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Message |
    
Wolverine
Intermediate Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 272
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 7:51 am: | 
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I'm thinking about purchasing this scanner. The cost will be under $200.00, it's a triple conversion scanner, which I guess means that it can decode 3 types of trunked systems. Can any, or all of your give me the pros and cons of owning this pre-programmed scanner? The reason that I'm not interested in the higher priced scanners like the 760 or 780 XLT, is because those scanners require computer software to make them work(?????), and I'm told the BC-8 is a middle of the road scanner. Your opinions/suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Wolverine. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1913
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 8:41 am: |
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Triple conversion has nothing to do with trunking. There ARE NO GOOD POINTS TO A PREPROGRAMED scanner ...... however if this scanner ALSO has 250 channels open that is ok.
First thing you need to know is what kinda systems ( trunking ) do you have around you?
I do not know of any scanner that REQUIRES softwhere although its very handy. Myself i have a rad-shack pro 2052 it works just fine and cost on sale about 200. |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 273
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 4:40 am: |
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Bruce, the scanner does have 250 open channels, pre-programed service search, programed highway patrol freqs by state, the trunking systems are: Motorola, Edacs, Edacs scat, and LTR. It also has a warning system that lets you know if CHP transmissions are occuring within a 3 mile radius of your location. Other features are priority operation, search lockouts, 100 ch/sec Scan speed (Max), backlit display, and it covers freqs from 25 to 956 excluding cellular. I want to use it as a base scanner instead of mobile use. I't looks like a good purchase for the most "Bang for the buck". And btw, I found out today that scanners (Top of the line) use software for the purposes of downloading frequencies into the scanner, so that you won't have to manually program every frequency by hand (Timesaver). Sorry to be so long-winded, but I want to make sure that you have all the specs of this scanner. I really don't want to waste my money, since this will be my 1st scanner ever. What do you think Bruce??.
Wolverine.
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1916
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 7:11 am: |
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Sounds good my concern was pre programed ONLY. Here in central florida i dont know of any systems other than mot and ge and we have no warning system i know of from our FHP.
BTW
My radioshack has a alfa-numric display and with the softwhere i can program the NAME of what is on that channel as well as ch number. Now i have the softwhere to program it and LOVE it so if this one your buying will program that way it is worth your time to get the program / cable. |
Wolverine
Intermediate Member
Username: Wolverine
Post Number: 274
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 9:25 am: |
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Thanks bruce. The scanner will come with, I guess it's a CD (Software). The owner of the store says that for additional $$$ he will program the Police, Fire, and other services, that's located in my city, and surrounding cities, so that I can use it "Fresh out the Box" (Less frustrations for me, as far as programming with cables and software). Maybe the names of what's on the channels will show up on mine as well. I'm sold. I also heard that Uniden/Bearcat builds the scanners that Radio shack sells to the public. Is that true??. I'm off to the bank.
Wolverine. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1923
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 4:59 pm: |
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if it comes with software then why would you need him to program it? my radioshack unit is very easy ...... now if he wants like 10 bucks SHURE ..... HE HE HE ..... then you save it to your computer and you can add or subtract as you please ..... |
Racer X (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 6:07 pm: |
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I remember the good old days when it took me an hour to program the 400 channels into my PRO 2006 and at least a couple hours to program my 1000 channel scanners. Computers are a such a tremendous addition to the scanning hobby that I can't believe there aren't more computer based scanners like the Optocom, PCR-100, PCR-1000, and WinRadio. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1927
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 6:20 pm: |
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racer .....
I remember when scanners had CRYSTALS in them !
Ok now dosn't that make me old? |
Racer X (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 7:59 pm: |
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Nah - I never owned a crystal scanner myself, but I've listened to them. They were virtually immune to intermodulation because they were very selective. If I could find some that have crystals cut to the frequencies I monitor I'd buy them.
I've got you beat though - I own an old Radio Shack Patrolman (not sure of the model number) 2 band analog tuning VHF LO/VHF HI receiver. It's also got a single crystal socket for one particular frequency you want to monitor. It pre-dates scanners and still works well. In fact, I just fired it up and listened to the local weather channel and my county's control channel. It's got 11 tubes, a 3 gang air variable capacitor, the chassis is lableled with all of the tube types, it's built like a tank and weighs a ton. It's great. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1929
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 10:29 pm: |
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I just gave away a regency tube lowband one ( built in 1962 ) tuning went from 29.5 to 50.1 it made a nice monitor for 10 meter fm. Crystal scanners realy arn't any better than the new stuff its like the old tube CB sets back in the mid 60's we were happy to see transistors come in now 40 years later some would like to see them go away. BTW I get my crystals from Sentry crystals but there not cheep..... another good place is JAN in ft myers. |
Coyote
Junior Member
Username: Coyote
Post Number: 42
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 11:40 pm: |
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So Bruce, whats a person gotta do to get on your "give away" list?  j/k of course. |
Ae548
Junior Member
Username: Ae548
Post Number: 13
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 07, 2005 - 10:12 pm: |
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I have a bct7 in my truck & really enjoy it. All I have to do is hit a button to change the state & another to listen to state police, dot, highway patrol, wx, etc. Very cool if you drive from state to state. I also program trucker cb channels in the highway patrol banks. I use a radar detector, cb, scanner, & a notebook computer ran gps. I'm also a ham. Anyway, if your looking for a good - easy to use scanner for mobile use the bct8 is the way to go. I'd use a good digital scanner as a base. But thats comparing apples to oranges. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 2034
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 1:31 am: |
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Cool sounds like you have a full dash!
I just ordered another rad-shack 1000 ch scanner.
It was on clearance fairly cheep so ill add it to my rack of them here in the shack.
Also even if your a ham ( florida EXSEMPTS hams ) remember some states dont allow scanners in cars. |
Racer X (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Sunday, January 09, 2005 - 11:20 am: |
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Ae548 - How do you like the Beartracker feature? Does it work at all? I looked at buying a BCT7 when they first came out because of the Beartracker feature. When I found out it was really a service searching scanner - like my BC350A I didn't bother. It's got a few more features and CB coverage, but I decided to keep my PRO 2026 in the car.
Does anyone use their computer to control or program their scanners? I've got older units (PRO 2006s) with interfaces that are decent enough, but I'm curious if anyone has a radio like an Optocom, Winradio, or Icom PCR series where they actually rely on the computer to function. |
Ae548
Junior Member
Username: Ae548
Post Number: 14
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 5:19 am: |
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Racer X - sorry about the late reply, I didn't log on again till now. Anyway the bear tracker works great, if they use their radio the scanner beaps & the red light flashes. My radar detector also has the safety warning system - but don't even remember it ever working as advertised. I have an icom pcr-1000 that is computer controlled, I use it everyday at home & really enjoy it. Its ran off of 12 volts & works well on my notebook in the truck. |
Racer_x
Intermediate Member
Username: Racer_x
Post Number: 101
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, March 05, 2005 - 4:06 pm: |
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Cool. I didn't know if the Beartracker was worthwhile or not, but if it works it sounds cool. It must really be helpful to a pro driver.
The PCR1000 sounds like a cool radio. I remember seeing it at a hamfest before it was released to the public and I thought it was a great idea. At the time I already had a couple of PRO-2006s with computer interfaces, so I didn't buy one, but if I ever want a receiver that is computer controlled I'll definitely give the PCR1000 a closer look. |
