[Scan-DC] Scanner Recomendations

Sun Sep 21 13:37:36 EDT 2008

I'm not at all familiar with Virginia, so our folks down there can comment better - but here in Maryland, EDACS is not all that popular. I know Cecil county's system uses an ESK like format, but from what little I understand, it's not quite compatible. The fact that the audio is all ProVoice makes that system unmonitorable, even with the GRE scanners that might otherwise be able to handle it (or the upcoming changes to the Uniden scanners). 

Somerset county also uses Pro-Voice on its police channels - whether it uses ESK on its system, I don't know. Unlike Cecil's system, however, Somerset uses a purely analog system for their fire services, and that is trunkable with the current crop of trunktrackers.

73 Mike

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

--- israel1718 at aol.com wrote:

From: israel1718 at aol.com
To: ka3jjz at netscape.com
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Scanner Recomendations
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:50:50 +0000

What systems are ESK?
-----Original Message-----
From: "" <ka3jjz at netscape.com>

Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:47:32 
To: <scan-dc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: RE: [Scan-DC] Scanner Recomendations

Another item to consider - Uniden is about to release new firmware in the next couple of weeks that will, if memory serves, enable ESK monitoring. As I understand it, the firmware is being staged across a few months to cover the current models. The 996 and 396 are first up. How it will stack up against the ESK capabilities of the GRE radios remains to be seen.

Nothing can handle either ProVoice or Closedsky...er, Open Sky so those are off the table right away...

73 Mike

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

--- jimmnn at comcast.net wrote:

You will also want to consider if these EDACS systems you plan to monitor have ESK or Provoice plans in their future we have just had a few local agencies turn on ESK full-time and that limits your scanner choices greatly.

And I agree RR is your best source of local information. 

 Jim<

-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of ka3jjz at netscape.com
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2008 5:14 AM
To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Scanner Recomendations

Ken that depends somewhat if that's the only system type the scanner will be used for. If so, practically any of the newer gen models will do the job. Even rebanding issues won't be much of an issue, since it would only involve some reprogramming to get the radio to trunk again. Heck even the venerable BC780 does EDACS, and as you noted, the 245 does EDACS as well.

However a caution here - you should validate what kind of EDACS system you would be monitoring. The older scanners couldn't handle EDACS narrowband too well, if at all - the newer ones can. I would also consider whether the scanner would be used for recording/logging while scanning/trunking - if so, that would throw out all the RS models, and the GRE models except the PSR500 and 600, which can do this. Most all of the current Uniden models also can. 

More information on your wants and how the scanner will be used is needed here. Of course, do your research on the RadioReference wiki to get you started. Use the database to insure the scanner you buy will handle the system(s) to be monitored. 

73 Mike

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

Last nite, KD4IIW wrote: 

I am bidding around on ebay for a base and or portable scanner for
tracking an EDACS system.  I used to own a BC 245xlt.  Are there any
others out there that I should look
at?

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