Anyone good with Radio Scanners ?

[vontar]

I believe they have switched to a digital trunking system in my area based on what a person at radio shack told me. I no I can no longer pick up the City of Oak Ridge on Channels I used to. I Just looked up the frequencies I had on those channels and they are no longer listed on the big list and other sites.

My current scanner is a Pro 97 Triple Trunking model.

Radio Shack told me yesterday that Oak Ridge is switching to Digital or may have already switched, and or choice they sell the new scanner but the person working did not know anything about it.

So I am starting my research, before I consider buying a new scanner I want to make sure I am getting correct information. I still pick up other things, my scanner is not dead.

At first I was thinking I just needed to totally reprogram my scanner but that does not appear to be the case now. I only found one channel or frequency for Oak Ridge City on the scanner list, I added it to mine and I have yet to pick up anything so I suspect it may be digital.

I don't sit around my house and keep one turned on all the time but when crap is happening I like to be able to turn it on and listen.

[Defender]

No answer here, but I'd also like more knowledge on this. I understand that Nashville, where I'm at, is trunked now and I cant find them on my scanners either. I know they sell trunking scanners but they are high. I also heard there is a rebanding coming up that may make current scanners obsolete.

Edited December 16, 2010 by barewoolf

[vontar]

My scanner is trunk capiable but might not be able to handle digital.

I just called a second radio shack, they seem to know more then my local one. I just happen to be going that way soon so I am going to take mine and talk with them in person. I might get lucky. From what I can tell, at the very least Oak Ridge has changed channels. Mine probably needs to be programmed from scatch.

[vontar]

Here is my scanner.

http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/Radio%20Shack%20Pro-97.pdf

[vontar]

Well, i found out they don't do trunking programming. They would do the normal channels, I can do those and I found they don't have the new Oak Ridge numbers either.

I guess for now I am waiting for more informaiton.

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

I am also looking to get a new scanner as it has been years since someone relieved me of my last one. But I am getting conflicting answers as to whether or not I could even pick up much in my area with one of the more expensive new ones. I want to know for sure if I can listen before I spend the money they want for the new digital trunking ones.

Here is a link to an online scanner that may be supported in your area, if so you can listen on your computer.

Live Police, Fire, EMS, Aircraft, and Rail Scanners on RadioReference.com

[mav]

Here is a link to an online scanner that may be supported in your area, if so you can listen on your computer.

Live Police, Fire, EMS, Aircraft, and Rail Scanners on RadioReference.com

That is really cool. Thanks for posting the link. I had no idea this was available. I tried it just a few minutes ago. It works. Apparently there is some guy at a local bar weilding a knife and refusing to leave.

[vontar]

Anderson Co, Oak ridge and others are listed but are offline

Anderson County, Tennessee (TN) Live Police, Fire, and EMS Scanners on RadioReference.com

Well I took a stab at it.

I gambled on a Iscan from Radio Shack tonight. The guy came down 40 dollars off the listed price while I was standing there. Told me how easy it was to program and it was almost self updating online.

I brought it, read the directions, figured out how to program it, I could not get Oak Ridge city, I was getting frustrated. Then I updated the SD card from like version 6 to 59. the update I downloaded from the internet from dated Dec 11, 2010. Then I was able to get Oak Ridge City going on it. Currently listening.

From what I can tell, looks like all the programming it down via browsing the channels and setting up playlists. I do not know if you can manually input any if they are not there. However I will say I am happy to have the City back in for now.

I have found a few online scanners before but I never found Oak Ridge City that worked.

[Guest kirkosaurus]

If you have a smartphone you can get an app called Police Scanner that uses streams from the Internet.

http://www.juicydevelopment.com/policescanner.html

I have the app on my iPhone and pick all the local police, fire and ems including Nashville Metro.

[analog_kidd]

I've been thinking about getting a scanner to pick up Oak Ridge PD too. Which model did you end up with and how much did it cost? Do you know what the "feature" was that enabled the new one to work?

