our police department just changed over to what they calling "digital" will a narrow band scanner be able to pick them up? i want to buy one for my mo
1811222
I would not recommend anyone buying the BC355. Most services have switched to digital or will be switching to digital in the future. The BC355 is an analog receiver, and as such will not work on digital communications.
1811223
You need a digital scanner. The BC355C 800MHz is not digital; it is analog. For digital capabilities you will need either of the multitude of scanners I will list: GRE PSR-800, GRE PSR-600, GRE PSR-500, Uniden HomePatrol, Uniden Beacat BCD996XT, Uniden Bearcat BCD396XT, or the RadioShack PRO-197.
1811224
At my location they did the same thing. You can pick up some of the freq's, depending on the weather. I was suprised that i was able to pick up many of the freq's after the change over.
1811225
I agree with the other answers listed. U do need a digital scanner. Even though the BC355C is a good scanner, it doesn't pick up digital transmissions. Being an amateur radio operator ( ham radio ) I would highly reccomend several from radio shack, or even search the web for a digital reciever.
1058287
No, this unit is NOT digital, HOWEVER it can pick up analog trunking systems. The radio unit itself IS digital this just means it has buttons on it like a calculater would, and it has a digital led display.I hope this helped
1399213
I have not realized much success with SSB on this radio. I have a police scanner connected to the same antenna that is capable of monitoring many ham operators. I use the Kato for SW although BBC and Moscow have discontinued broadcasting to North America; China, Cuba, Austrailia, Romania are available. Most of the ham that I receive on the police scanner is local. You would have to conduct an experiment notwithstanding your antenna, etc. I do a complete scan periodically of the SW bands as well as what I have in the memory.
2049934
In a word....NO. This scanner is analog only, so can't pick up any broadcast in digital.
2009674
All police and fire are now digital. This is not a digital scanner. IT'S TOTALLY USELESS ! the only things that you will pick up is weather and small planes. DON'T BUY IT !
1227872
The radio will scan, however it is not capable of receiving any agencies using Digital APCO transmissions, Trunked radio systems or LTR, so you may need a "real" scanner for area if the agencies you wish to monitor aren't on a standard analog conventional channel.
313297
Yes, if you have the frequencies through somewhere such as radio reference, this scanner will receive them. It is a digital scanner and I use it to listen to my local police and county who recently transitioned from analog to digital. It has a learning curve but if you use programming software it is pretty easy.
1419280
Yes, it's a P25 digital mode, and also has Analog. The digital mode is like we have here in Ohio for a system called MARCS. If you get the scanner here is something else you might want to get to make your life easy. Get a programming cable, and a program called Win500. It allows you to program the radio without punching buttons on the front. It's much easier and faster. And if you want to make it REAL fast, get an account on Radio Reference. You can download all the frequencies from your area to your PC, then upload using Win500 to this scanner. I did my second scanner with 297 channels in less than 15 minutes. Yes, it's a P25 digital mode, and also has Analog. The digital mode is like we have here in Ohio for a system called MARCS. If you get the scanner here is something else you might want to get to make your life easy. Get a programming cable, and a program called Win500. It allows you to program the radio without punching buttons on the front. It's much easier and faster. And if you want to make it REAL fast, get an account on Radio Reference. You can download all the frequencies from your area to your PC, then upload using Win500 to this scanner. I did my second scanner with 297 channels in... » Read More Yes, it's a P25 digital mode, and also has Analog. The digital mode is like we have here in Ohio for a system called MARCS. If you get the scanner here is something else you might want to get to make your life easy. Get a programming cable, and a program called Win500. It allows you to program the radio without punching buttons on the front. It's much easier and faster. And if you want to make it REAL fast, get an account on Radio Reference. You can download all the frequencies from your area to your PC, then upload using Win500 to this scanner. I did my second scanner with 297 channels in less than 15 minutes. « Show Less
344612
NO, it will not. If agencies in your area use digital radio systems, you will need a digital scanner. Also be aware that some agencies--mainly law enforcement--are not only digital but encrypted as well, meaning that even with a digital scanner, the transmissions would not be understandable.
326732
Yes it is a digital scanner. Yes it does pickup P25 crystal clear. Very good scanner.
1404758
Yes. You are getting the new digital station. it has a digital readout. I see it here for about $92.00 I paid about the same for my station that is not digital but still a great iron. be happy. you have the newest at a great price. You wont be sorry.
47161
Most police and EMS in large populated areas have gone to 'trunking' (digital comms that switch channels with each transmission) many years ago, so in that respect, the answer is "No".If you are more rural, and your local departments aren't very large, then probably "Yes", as they are likely still using analog comms.KK4VRE (HAM)/WQST332 (GMRS)/KRED333 (CB-A/D)/KNJ2MB (Spectrum Monitor)
1592425
I learned you have to buy "crystals" to scan and pick up police frequencies and with this unit it would cost around $300 to buy them at Radio Shack. At this price I would have thought they would have been included
1741600
It will have to be programmed to their frequency, and I was fortunate enough to know someone in my local police department that programmed mine for me. It will only work on an analog system, not a digital signal so you need to make sure the police department is NOT on a digital system. As far as the programming, it is difficult, but I have programmed air traffic control, local fire department, and other things myself.
510603
It has the ability to pickup a small range of frequencies that police agencies use. This scanner picks up 450-470 MHz. Some agencies use this while others opt to use the 150-160 MHz range. If there is one particular agency that you are trying to monitor, check and see if they fall in the 450-470 MHz range. If so, this will work for you.
160368
This scanner is analog and has VHF police, air and railroad bands, as well as the 400-mhz public safety band.
1006132
most police, etc, are on UHF or vhf not covered by these kinds of receivers. you need to research the broadcasts you are interested in (there are books and web sites for that) and then buy a radio made for those bands, more than likely a scanner. good luck. there are lots of interesting things on the bands this radio covers.