[Scan-DC] Hello - First Post - And a few questions

[ka3jjz at netscape.com]

Good morning Marshall and welcome...

Your first task is to register(free) at the premier scanning website...

http://www.radioreference.com

This site has numerous areas; extensive forums (covers our area, Uniden, GRE and RS scanners, and much
more...), a database for our area (which has a rather neat ability, which I will get to in a moment), 
and a very extensive MediaWiki section with over 800 articles in it, covering the gamut from digital
scanners, HF, satellite, and a ton of other topics. You can easily begin your research into learning about
the various digital trunktrackers here. The topic of 'ease of programming' tends to be one where
if you are starting from scratch, or having been involved in programming the older scanners, and having to
unlearn old habits (which is where I am now). 

While it is true that the PRO-96 comes 'pre programmed' that data is a couple of years old by now, and can be updated. If you do decide to go this route, do NOT under any circumstances let a RS employee program it for you! There have been too many horror stories of really messed up programming if you go that route. The
BCD396 also has pre programmed 'systems' (I don't recall if Montgomery county is in there...) that can
be loaded as well, as do the new GRE PSR scanners. This data is largely a copy of the RadioReference database, and as such, may need some updating.

This is where the 'neat ability' comes in. With a premium subscription (very cheap) and the right app, 
you can download data directly from the database into the app's editor. For the PRO-96, you want to be
using Win96. The GREs actually have 3 packages that have this ability - PSRedit, Win500 and ARC500. 
The BCD396 also has a few packages that can do this - ARC396 (admittedly the champ), and 2 freeware
packages that, while not quite up to snuff yet (they are still being actively developed), once done, should
provide the BuTel (anything with an 'ARC' in the name, and available from Scanner Master) software with
some stiff competition (FreeScan and BCTool). 

I've gotta get ready for work, so I will sign off with this - in the Wiki section, when you first bring
up the front page, there are links for 'digital trunktrackers' and 'subscription'. Anything in blue - both
on the forums and wiki -is a link. Click on it, and you will find a great deal of information. Model numbers
are often links themselves to articles that describe that particular scanner. Take your time and read
up -and make yourself known on the RadioReference (often abbreviated 'RR') forums. There are numerous folks
there who are quite knowledgable, and can best guide you as you are starting out.

73s Mike

links editor,Capitol Hill Monitors
Utility Monitoring Central
Wiki Administrator, HF Forum moderator, Radioreference.Com 

--- mulie3 at comcast.net wrote:

Hello All, my name is Marshall and I have been lurking here for a long time
just to "keep up" with scanning in Montgomery Co./Gaithersburg. I am going
to buy an APCO scanner soon and was wondering if anyone out there is using
one of the new GRE'S. I am looking at the APCO capable handheld. I guess the
big question is how easy it is to program compared to the RS Pro96. Are
there files anywhere that I can just upload to it for MC Police and Fire? I
know if I get the Pro-96 at a local RS they will set it up, or should be
able to anyhow. Any info on the RS vs. the GRE will be helpful.

 



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