With the new fangled cell phones, your not going to hear anything juicy... My agency is in process of going to a new computer system like most other agencies and we'll be radio free 90% of the time |
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Maybe it's just me after listening for 10 years... Why in the hell would anyone want to listen to police frequencies on purpose... Bad enough I start hearing that garbage when I'm off..
With the new fangled cell phones, your not going to hear anything juicy... My agency is in process of going to a new computer system like most other agencies and we'll be radio free 90% of the time Grew up in family of LE. The retirees used to listen to them. Some part of it is nostalgic, some is just that it makes nice background noise at home and at work. Like to be informed. |
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Maybe it's just me after listening for 10 years... Why in the hell would anyone want to listen to police frequencies on purpose... Bad enough I start hearing that garbage when I'm off..
With the new fangled cell phones, your not going to hear anything juicy... My agency is in process of going to a new computer system like most other agencies and we'll be radio free 90% of the time No necessarily wanting to listen to PD but would like to have the option. What im really wanting to listen to is the FDs in the counties around me and for when im out on a call my nosey wife can listen to what we are doing  .
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Maybe it's just me after listening for 10 years... Why in the hell would anyone want to listen to police frequencies on purpose... Bad enough I start hearing that garbage when I'm off..
With the new fangled cell phones, your not going to hear anything juicy... My agency is in process of going to a new computer system like most other agencies and we'll be radio free 90% of the time I think there could be some useful information available on a scanner. Without one, you might not know there is a chemical spill 2 miles away until the news tells you, the responders tell you, or your face starts melting. You might not hear that a small child is missing in your area until the 10 oclock news, when it turned out she passed through your back yard when the officers were first being dispatched. Scanners are a great way to get ahead of the curve. Far more than a source of gossip material. |
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"No necessarily wanting to listen to PD but would like to have the option. What im really wanting to listen to is the FDs in the counties around me and for when im out on a call my nosey wife can listen to what we are doing"
Fire most likely will never be encripted. Many Ham radios can receive on Fire channels - mine can. They are usually VHF 150-160 range. |
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"No necessarily wanting to listen to PD but would like to have the option. What im really wanting to listen to is the FDs in the counties around me and for when im out on a call my nosey wife can listen to what we are doing" Fire most likely will never be encripted. Many Ham radios can receive on Fire channels - mine can. They are usually VHF 150-160 range. The area i live in (Tx panhandle) is mostly rule and the VFDs piggyback on the local PD and Sheriff Dept frequencies since they dont get much traffic anyways. We can listen to our local sheriffs dept including the local DPS on our FD pagers and there will be times when hours will go by without someone talking on it. I would like to pick up Amarillo and Canyon fire and also those respective PDs including Potter and Randell counties SO |
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The Radioshack Pro-106 goes on sale for $350 or even less a few times a year. Add in programming software, cable, a protective case (they are delicate), and a subscription to the radio reference.com database, and you will have a formidable source of data that will be far more useful and immediate than any HAM or shortwave radio for under $400. Or you could just buy a GRE PSR-800 for $390 new, not need to buy software/cable/subscription, enter your zip code and away you go! You would also have probably the best digital receiver out there right now. |
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you can listen to hosted scanners on your computer free from proscan. there are also multiple smartphone apps that do the same thing. I have an Android app on my phone called Scanner Radio that is very useful when away from home. You can search by zip code, geographic area, feed type (police, EMS etc), and source. It works great when I'm traveling. The live feeds at radioreference.com are very good too. You can access the RR feeds from any browser (PC or smart phone) 
I use my Icom land mobile radios for scanning while around town-I just inhibit the transmit function in case I key up the mic by accident. No idea what the penalty is for transmitting illegally on a public safety freq, and I don't want to find out  Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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With the new fangled cell phones, your not going to hear anything juicy... My agency is in process of going to a new computer system like most other agencies and we'll be radio free 90% of the time Lots of cops have MDTs and there is still LOTS of stuff going over the air. You're not going to be getting updates to in progress calls while doing 40mph over the limit, you're going to hear it over the air
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