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AR15.COM
5/6/2008 7:56:25 PM EDT
It looks like all of the Fire, EMS, Police around here are finally getting around to using trunked radios.  I'm a bit confused on what it takes to monitor one of these.  The data I can find here indicates that it's a motorola type 2, but also mentions APCO-25.

I'm not sure what these standards are, but I'm looking for a handheld scanner that can listen to this stuff, specifically Uniden and Radio Shack models (but sure open to suggestions).  Could someone smarter than me take a look at the link and let me know what I need to look for in a radio?  I'm hoping I don't need to spend $500+ (which means it ain't gonna happen)...

Thanks in advance,
Slice
5/6/2008 8:39:49 PM EDT
[#1]
Trunking scanners are cheap compared to digital trunking scanners which indeed, are over $400.00. Check the radioreference.com site for info in your area as to whether a digital scanner is needed.

RS
5/6/2008 10:04:14 PM EDT
[#2]
What I want to know is why we don't have a cheap PC card we can install in our PCs to do the work.  We can watch tv, listen to the radio and anything else with a PC.  Why not a scanner?
5/6/2008 10:37:02 PM EDT
[#3]

Quoted:
What I want to know is why we don't have a cheap PC card we can install in our PCs to do the work.  We can watch tv, listen to the radio and anything else with a PC.  Why not a scanner?


Those do exist... Winradio has been doing this for a very long time.

I have one of their older models, and it works great.  The new ones are big bucks.
5/7/2008 9:08:10 PM EDT
[#4]
I use a RadioShack Pro 94 handheld scanner and am pleased with its trunking, I also had the Pro97 which is cheap now.  Pro94 is better though.
5/9/2008 9:59:55 PM EDT
[#5]

Quoted:
It looks like all of the Fire, EMS, Police around here are finally getting around to using trunked radios.  I'm a bit confused on what it takes to monitor one of these.  The data I can find here indicates that it's a motorola type 2, but also mentions APCO-25.

I'm not sure what these standards are, but I'm looking for a handheld scanner that can listen to this stuff, specifically Uniden and Radio Shack models (but sure open to suggestions).  Could someone smarter than me take a look at the link and let me know what I need to look for in a radio?  I'm hoping I don't need to spend $500+ (which means it ain't gonna happen)...

Thanks in advance,
Slice



I just took a quick look at it and it looks like whats known as a "Mixed Mode" system this means the there are both analog and digital talkgroups associated with the system. You should be able to configure a Motorola Smartzone capable scanner to trunk that system without the digital option however you will only be able to hear the analog unless you get a digital capable scanner.