rolling start

[chicken_run]

hey guys
been into scanning for some time now but now i would like it get in to it a little more.

looking into a better scanner then what i have
i would like to pick up digital trucking and police this is my only hobby so i wanna get the right unit for the job.
looking at getting a Uniden BCD996XT Digital whats u guys views and do u think this will do the job?

[bodyguard]

hey there chicken run, what part of the OZ are you in ? then we can give informed answers

[Comint]

i would like to pick up digital trucking

I assume you mean - t r u N k i n g.

And as bodyguard implies:- Location can make a BIG difference.

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Comint

[chicken_run]

im from the west side of town, newport fellas

[Comint]

im from the west side of town, newport fellas

So you have the MMR (Melbourne Metropolitan Radio) which is APCO P25, and in the case of VICPOL is encrypted.

There is currently NO scanner available that will allow you to listen to encrypted transmissions.

--
Comint

[chicken_run]

i don't have one of them im looking at getting a new scanner.
so i cant get police that's okay whats a good scanner to get in vic?

[Phil]

Comint is slightly incorrect with his statement partly

VICPOL Metro is Encrypted and also uses the MMR and PMR Systems
VICPOL Region is Analogue with no encryption
however as you have stated you are in Newport you probably wont be able to listen to the Regional Channels anyways

there are more then a few scanners available however you will more then likely have to import them or look on ebay

to start you off with a handful of australian scanners
UBCD996T, UBCD396T, DSE PRO 96

[chicken_run]

thanks mate
im lookin at a in car mount type like a
Uniden BCD996XT Digital
will this still be ok?

[Phil]

that will perform what you are after it for however just note that you will not be able to do any of the 800MHz trunking that makes up most of Melbourne, i know of at least 5 sites in the melbourne area alone that are on 800MHz.

the reason for this is that the American Models denoted by (BC) 800MHz trunking band ends at 868MHz where as the Australian Versions (UBC) ends at 869MHz where our trunking band ends

[Comint]

i don't have one of them im looking at getting a new scanner.
so i cant get police that's okay whats a good scanner to get in vic?

The MMR is the Trunked Radio Network used by the Ambulance, Fire Brigade, and Police in the greater Melbourne and Geelong areas. The VICPOL 468 MHz frequencies have been integrated into the MMR, but are still only available to the Police. The main MMR frequencies are in the 410 to 430 MHz range.

While the Uniden BCD996XT is suitable for use in Victoria, it does have a couple of limitations in regard to frequency coverage, as do all scanners of American origin.

In the 70 to 85 MHz range, the Step (or Channel Spacing) in Australia is 12.5 kHz, whereas the Default Step in the BCD996XT is only:-

50 kHz between 70.000 and 71.9500
5 kHZ between 72.000 and 75.9950, and
50 kHz between 76.000 and 87.9500 MHz.

In the 148 to 174 MHz range, the Step in Australia is generally 12.5 kHz, wheras the Default Step in the BCD996XT is only 5 kHz between 150.8000 and 161.9960.

These differences in Step may make it difficult to enter the EXACT frequency as used in Australia, resulting in some "rounding off" of the entered frequency.

And as has been mentioned above, the Australian 800 MHz Band extends from 865.0125 to 869.9875 MHz, whereas the BCD996XT only covers up to 868.9875 MHz.

Despite these shortcomings, there are a number of Australians (including Victorians) who own, and use, BCD996XTs.

--
Comint

[Phantom]

Shame they don't have the 996T

They are rare now and to find a good clean unit would be gold when compared to the us version

Could u change the firmware/software in the us version?

[Comint]

Shame they don't have the 996T

They are rare now and to find a good clean unit would be gold when compared to the us version

Could u change the firmware/software in the us version?

The Australian firmware/software can't be used with the American models, or vice versa. The software actually checks which model you are trying to use it with, and balks if it is not the correct model.

--
Comint