Posted: 8/11/2008 10:24:11 AM EDT
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Confession: I'm Very Busy. I've read Ham for Dummies (a waste) and I've skimmed or read many threads on this forum to try to find my answer. I do not have my lic yet, but will. Reading the forums I've discovered that the answers are very specific to an area and objective. I just haven't had the time to learn everything I need to make the best choice. I'm in a position to purchase the materials now, and work towards my lic as time allows. My immediate need is simply to be able to monitor, but if I can buy a Handheld Ham rather than scanner, I'd rather do that. Can you help me pick the right equipment for my needs? Equipment: Currently I own an ICOM-R7000 for the house. I would like a Handheld with connections for home antenna, and vehicle. Ideally I am looking for a 'take everywhere' radio to gather information in a disaster, help me choose my route, keep tabs on the local yahoos, and keep informed in a storm. Broadcasting is a lower priority to me. A suggestion of a handheld scanner and HT would be reasonable, but I'd love to keep it to one device if possible. Area: 47130 (Jeffersonville, In) within a few miles of Louisville, KY. I travel to Lou quite a bit, and within 50 miles of Jeffersonville during the week. The only remote locaiton I could see using the radio would be Bowling Green, KY, or Indianapolis, IN (not as likely). Generally speaking this puts me on or near Highway 65 for most of my travel. Ways I would like to use the radio: Home use to monitor police, fire, ems, and local Hams (hear siren, turn on and scan for reason). In vehicle use to monitor the situation around me (bug out or road block, I understand legality of using scanner in moving vehicle). Use when camping (within the same area) either in the vehicle or on foot. I'd like it to pick up weather. For range I would love to hear what is going on for up to 20 miles around me to help me decide what to do next. Cop car rolling around the neighborhood, turn on radio to see if I need to worry. My objective is to gather intel and possibly communicate with things and people surrounding me. I don't expect to reach Cali with this rig, only keep tabs on my area. Signal Requirements: I've been told we are or will be digital/trunked for Louisville/S. Indiana, but I am unsure. May as well plan for that. You can find the ranges and understand them far faster than I can, the meters and freqs etc has been part of the frustration.\ My biggest problem is reading the specs on my area, the specs on the radios, and then matching them together. I would appreciate any help! Thank you! |
Torin, all EXCEPT what you have posted above is realizable with an inexpensive 2m (single band) or 2m/70cm (dual band) ham radio (either HT or mobile). the issue with what i have noted above is threefold: (1) many of these trunked systems are in the 800/900MHz band, (2) many of these systems use trunking protocols which require a compatible radio, and (3) many of these systems employ encryption. the combination of these three factors rules out using generic amateur radio equipment to monitor newer public safety agencies -- you need a radio (or scanner) which decodes the specific system you are trying to monitor. if the data is encrypted, don't even bother. you are not going to hack a DES3 or AES-encrypted stream and recover the bits. you can usually find as a matter of public record whether or not the district's purchase order for the trunking equipment and radios included encryption features. it will be helpful to find out ahead of time which vendor's trunking system they will be using (e.g. Motorola), what trunking protocol they will be using (e.g. Smartzone), and finally whether or not they will be employing encryption on the links. most likely the protocol will be APCO25 (abbr. P25), see link and link ar-jedi |
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Doing some looking, and listening it appears these are the ranges of concern: 153. to 160. (police, fire, ems, etc) 174. to 216 (tv would be helpful) 452. to 464. (police, fire, ems) 850. to 861. (trunked-in my area covers 1 small police dept and one large county) I know that lists everything, but I was trying to rule out any sections, and failed. I can't confirm any encryption trunking currently being used, and I appear to be able to listen in without any issues with just my scanner. So, let's ignore the trunking issue for the moment. Am I pretty much looking for a scanner, or can I find a HT that can listen on those bands? |
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The 174 - 216 upper VHF television band will be essentially useless as of Feb 2009 after analog broadcasting ceases. If you want a scanner, get a scanner IMO. Amateur radio portables make poor scanners, as they typically don't have the scan speed or feature set like a dedicated scanner has. I would recommend a regular scanner to meet those needs as well as an amateur transceiver for additional receive flexibility as well as two-way communications capability. |
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You might consider the GRE PSR-500 handheld scanner. It covers 25-1300MHz and has a sweet spot for 800-900MHz APCO25 (aka P25) trunking. It is sensitive and performs well. It remotes well over the internet, too, with aftermarket software. The only ham transceiver I know of that might fit those freqs is the Yaesu FT-8900. I don't know how it functions in more of a "scanner" mode. If your local agencies begin using P25, the 8900 will no longer work for those freqs. Reconsider your thoughts of "transmit" as a low priority. You may find yourself communicating with family/friends separated from you. You won't be limited by cellular outages. Work it in from the beginning, it is not prohibitively expensive. -josh |
Hey I am your neighbor in Southern INdiana. Your town and New Albany are trunked systems, you would not follow a conversation. You would pick up everyone else in the metro area except ISP low band unless it is a wide band receive for 42 MHZ. Louisville is going trunking soon I do believe (metro safe). I am testing Saturday at IUS. Man just do it, the Tech is cake. Then I will study the theory needed to pass Gen. All the study guides you need are online for free 
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Wait, IUS? What have I been missing at IUS? Does that silly little school of mine have a HAM club or something?  Ok, let's go this route. Handheld Scanner to do what I need is, _____! Handheld Ham to pair up with the scanner I need is, _____! Also, will any of the new digitial channels for TV be available by any radio format? My grandmother was blind, and listened to the "tv" on her radio, I can't imagine all those people now needing to buy TVs. ETA: Family and friends aren't going to get on board anytime soon for communication. Unless I buy them gear. |
No need for a new TV but a $45 HD converter box if not on cable or satellite. All of us with radios that receive TV are screwed for the momment. |