[Scan-DC] Re: purchasing a used scanner

[ka3jjz at netscape.com]

  I think my response to this got killed by the qth.net spam filters, so here I'll try again - note that I have changed the subject....
  Rin, I would save up for a BC796, not the 785. The 785 requires the purchase and installation of an optional BC25i card for digital reception, where the 796 already has it installed. 
  There's something else coming down the pike that you should watch. It's generally referred to as 'rebanding', and the long and short of it is that when it takes place - our region is/was? scheduled for Dec 2006 - those scanners that did Motorola trunking now will no longer work.  Uniden has issued a statement saying that the 785 won't be supported - however, newer models such as the 796 will.  The timeline seems to be somewhat fluid, as I've read grumblings that the date is untenable and will actually happen sometime further down the road.
  How this support will take place is anyone's guess at this point. It's hoped it can be accomodated via a firmware patch from Uniden's website, but since there are no active systems that have been 'rebanded' as yet, no one can say for sure how this is going to work.
  I'd highly encourage you to register on RadioReference and Strong Signals, and read the forums - particularly on RadioReference (commonly abbreviated as 'RR') where the Uniden forum has a great deal of information on this subject. Registration is free, and you also get access to the RRDB, which are very extensive and constantly growing.  Strong Signals also has several threads on this subject.  The URLs are:

  http://www.radioreference.com        -and-
  http://www.strongsignals.net  

  73s Mike


links editor,Capitol Hill Monitors
Utility Monitoring Central
editor, Strong Signals software page
moderator, Long Island Scanning Resources DC board


--- KMD3JK at webtv.net wrote:
like a table top model and most likely used.I am thinking about the
Bearcat 785D I belive is the right model number.Do any of you have
thoughts on a fair price range I should be looking for?
Rin in Hyattsville

 

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