I'm new to this, but am interested. I was looking online at some
portable scanners and found this one. AR8200 MK3

Is it any good? It seems to have a large frequency range (500kHz to
3GHz). I am not sure if the frequency range is what I should be looking
at to determine whether it's a good scanner or not.

Any opinions? Comments? Advice?

--
clu

On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 22:20:16 -0700, clu said in
rec.radio.scanner:

I'm new to this, but am interested. I was looking online at some
portable scanners and found this one. AR8200 MK3

Is it any good? It seems to have a large frequency range (500kHz to
3GHz). I am not sure if the frequency range is what I should be looking
at to determine whether it's a good scanner or not.

It's a receiver, not a scanner.

What's the difference between a scanner and receiver? One of the key
features for the AR8200 MK3 says, "Extensive search & scan facilities."

Sorry for the dumb questions, I am just so new to this I don't know the
difference.

--
clu

On Sun, 25 Dec 2005 20:08:38 -0500, "DougSlug"
said in rec.radio.scanner:

A scanner is, generally speaking, a VHF/UHF receiver that is optimized for
quickly scanning preset memories, usually using narrow FM mode or AM mode
for air band. The AR8200 is really more of a communications receiver, which
is a more flexible unit capable of receiving a wider range of frequencies
and modes (such as CW and SSB) with finer control over the tuning step size
and other parameters. The AR8200 is also capable of scanning preset
memories, of course. Traditionally, comms receivers are more expensive, but
now with the digital scanners available, that's not always true.

And the AR8200 doesn't do digital and it doesn't track trunked
systems.

Al Klein wrote:
On Sun, 25 Dec 2005 20:08:38 -0500, "DougSlug"
said in rec.radio.scanner:


A scanner is, generally speaking, a VHF/UHF receiver that is optimized for
quickly scanning preset memories, usually using narrow FM mode or AM mode
for air band. The AR8200 is really more of a communications receiver, which
is a more flexible unit capable of receiving a wider range of frequencies
and modes (such as CW and SSB) with finer control over the tuning step size
and other parameters. The AR8200 is also capable of scanning preset
memories, of course. Traditionally, comms receivers are more expensive, but
now with the digital scanners available, that's not always true.


And the AR8200 doesn't do digital and it doesn't track trunked
systems.

From what I've been reading, these two features appear very important
in this day and age.

So instead of the AR8200, I am starting to look at the Uniden BR330T. Is
that a decent enough one that'll keep me busy and interested in this
potential hobby?

That's too bad about the AR8200. Too bad it doesn't do digital and track
trunked systems. I saw a product that is capable of decoding the digital
stuff, called APCO 25 something or another. It was an add-on device. I
cannot recall the name of it or model number and can't seem to find the
web site anymore. Is it something that can be attached to the AR8200?

--
clu

On Tue, 25 Oct 2005 18:43:55 -0700, clu said in
rec.radio.scanner:

Al Klein wrote:

And the AR8200 doesn't do digital and it doesn't track trunked
systems.

From what I've been reading, these two features appear very important
in this day and age.

If you have no trunked systems and no digital systems you want to
listen to, it's not important - to you.

So instead of the AR8200, I am starting to look at the Uniden BR330T. Is
that a decent enough one that'll keep me busy and interested in this
potential hobby?

If you don't need digital. Although it's really a BC246T with Nascar
stuff added. (You can program a driver's frequencies, then just hop
to that driver. Or something like that. I don't do Nascar. ) And
the 246 is cheaper.

That's too bad about the AR8200. Too bad it doesn't do digital and track
trunked systems. I saw a product that is capable of decoding the digital
stuff, called APCO 25 something or another. It was an add-on device. I
cannot recall the name of it or model number and can't seem to find the
web site anymore. Is it something that can be attached to the AR8200?

Yes - it's an external box, so the pair isn't exactly
hang-on-your-belt portable. And it still won't track trunked systems.
But it will, IIRC, do SSB, and goes a lot lower in frequency than most
scanners.

You have to decide which is more important for the things you want to
listen to. It's a highly personal thing.

All radio scanners are receivers, but not all receivers are considered
scanners. The AR8200 essentially both, depending on how you define the two
terms.

A scanner is, generally speaking, a VHF/UHF receiver that is optimized for
quickly scanning preset memories, usually using narrow FM mode or AM mode
for air band. The AR8200 is really more of a communications receiver, which
is a more flexible unit capable of receiving a wider range of frequencies
and modes (such as CW and SSB) with finer control over the tuning step size
and other parameters. The AR8200 is also capable of scanning preset
memories, of course. Traditionally, comms receivers are more expensive, but
now with the digital scanners available, that's not always true.

- Doug


"clu" wrote in message
oups.com...
What's the difference between a scanner and receiver? One of the key
features for the AR8200 MK3 says, "Extensive search & scan facilities."

Sorry for the dumb questions, I am just so new to this I don't know the
difference.

--
clu