Uniden (police) Scanner

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Andycap

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#269886 13-Apr-2020 10:43

Hi, not sure if this is the correct section to place this enquiry.

I am looking to buy a scanner to receive police, fire, ambulance etc. Am looking for a home unit. I live in rural New Zealand. Any suggestions or direction will be most appreciated.

Thank you,

tritex

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#2460230 13-Apr-2020 11:01

Which region are you located in?
Depending where your situated a cheap unit off Trade Me or similar that receives 75/76Mhz and 141MHz and potentially an external antenna is all you will require.
In some areas Police won’t be possible to receive due to encryption.

Oblivian

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#2460383 13-Apr-2020 11:27

And if its online, and called a baofeng. It is NOT a scanner.

They're HAM transmitter's being sold with false pretenses/descriptions

Rural you'll be better with an external antenna. But as above, may also be in an encrypted digital area.

There are few desktop models outside the UBCt8 or US car din units (which may have different band cover)

boosacnoodle

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#2460412 13-Apr-2020 11:50

Oblivian: And if its online, and called a baofeng. It is NOT a scanner.

They're HAM transmitter's being sold with false pretenses/descriptions

Rural you'll be better with an external antenna. But as above, may also be in an encrypted digital area.

There are few desktop models outside the UBCt8 or US car din units (which may have different band cover)

Importing a Baofeng, Wouxun or Pofung transmitter is generally prohibited now unless you have an amateur radio license.

Oblivian

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#2460419 13-Apr-2020 11:58

boosacnoodle:
Oblivian: And if its online, and called a baofeng. It is NOT a scanner.

They're HAM transmitter's being sold with false pretenses/descriptions

Rural you'll be better with an external antenna. But as above, may also be in an encrypted digital area.

There are few desktop models outside the UBCt8 or US car din units (which may have different band cover)

Importing a Baofeng, Wouxun or Pofung transmitter is generally prohibited now unless you have an amateur radio license.

Well aware. Hence the warning

Doesn't stop the many of them on social media marketplace's still.

SATTV

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#2460494 13-Apr-2020 13:10

You can always go the SDR road, nice and cheap. ( USB TV tuner )

With any radio of any kind it is only as good as the antenna. I used to make my own but look for a VHF antenna of a similar frequency and that is a good place to start, a receive antenna is not quite as fussy as a transmit antenna, if you had an old mulitband VHF TV antenna this would be an ideal start. ( Make sure the antenna is vertical ) and point it to where the police transmit from.

There is the odd discussion on here about SDR. on geekzone.

I do miss listening in to the Police. Here in Auckland they encrypted.

John

I know enough to be dangerous

Andycap

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2460612 13-Apr-2020 15:47

Hi, thanks for the response. I'm in Horowhenua between Levin and Otaki. Think all signal is still analogue. Was looking at Uniden UBC355XLT but happy to get some professional direction. Thanks

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Andycap

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Wannabe Geek

#2461453 14-Apr-2020 22:04

tritex:

Which region are you located in?
Depending where your situated a cheap unit off Trade Me or similar that receives 75/76Mhz and 141MHz and potentially an external antenna is all you will require.
In some areas Police won’t be possible to receive due to encryption.

Horowhenua

Andycap

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2461454 14-Apr-2020 22:05

SATTV:

You can always go the SDR road, nice and cheap. ( USB TV tuner )

With any radio of any kind it is only as good as the antenna. I used to make my own but look for a VHF antenna of a similar frequency and that is a good place to start, a receive antenna is not quite as fussy as a transmit antenna, if you had an old mulitband VHF TV antenna this would be an ideal start. ( Make sure the antenna is vertical ) and point it to where the police transmit from.

There is the odd discussion on here about SDR. on geekzone.

I do miss listening in to the Police. Here in Auckland they encrypted.

John

Thanks John, much appreciated

KellyP

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#2461769 15-Apr-2020 11:40

Ham here.

Police are on P25 Digital. It's encrypted Nationally - I don't know this for a fact but I would be very surprised if they operate outside P25 anywhere. FENZ is the same although you can still listen in to some Rural FENZ operations.

St. John Ambulance is still on analogue. They are keen to go on to the digital platform but can't afford it currently.

If you're keen to learn more in general, I would suggest contacting the Horowhenua Amatuer Radio Club (Branch 16).

Oblivian

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#2461780 15-Apr-2020 11:52

Not quite.

Fenz are analoge/not p25/unencrypted nationwide. But are on new radios on fallback. Some hurdles and costs stopped the full rollout alongside police.

Police digital/P25+enc only in main centres. Rest have dual radio Linking. You can still get them analoge in waikato and Dunedin for instance.

Wfa are on a trunked network but not encrypted

https://www.radiowiki.org.nz/index.php/Main_Page

KellyP

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#2461787 15-Apr-2020 11:58

Thanks - I stand corrected. Very surprised regarding Police still on analogue in some areas.

Samsung

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Oblivian

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#2461846 15-Apr-2020 12:23

Makes for annoyance for them when going between regions (but a poss bonus for some events rolled back to analoge so everyone can use it)

Possibly something to do with the rural distances and topology. Needs a lot more close repeaters to ensure a solid digital stream. And less naughty people trying to use it as a tool outside main centres I guess

xpd

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#2461847 15-Apr-2020 12:25

I use to have a handheld UBC years ago, was great listening into the services etc in the area. Had it in the car one night and got a call from my father asking if I had heard what was going on at Sky City.... turned on the scanner and found it was some idiot in a Cessna threatening to fly into the Sky Tower. Could hear the cops saying "not a lot we can do except get everyone out".

Only sold it because I moved into a valley and only got couriers as they drove past 🚱

XPD / Gavin

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