Scanner Master Road Trip – Hopkinton, MA

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Jonathan Higgins

By Greg Jolly
Road Trip to Hopkinton, MA

On Friday April 16th the Scanner Master crew, Rich, Jonathan and myself, traveled to the center of Hopkinton, MA and the start of the Boston Marathon. Our purpose for this visit was to install a very custom programming job into a Uniden BCD996XT that was located in the new State of Massachusetts 911 Telecommunications Mobile Command Center.

The custom programming job, created by Scanner Master, will allow the operators of this communications vehicle to monitor the public safety agencies of any of the 351 cities and towns within Massachusetts along with a variety of statewide agencies.

The telecommunications vehicle will allow for backup operation of existing 911centers and major event communications. We were able to witness the newest state of the art technology in communications while there, as the vehicle has just been placed into service.

This programming job provided another successful partnership between Scanner Master Corp. and the public safety community, of which we are very proud.

The Uniden BCD996XT inside the Massachusetts 911 Telecommunications Mobile Command Center

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New ProductGRE PSR-200U Scanner

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Jonathan Higgins

By Jonathan Higgins
GRE PSR-200U Scanner

The GRE PSR-200/U scanner reminds me of my very first scanner the Radio Shack Realistic PRO-2014. GRE PSR-200U is replacing the GRE PSR-200.

What new with the GRE PSR-200U Scanner:
>> Adding the Broadcast FM Band – 87.3 – 107.9
>> Capability to program/decode the private line (CTCSS/DCS)
>> Signal Meter

Everything else is still the same. I have to say I like the added feature of CTCSS/DCS. This will help with blocking unwanted distance communications on the same given frequency. Also the Signal Meter is very nice too!

Also…
>> Desktop Design
>> 200 Channels
>> SAME Weather Alert
>> 5 Service Searches
>> Skywarn
>> PC Programmable
>> Backlight LCD Display
>> Easy to use Buttons

Frequency Coverage:
29-30MHz: 10 Meter Amateur Radio
30-50MHz: VHF Low
50-54MHz: 6 Meter Amateur Radio
87.3-107.9MHz: FM Broadcast Band
108-136.99166MHz: Aircraft
137-144MHz: Government
144-148MHz: 2 Meter Amateur Radio
148-174MHz: VHF Hi
380-450MHz: Amateur Radio/Government
450-470MHz: UHF Standard
470-512MHz: UHF “T”

Included in the box:
>> PSR-200U Scanner
>> Telescope Antenna
>> AC Adapter
>> User Manual

Great gift for someone that in a non-digital/trunking area…
You should keep the GRE PSR 200U Scanner in mind, this entry-level 200 channel scanner is very simple to operate. Program single frequency in a few simple steps, it that easy!

For some people this scanner will not work due to the radio systems in their area. How check if this scanner will work in their area? Visit our sister website http://www.policescanners.com.

GRE PSR-200U – Key Pad

GRE PSR-200U – Back of scanner Jacks

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Product Test Ferret 8 Band Base Antenna

Posted on March 19, 2010 by Jonathan Higgins

By Jonathan Higgins

Spring is just around the corner, what better time to get a new antenna for your home or office.

The Product: Ferret 8 Band Base Antenna

Last September, my dad and I installed the Austin Ferret 8 Band Antenna at my home in Attleboro, Massachusetts. After about 2 hours, my new antenna was up and running. For this project we used 50’ LMR-400 Coax cable, 2’ wall mount bracket, 4 port multi coupler, two 3 foot jumper cables, and, two 50 RG-58 coax with BNC.

Installation

When mounting an antenna outside make sure your clear of any power lines, and never install antenna by yourself. Try to find the best route for the coax cable, make sure you measure the route and only allow a little extra. Rule of thumb, higher the antenna the shorter the coax is always the best.

We had to get a 2’ wall mount bracket two clear the roof overhang. Once the bracket was secured to the side of the house we then installed the antenna to the post using U-bolt brackets. After drilling 1 inch hole into the side of the house we ran the LMR-400 Coax into the 4 port multi coupler in my hobby room. In my hobby room I have Uniden BCD996T and the classic Uniden BC780XLT, hook up both scanner to the multi coupler via the 3’ foot jumpers. The remaining two ports were used for scanners in the living room and master bedroom connected via the two 50’ RG-58 Coax cable.

