InterceptRadio.com Forums

I think I will ask Santa for a scanner for Christmas. It's been a long time since I looked into scanners and there are a lot out there. Currently looking at the Uniden BC346XT. Mostly want to monitor Police and Fire trunked stuff. Anyone have a recommendation? I want to keep the price down so I can purchase a new dualband ham radio.

I'd almost shoot for the 396xt, for if you travel outside the area, NPS, Ft Lewis, some unencrypted fed stuff, some counties and states are going P25. But that's my idea. I did the same thing with ham rigs, started out handheld and purchased mobile, then dual band and thinking it was cheaper but ended delaying the inevitable.

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"I was installing un-programmed radios"

I would love to have digtal too, but have to see how far my budget will go. Not sure if King County and Snohomish County will have anything digital to interest me. Also need to look into what I might want for times I spend in Whatcom County and Phoenix,AZ. Thanks for the input.

Ron,

About 99% of 800 MHz digital around here is encrypted. IWN is the same way, but there is still some VHF that you can listen to.

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I generate Board Warnings

Whatcom County uses some digital in the northern cities (Blaine, Lynden, Sumas).
The sheriff and Bellingham PD & Ferndale PD are still analog.

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" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

the biggest question is do you travel and if not do you just want it for fun.

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

IS their anyway you can get equipment to descramble encryption, like you could back years ago with the old way they used to scramble transmissions?

lol... nope

Encryption
Algorithms AES, DES-XL and DES-OFB, DVP-XL, DVI-XL

Good luck trying to decode those forms of encryption unless your a govenment agency with deep pockets...and thats just afew different types of encryption modes out there.
THERE ARE MORE :(

even if it was possible its against the law so no one will commercially make something that you can buy. in the usa.

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If I had an antenna, I would; but I can only transmit on 160 meters.
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DE K7MHI

Think I will stick with a less expensive analog for now. I really need to replace the ham dualbander. Need it to use the repeaters I like.

The 346xt is a great deal at just over 2 large bills.

For a portable analoag the 346xt is the best. I have one. The only problem I have with it is that it does not have the same great looks as the 246T. The 346xt looks much older than the 246T.