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Old April 5th 21, 09:27 PM posted to rec.radio.scanner
Tekkieİ Tekkieİ is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Mar 2021
Posts: 3
Default What is the best handheld scanner on the market today?


On Sat, 3 Apr 2021 09:10:19 -0700 (PDT), Ken Layton posted for all of us to
digest...


On Monday, March 8, 2021 at 12:28:07 PM UTC-8, Tekkieİ wrote:
On Sat, 6 Mar 2021 18:29:59 -0800 (PST), Ken Layton posted for all of us to
digest...


On Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 11:58:22 AM UTC-8, Tekkieİ wrote:
On Sat, 6 Mar 2021 07:44:38 -0800 (PST), Ken Layton posted for all of us to
digest...

For 2021, I would assume the Uniden SDS-100 is the best handheld "digital" scanner out there. My locality is still mostly analog (Washington State Patrol went digital two years ago). My BC-200XLT (handheld) and my BC-8500XLT still run fine. One of these days, I've got to repair my now non-functioning backlight on the

8500.
From others more knowledgeable than me the SDS-100, which I own, is the best
for my location. Your location probably had different needs. Are you thinking
of upgrading or just want a new scanner?

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Tekkie
I was thinking of upgrading to a digital scanner. Our county dispatch radio system had a bond issue approved by voters two years ago to switch the entire Thurston County ( in Olympia, Washington) to digital. This would mean police, fire, search & rescue, public works, dogcatcher, and city buses would go digital. There's a big

fly
in the ointment though. They didn't count on all the businesses closed for a year and no tax revenue coming into the government coffers because of the corona. So the county may not have the money to convert.

I would hold off until the county gets their act together. The twists and turns
are numerous. I think Uniden will be making scanners for awhile and may
possibly come up with something 'newer and better'...

A bond issue probably means they have the money in their hands. See if they
spend it correctly. Don't worry about the tax money, they will get it from you.
;-(

In the meantime I would make an investment in RadioReference.com to keep
current.

Good luck Ken, keep us informed and help bring this group back.

--
Tekkie

Here's an update. I decided to rebuild the Metro West Pro Pack 1200 battery pack for my Uniden BC200 XLT. I bought six of the AA solder tab 2000 mah NiMH batteries on ebay to replace the original 1200 mah batteries that were inside the battery pack. The new batteries are smaller in diameter than what Metro West had inside the

battery pack. Even with smaller diameter batteries, it's still a snug fit (I was a bit sloppy in soldering the batteries together). I ended up using a Dremel tool with cutoff wheel to cut the old Metro West battery pack case open. Once I got the case open, it was not too hard to stuff the new batteries in it. Before sealing it up,
I checked the + and - terminals on the battery pack for signs of life. I measured 7.5 volts output, so evidently the new batteries were sent to me charged up (they arrived with the terminals insulated with tape and each battery individually wrapped in a plastic bag).

To close up the rebuilt pack, I wrapped a couple of 8" zip ties around the middle of it. Then I ran a bead of silicone glue only down the sides of the battery pack case. After that dried, I cut the zip ties off and finished putting some silicone glue where the zip ties were.

I've been running the scanner off that rebuilt battery pack for three days now, six hours a day, WITHOUT having recharged it yet! I'm glad I rebuilt that battery pack because now I get some decent run time. The batteries I bought on ebay were shipped from Battery Concepts of San Marcos, California ( www.batteryconcepts.us ).

Ken Layton
Olympia, Wash.


Very good, new life. I might have one of those around here *somewhere*

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Tekkie