Reception Test

In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, most of the public safety is using VHF High Band or UHF. I was amazed by the reception. I was able to pick up UHF systems for 15 to 30 miles away without a problem, and as for the VHF, about 30+ miles away. In Massachusetts, the State Police are on an analog 800MHz trunking system. I was able to pick up the local site with ease and neighboring sites up to 20 miles away. I found that the height of the Ferret really brings in the VHF Low Band without a problem.

If you’re a Railroad buff like me, this is the antenna for you. Being in Attleboro along the Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor there is a lot of active on AAR Channel 54 160.9200 Mhz. With this antenna I’m able hear more of the communications between the dispatch and train, since most railroad systems are line of sight without a repeater a great antenna is key.

Overall

With almost 20 years of experience, I have to say this is one of the best roof top antennas I have ever used. If you decide on the Austin Ferret, make sure you get high quality coax cable like the LMR-400. The coax cable is just as important as the antenna to get the ultimate performance.

Details about the Ferret…

All band omnidirectional antenna covering the following bands – 30-50/88-108/121/146/150-174/225-400/806-896/1.2 Ghz. The Ferret is in-case in 8 foot fiberglass tube protecting all of the elements for the eight bands

Recommend Coax for the Austin Ferret:
The LMR-400 is the best coax on the market for roof top antenna installations
LMR-400 Coax Cable, 25′, N Male to BNC Male
LMR-400 Coax Cable, 50′, N Male to BNC Male
LMR-400 Coax Cable, 75′, N Male to BNC Male
LMR-400 Coax Cable, 100′, N Male to BNC Male

Austin Antenna, a locally based company right here in New England, has been in business for the last 25 years. We carry the full Austin Antenna scanner product line; the Ferret, the Condor and the Spectra.

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Product Test Uniden 4″ External Speaker

Posted on March 18, 2010 by Jonathan Higgins

By Jonathan Higgins

The Product: Uniden 4″ External Speakers

Do you have your eyes set on new base/mobile scanner? If you’re installing any base/mobile scanner in your car, trunk, home or office, please check out the Uniden 4” External Speaker. I have tried many speakers in my almost 20 years in this hobby and I have found this speaker to be one of the best. The speaker is black with Uniden’s signature paw print embossed on the speaker’s metal grill. Included in the box is the adjustable mounting bracket along with a 10 ft cold with a 1/8 (3.5mm) mono plug. You can expect high quality sound to be transmitted from this heavy duty external speaker.

Product Specs:

Speaker: 4″ Plastic Cone

Impedance: 8 Ohms

Maximum Power: 12 Watts

Wire: 10 ft. cord

Plug Type: 1/8″ (3.5mm Plug)

Frequency Response: 500Hz-5KHz

Includes ratchet type mounting bracket & hardware

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Scanner 101 – Installing the GPS Receiver for Uniden BC346XT and BCD396XT

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Jonathan Higgins

What is GPS Scanning?
Once you have the scanner programmed, this feature will allow for preset scanning, making it easier and safer for you to monitor a specific area while you’re driving. The scanner, along with the GPS Receiver, will turn on and off each programmed group as you travel. How is this done? The ARCXT software allows you to set up a center point’s latitude and longitude for each group. Let’s say your home town is in group one, you can find the center point by simply entering your zip code in the software. You can set the scanning range anywhere from 0.5 to 100+ mile(s). As you approach X mile(s) of that center point, the group will become unlocked. GPS Programming will also work with trunking systems. If you set up the trunking systems with multiple sites, you can set up each site with a center point and range.

Parts needed for this project:
Scanner – BC346XT or BCD396XT
Uniden 4’ Serial Cable (included in the scanner box)
Mini Gender Changer
Null Modem
GPS Receiver

Once you have these features follow the step-by-step instruction below:

Step 1: Plug the “Uniden 4’ Serial Cable “mini plug” into the scanner

Step 2: Plug the other end of the Serial cable into the “Mini Gender Changer”

Step 3: Plug the Mini Gender Changer into the Null Modem

Step 4: Plug the Null Modem into the Serial end on the GPS Receiver

Step 5: Plug in the Cigarette Lighter on the GPS Receiver into a available DC power outlet in your car.

