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| Digital Trunking Scanner Recommendations | Conventional Scanner Recommendations |
| Analog Trunking Scanner Recommendations | Wide-Band Scanner Recommendations |
| For
people new to
trunking scanners: First, make sure you know what 'trunking' is all about. There is a good tutorial here and at my home page. Buy only what you need for the immediate future: The Radio Reference Database is a good place to see what there is in your area to scan. Trunking is here to stay but still not used everywhere. If you don't need trunking there are plenty of conventional and wide-band scanners out there that receive a whole lot better with better features. Rebanding is another issue. It may be years before it's fully implemented. By then there will be other newer scanners that have newer features. If you are not going to be monitoring any Motorola systems, don't worry about rebanding. Don't just go looking for the latest and greatest scanner assuming it's what you need and will do everything you want (the Pro 160/162 for instance). Use the following information to select just what you need (or will need in the immediate future) to purchase a scanner. Many of the older scanners have nice features that the newer scanners have dropped. Do I need a Digital capable scanner? If none of the systems you want to monitor are 'digital', (or won't be going digital soon [?]) don't buy a digital capable scanner for more than double the cost of a analog trunking scanner and wait for a digital system in your area. Digital scanning is still new and very awkward to program with the current scanners. Wait until the programming has been refined a little better/easier and until you really need one. Note that a lot of the newer digital trunking systems operate in the 700MHz band and not all of the older digital scanners will receive 700MHz. Use my Trunking Comparison Chart to see which scanners offer you want or/and need. To get more detailed info, go to Uniden's or Radio Shack's site and download the PDF manual for the scanner to see exactly what it does and how to program it. The Radio Reference Wiki is also a good place to get info. I also have Easier to Read Manuals on my main page for all of the popular scanners. |
| Most people agree if you want performance buy Radio Shack
GRE
models and the new
GRE (PSR) models. Fewer intermod problems, better quality sound, faster trunktracking, shorter squelch tails, clearer digital
transmissions, the firmware is easier to upgrade, and the
software available is more reliable.
I've owned both Uniden and RS (GRE) models side-by-side
in 4-6 states (about 2500 miles apart) and in all cases
the RS models perform better receiving the frequencies.
Now that's just my opinion. Actual results depend on your
location, system/channels monitored, terrain, etc, and personal
taste. If you want features buy Uniden or Uniden made RS models. Dynamic memory, 100 chs/sec (conventional) scan, W/N/SCAT EDACS trunking, changeable steps and receive modes, GPS Based Scanning, Start-up Configurations, CTCSS and (not or) DCS tone search, auto store (IDs and freqs), channel alerts, repeater reverse, computer control, I-call IDs, scan-search-ID/delay-resume, more priority channels, and better accessories sold with the scanners. Radio Shack scanners will trunktrack faster (with multiple systems). Uniden scanners will scan conventional freqs faster. I have both and use the Unidens for searching, auto/quick store, tones, etc., and setup the GREs for monitoring what I find. Just my way of scanning. Most of the newer radios have all the features that we need for scanning and trunking. The list below contains radios with unique or rare features that some people may want or need. |
| GPS Compatible Scanning: |
| BCT-15(X), (U)BCD996(X)T, UBC800XLT, BCD396XT, BC346XT. |
| Multi-Site Trunking: |
| BCT-15(X), (U)BCD996(X)T, BC346XT, BCD396XT, UBC800XLT, PSR500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| 700MHz Trunking: |
| (U)BCD396(X)T, (U)BCD996(X)T, PSR500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Digital (P25) Trunking: |
| Pro-96/2096, BC785D, BC296D, BC796D, (U)BCD396(X)T, (U)BCD996(X)T, PSR500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Rebanding Supported: |
| Pro-92 (not 92A or 92B), Pro-96/2096, Pro-528/433, Pro-164/163, Pro-162/160, BC296D, BC796D, BC898T, BC246T, BR330T, BCD396(X)T, BCT-15(X), BCD996(X)T, BC346XT, PSR300/400/500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Alpha-Tagging: |
| Pro-92/2067, Pro-93/2053, Pro-95, Pro-96/2096, Pro-97/2055, Pro-164/163, Pro-162/160, BC780XLT, BC785D, BC250D, BC296D, BC796D, BC246T, BR330T, (U)BCD396(X)T, BCT-15(X), UBC800XLT, (U)BCD996(X)T, BC346XT, PSR300/400/500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Military Air: |
| Pro-2052, Pro-97/2055, Pro-164/163, BC895XLT, BC780XLT, BC785D, BC250D, BC296D, BC796D, BC898T, BR330T, (U)BCD396(X)T, BCT-15(X), UBC800XLT, (U)BCD996(X)T, PSR300/400/500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Priority IDs: |
| Pro-94, Pro-2052,
Pro-2051, Pro-162/160, BC245XLT, BC780XLT, BC785D,
BC250D, BC296D, BC796D, BCT-8, BCT-15X, BCD996XT, BCD396XT, BC346XT, PSR500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Priority Plus IDs: |
| Pro-94, Pro-2052, BC780XLT. |
| Priority Plus scanning: |
| BC785D, BC250D, BC296D, BC796D, BC246T, BR330T, (U)BCD396(X)T, BCT-15(X), UBC800XLT, (U)BCD996(X)T, BC346XT. |
| I Call IDs: |
| BC780XLT, BC785D, BC250D,
BC296D, BC796D, BC246T, BR330T, (U)BCD396(X)T, BCT-15(X),
UBC800XLT, (U)BCD996(X)T, BC346XT, PSR500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Emergency call ID alert: |
| BC780XLT, BC785D, BC250D, BC296D, BC796D, BC246T, BR330T, (U)BCD396(X)T, BCT-15(X), UBC800XLT, (U)BCD996(X)T, BC346XT. |
| EDACS patch tracking: |
| BC780XLT, BC785D, BC250D, BC296D, BC796D, BCD396XT, BC346XT, BCD996XT, BCT-15X. |
| Auto LTR LCN Programming: |
| Pro-92, Pro-2067, PSR500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Search with Scan: |
| BR330T, (U)BCD396(X)T, BCT-15(X), UBC800XLT, (U)BCD996(X)T, BC346XT, PSR500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Scan/Search resume: |
| BC780XLT, BC785D, BC796D, BCD396XT, BC346XT, BCD996XT, BCT-15X. |
| Changeable Step Size: |
| All Uniden models (except the BCT-8 and BC235XLT), PSR500/600/Pro-106/197 (not in search ranges). |
| Signal Strength Meter: |
| Pro-164/163), BC895XLT, BC780XLT, BC785D, BC250D, BC296D, BC796D, BC898T, BR330T, (U)BCD396(X)T, BCT-15(X), UBC800XLT, (U)BCD996(X)T, BC346XT, PSR300/400/500/600, Pro-106/197. |
| Auto store: |
| BC895XLT, BC780XLT, BC785D, BC250D, BC296D, BC796D, BC898T, BC246T, BR330T, (U)BCD396(X)T, BCT-15(X), UBC800XLT, (U)BCD996(X)T, BC346XT. |
| Auto sort: |
| BC895XLT, BC780XLT, BC250D, BC296D. |
| Digital Trunking Scanners |
|
BCD396XT(HH): Pros- An upgraded version of the BCD396T with quite a few new features including 25,000 total channels/500 systems/500 IDs per system, the ability to number any system or channel within a system (from 0-999), 7 display colors (blue, red, magenta, green, cyan, yellow, and white), GPS compatibility, selectable startup configuration, 250 temporary lockouts, multi-site trunking, NAC, support for EDACS ESK systems, control-channel data output, priority IDs with Preemptive Priority ID Scanning on Motorola analog systems, an adjustable priority check interval, 3 'search' quick keys, scan/search resume, up to 30 sec. scan/search delay/resume, adjustable volume offset for each channel, IF (intermediate frequency) exchange, Close Call Temporary Store, a low/middle/high brightness level for the display, visual alerts, a Bandscope, adjustable charge time for the batteries (1-16 hrs.), EDACS and Motorola patch tracking, memory lock, Key-Safe Mode, and the ability set a system as 'Private', and Fire Toneout Search. Cons- scans multiple trunking systems with a 2 second delay, set delay by system (all groups/channels). Owner's manual on CD only. Very complicated to update the firmware. BCD996XT(Base/Mobile): Pros- Has all the features of the older BCD996T (with only 3 'search' quick keys vs. 6), and the new BCD396XT (above) in a base/mobile version. Cons- Same as the BCD396XT. Awkward to reset the radio. PSR500/Pro-106(HH)/PSR600/Pro-197(Base/Mobile): Pros- Object oriented memory management with 22 Scan Lists (20 regular lists, Favorites and Skywarn list), 5 way navigation keys to access special modes and programming options, Virtual Scanner Memory Management system; One V-Scanner folder can hold up to 1800 objects, meaning any combination of talkgroups, conventional channels, and trunking systems; 21 folders; about 37,800 objects, Multi-Site Trunking with option to look for the site