Steve insofar as programming is concerned, take a look at:

http://www.strongsignals.net/access/.../software.html

I think the general consensus is that ARC780 and Trunkstar 780 are
about the best for the 780, and ARC250 is best for the 296.

73s Mike Strong Signals Software page editor


Steve Silverwood wrote:
Thanks. I'm debating the digital factor. I live in Orange County, CA,
which has the police on digital (except for the Red channel for
pursuits) but the fire department isn't. I mostly don't need to worry
about PD monitoring, but I'm thinking it might come in handy in the
course of working with Fountain Valley PD RACES. I'll take your good
recommendations into account when I make my decision, and thanks for the
info!

Side question: what are the options available for these two scanners
with regard to software for programming via computer?

In article ,
says...

Without a doubt, the Uniden BC780XLT is your best choice, provided you do
not require monitoring any digital systems. If you need digital, then check
out the new BC796D!

Bill Crocker


"Steve Silverwood" wrote in message
...

I'm looking for recommendations for a couple of scanners, once my
finances recover from the annual Christmas-shopping blitz. ;-) I'll
probably hunt for them via eBay and monitor the newsgroups for for-sale
listings -- right now I'm just doing "research."

One is to be a mobile, with a mounting bracket; the other will primarily
be used as a base unit. Both should be capable of trunk-tracking, plus
I prefer they be able to receive the military aircraft band (225-400 MHz
AM). Coverage of the 10m amateur band's FM sub-band -- to monitor the
FM repeaters in that band and the simplex channels -- is a plus, but the
lack of it isn't a deal-breaker.

One major feature I really need in each is the ability to program them
via a computer. That way I can take the same database of channels and
"dump" them into the scanner so that whatever I do to the base can also
be mirrored in the mobile, and vice versa. Alphanumeric displays for
the scanners are a MAJOR plus.

Make/model recommendations greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!


--

-- //Steve//

Steve Silverwood, KB6OJS
Fountain Valley, CA
Email: