Handheld Digital Scanners - Worth it or stick to Broadcastify.com?

[TANSTAAFL]

Okay, started a string on the Baofeng UV-5r, but one of my quests was to hear what is going on. News is relatively useless, slow and would like to get on the fly information. I have Apps, but would like to get a decent handheld digital scanner, I do understand that they can get quite pricey with DMR, Trunk and PT25 Licensing. My question is, what are the decent ones, Uniden or Whistler, rather go with a handheld simply for convenience and portability. I like the SDS100, but the GPS in the BCD436HP looks to be a better option due to the price difference and no add on needed...Or should I set my sights lower and get a lesser unit? Very open to suggestions.

Are any of these difficult to program?

Also this is meant for home and informational use, I do not want to have a radio room...

 

[Raptor62]

Okay, started a string on the Baofeng UV-5r, but one of my quests was to here what is going on. News is relatively useless, slow and would like to get on the fly information. I have Apps, but would like to get a decent handheld digital scanner, I do understand that they can get quite pricey with DMR, Trunk and PT25 Licensing. My question is, what are the decent ones, Uniden or Whistler, rather go with a handheld simply for convenience and portability. I like the SDS100, but the GPS in the BCD436HP looks to be a better option due to the price difference and no add on needed...Or should I set my sights lower and get a lesser unit? Very open to suggestions.

Are any of these difficult to program?

Also this is meant for home and informational use, I do not want to have a radio room...

I really like my uniden sds100.
Programing is free software from uniden. I am an ol timer for me it was difficult. After many youtube training videos i finally figuered out to hear what i want in Edmond. Now it is easy to use but i had a time getting started. For travelling gps works great but i usually just use zip code when i get where i am going.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

I really like my uniden sds100.
Programing is free software from uniden. I am an ol timer for me it was difficult. After many youtube training videos i finally figuered out to hear what i want in Edmond. Now it is easy to use but i had a time getting started. For travelling gps works great but i usually just use zip code when i get where i am going.

Did you need to get any special licenses, or are they included? Not FCC, but licenses to listen? Like DMR?

 

[Raptor62]

Did you need to get any special licenses, or are they included? Not FCC, but licenses to listen? Like DMR?

Yes you buy an xtra license for dmr but i wasnt interested. I bought pro voice for okcpd but they dont use that any more so nope for me.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Yes you buy an xtra license for dmr but i wasnt interested. I bought pro voice for okcpd but they dont use that any more so nope for me.

Thanks, probably going with the sds100.

 

[Fr Mulcahy]

Okay, started a string on the Baofeng UV-5r, but one of my quests was to hear what is going on. News is relatively useless, slow and would like to get on the fly information. I have Apps, but would like to get a decent handheld digital scanner, I do understand that they can get quite pricey with DMR, Trunk and PT25 Licensing. My question is, what are the decent ones, Uniden or Whistler, rather go with a handheld simply for convenience and portability. I like the SDS100, but the GPS in the BCD436HP looks to be a better option due to the price difference and no add on needed...Or should I set my sights lower and get a lesser unit? Very open to suggestions.

Are any of these difficult to program?

Also this is meant for home and informational use, I do not want to have a radio room...

Yes, having a real scanner is much better than relying on the internet. I have several Uniden digital trunking scanners, and they averaged about $125 each because they are several years old. However, I can monitor the Tulsa metro area.

You can hear things as they happen, with no delay. Broadcastify does have a delay of about one minute, and the app crashes frequently on me.

I keep a small dual-band ham radio antenna (2 meter and 70 cm bands) on the back of my car, and the scanner works very well when traveling. I also keep a multi-band car mount antenna in the house and get excellent results.

I use a Uniden BCT 125 to listen to the local repeaters, the CB frequencies, and air traffic. I have an attic j-pole for that one.

If you just want to hear local traffic (communications), the Unidens are all that you need.

 

[BallisticGuy]

Thanks, probably going with the sds100.

How do like your sds100? I’m about to order one from the Uniden website.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

How do like your sds100? I’m about to order one from the Uniden website.

I ordered one from zipscanners.com Haven't gotten it yet. Hope to get it by this weekend.

 

[bigfug]

OKC is fixing to go encrypted in addition to most of the agencies on the system. You'll also see more agencies moving to the system in the near future. Nichols Hills has applied, Piedmont and UC are in the process being onboarded. I'll try to get a more definitive date on the encryption when I go to work.

 

[TANSTAAFL]

Went with the SDS100, @bigfug purchased it prior to your post. Did you get further information? It works great, @BallisticGuy surprised with all the stuff we don't hear about, and have only had it since around noon. Hate to see it bricked by encryption, be out $715...