with the best received CC decode rate, 700MHz and 380MHz trunking, QuickText allows you to program insertable text for tagging, object hit counts, FlexStep allows channel entries within 1.25 KHz steps, Network Access Code programming, ID delay, I-call IDs, 'any' color LED alert, audio alerts, signal strength meter, favorites scan list, 'Expert' settings, 'multiple' priority channels, Spectrum Sweeper/Signal Stalker II, limit, service, and Stalker/Sweeper searches can be programmed as objects, Zeromatic search tuning, TCXO (temperature controlled crystal oscillator) for frequency stability, and firmware upgrades. Many extra 'fine tuning' settings for scanning and especially digital trunking. Cons- talkgroup (tag or id) and system name alternate. Only 22 scan lists (vs. Uniden's 100 quick keys). Complicated menu features. Tiny keypad buttons; too close and too hard to press. The are extra 'save' steps you need to perform to get out of the menus after changes. Search ranges are still fixed steps. BC796D(Base/Mobile): Pros- fast (100 cps) conventional scanning, APCO25 Digital Audio with 9600 Baud C4FM & CQPSK, 1000 channels/10 banks, I-call IDs, Mil air, W/N/SCAT EDACS, adjustable scan-search-ID/delay-resume, signal meter, repeater reverse, changeable steps, SAME weather alert, 10 priority channels, priority IDs, EDACS Patch Tracking, PC control/programming/cloning, auto store, channel alert, Moto status bit ignore, and EDACS partial IDs. Cons- does not receive (conventional and analog trunking) as well as the BC780XLT. |
| They are all rebandable, trunk LTR, VHF, and UHF systems, trunktrack and scan (conventional) at the same time, have attenuation per channel, AFS/Decimal EDACS ID display, power-on resume, weather alert, changeable receive modes per channel, alpha-tags, CTCSS and DCS, ID delay, CB band, Motorola Control Channel Only programming, and have a computer interface and/or control. |
| Analog Trunking Scanners |
|
BC346XT(HH): Pros- An upgraded version of the BC246T with quite a few new features including 9000 total channels/500 systems/500 IDs per system, the ability to number any system or channel within a system (from 0-999), GPS compatibility, selectable startup configuration, 250 temporary lockouts, multi-site trunking, support for EDACS ESK systems, control-channel data output, priority IDs with Preemptive Priority ID Scanning, 3 'search' keys, scan/search resume, up to 30 sec. scan/search delay, adjustable volume offset for each channel, IF (intermediate frequency) exchange, Close Call Temporary Store, a low/middle/high brightness level for the display, a Bandscope, adjustable charge time for the batteries (1-16 hrs.), EDACS and Motorola patch tracking, memory lock, and Fire Toneout Search. Cons- No Military air. BCT-15X(Base/Mobile): Pros- has all the features of the older BCT-15 without Digital/700 MHz trunking/NAC and with 9000 channels/500 systems, support for EDACS ESK systems, priority IDs with Preemptive Priority ID Scanning, scan/search resume, up to 30 sec. scan/search delay, 250 temporary lockouts, Close Call with 'do not disturb', adjustable volume offset for each channel, IF (intermediate frequency) exchange, a Bandscope, EDACS and Motorola patch tracking, memory lock, and Fire Toneout Search. Cons- scans multiple trunking systems with a 2 second delay, set delay by system (all groups/channels). Owner's manual on CD only. Very complicated to update the firmware. Awkward to reset the radio. BR330T(HH): Pros- Has all the features of the BCD396T (without Digital/700 MHz trunking), only 2500 [1600 tagged] channels, plus a 100 kHz-1300 MHz range, an AM bar antenna, AM service search, and Race Track Operation (with pre-programmed races). Cons- Long squelch tail leaves distinctive 'chop' at the end of transmissions.
PSR300(HH)/PSR400(Base/Mobile);
Pro-164(HH)/Pro-163(Base/Mobile);
MJF-8322(HH) -All
basically the same scanner: |
| Conventional Scanners |
| UBC3500XLT(HH): a European version of the BR330T without trunking, AM bar antenna and service search, 100 kHz-25 MHz range, and without Race Track Operation, only 1 service search (Air), with 8.33 or 12.5 kHz steps. |
More soon
| Wide-Band Scanners |
Soon
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| Click here to visit Scanner Master |
| Last updated July 23, 2010 |
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