[vontar]

What I brought was the Iscan Trunking Scanner, (handheld)

it uses 2 AA batteries, I recommend getting good high quality rechargeable to go with it. One mistake I ask the guy to hook me up with batteries as well, he sold me a 4 pack for , when I only needed 2.

A 2 back is 10 bucks, 4 back was 20. But they are 2500mAh. The better the batter the longer it will last of course. Also they have a longer useful life then lower mAh if taken care of.

If you do buy one and need 2 batteries I could hook you up with the 2 extras I have. (10 bucks).

I probably could have beat the price on the batteries but my old scanner has using the orignal Radio Shack batteries for over 3 years so I figured I would use them again. Plus it was late and I didn't want another stop. My old scanner used 4 and I incorrectly assumed this one would as well when he handed me a 4 pack.

BTW, there is a battery switch you have to select depending on the type of batteries you use, it will change them inside the scanner off of the USB cable.

Funny the USB cable is for charging but not for programming , GO figure. Have to pull the SD card and put it in a card reader. Good thing I have one.

This scanner uses an 2G SD memory card, it comes with software for your PC.

In order to get Oak Ridge to work I had to update the the software as I stated above.

I also noticed I think they had played with this one some as it had other places in it, like Lafollette and other places I did not need.

This morning I formatted the card and started fresh. I currently only have Oak Ridge City, public works in. They are busy today

Currently mostly picking up people in salt trucks, people working on electric, some PD calls, not many and a couple Firetrucks.

The list on this scanner was 229 and the guy came down to 189 in Clinton. Oak Ridge Radio Shack did not have this one. Last night this was the last one Clinton had in Stock, but they guys there did seem to know a little about it and one of the guys talked about owning one himself.

I still do not know if I can manually input a channel but so far I am happy i have Oak Ridge City PD, Public works, Fire department again.

Edited December 16, 2010 by vontar

[vontar]

I just found something out about this scanner that has me a bit concerned.

Yes, I can pick up the city of Oak Ridge, but I just found out it is NOT a full Digital scanner.

I just tried adding some channels that have a D in front of them and could not, looked up the code in the book to discover the reason is that channel is fully digital and can not be monitored by this scanner.

Also I think Oak Ridge had just changed channels and had not yet went digital now as well, which is why I have them now and I am concerned I may not have them for much longer. I am probably going to return this one.

[vontar]

I am going to return it.

Here is a review of it.

http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/radio-shack-pro-107-handheld-iscan-trunking-scanner-reviews

Also in the book that came with it in the introduction, it says, welcome to iSCAN, an exciting new way to enjoy the hobby of scanning two-way analog radio ......

Then on page 22 when programing A "D" in place of a checkbox indicates that the object or system is fully digital and cannot be monitored by this version of iSCAN.

[vontar]

Ok I am in and out with deer hunting, but I am also doing some research in this area. I did return that scanner. Also another radio shack confirmed to me that is infact analog and is a clearance item. It is being sold online for 150 as well.

After hunting season is over, I will get back into this hobby of mine, so after Rifle season I will probably be able to answer follow up questions. Right now, I may be on track to actually fix my existing one. I believe I found it is just a programming problem with my trunking channels and I am looking into that now.

[Ropin4gold]

I have been looking at the Uniden BCD396xt or 996xt for digital. I just haven't been able to let go of the money to buy one. They are about 500, but will do about everything. The state is going to digital in the next couple of years and I travel to states that are already digital so I need to go ahead and buy one if I want to monitor. I have had a scanner since I was about 10 years old. Shoot me a PM if you need any help.

[vontar]

I got my Pro 97 scanner working again and for the record, it is not a digital scanner. I am picking up Oak Ridge City.

For now I am happy. I am now able to program a Pro 97 with my laptop. I will keep tabs on when they go digital and what is needed then.