Step 6: Place magnetic GPS Antenna on a flat surface on the trunk or vehicle’s roof.

Step 7: Power up the scanner (It may take several minutes to process the GPS info in the scanner)

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New Product RadioReference Subscription

Posted on February 1, 2010 by Jonathan Higgins

Now Available at Scanner Master, RadioReference Subscription for 180 and 360 days.

Subscription Information

General Information RadioReference.com provides premium services to members through a subscription model. There are a number of valuable features available including direct data downloads, personalization, printable PDF formats, and live audio feed archives.

We provide a number of great features for free and we have no plans to change that approach, however premium subscribers help support RadioReference.com in our efforts to bring the best services available to the community.

The following features are available to Premium Subscribers

Access to the RadioReference.com Web Service, which allows numerous programming applications to access the database directly, providing an easy to use process for programming scanners and communications equipment with data directly from the RadioReference Database. See the Web Service Application Support section for a list of applications that directly support this valuable Web Service.

Advanced searching and reporting capabilities

Access to all live audio broadcast archives

My RadioReference custom watch lists – your own customized front page on RadioReference.com

PDF and CSV Downloads of communications data

Access to post advertisements in the RadioReference Classifieds

RadioReference 180 Day Subscription
Our Price: $15.00

RadioReference 360 Day Subscription
Our Price: $30.00

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Racing Season – Are you ready?

Posted on January 28, 2010 by Jonathan Higgins

Race Fan or know someone that a Race Fan? Don’t let another Racing Season go by without a scanner!

Racing Season Begins February 6, 2010!
Check out these great scanner Deals!

Uniden BC72XLT
100 Channels 10 Banks
Our Price: $89.95
Make a package and save on Headsets, carry cases and more!

Uniden BC95XLT
200 Channels 10 Banks
Our Price: $109.95
Make a package and save on Headsets, carry cases and more!

Uniden SportCat SC230
Race Track Operation
Easily program and select the race and drivers you want to listen to
Our Price: $179.95
Make a package and save on Headsets, carry cases, software and more!

Scanner Master has you covered with great Racing Accessories…

Racing Season Begins February 6, 2010!

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Product Test WAN-97A Active Nomad Base Antenna

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Jonathan Higgins

By Jonathan Higgins

The Product: WAN-97A Active Nomad Base Antenna – Indoor Antenna

Are you living an apartment? We feel your pain, trying to find the right antenna, with the restrictions of apartment or condo living. Recently I was able to test the “WAN-97A Active Nomad Base Antenna”; I was amazed at the performance of this indoor antenna! Just hang this vertical antenna near a window or in attic and you will be amazed how much more you can hear. The WAN-97A has a built-in pre-amplifier that powered with four AA batteries or with optional external 12 Volt powers supply (Uniden AD-1009 AC Adapter).

Product Specs:

25MHz – 1300MHz

Element length 4 feet

Coax lead length 10 feet

Power source; 4 AA Batteries or with optional 12 Volt AC Adapter

Above is the WAN-97A set up in Greg Jolly’s office.

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Free Ground Shipping to U.S. in December 2009! *

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Jonathan Higgins

Our gift to you…

December 2009 Free Shipping
* UPS/USPS Ground in the Continental United States only. All items in your cart must qualify for free shipping to receive it. The product must have a “Free Shipping” icon to qualify (as seen at the left). Selected items may ship by USPS First Class or Priority.

Same Day Shipping
Same Day Shipping orders must be placed by 3:00 EST Monday-Friday only. UPS ships on business days only.

***Promotion ends December 31,2009***

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Holiday Gift Guide – Buying the Right Scanner

Posted on November 27, 2009 by Jonathan Higgins

By Jonathan Higgins

It’s that time of the year again finding the right gift for that special loved one. How about a scanner? Here are 5 things you should keep in mind when buying a scanner.

1. What type of scanners is needed for their area? Please visit our sister website PoliceScanners.net to find the right scanner.

2. Deciding Base/Mobile Vs Hand Held – Base/Mobile Scanner are normally kept one location. Hand Held Scanner is great for someone that wants the scanner everywhere they go.

3. Scanner Programming options – Software or HomeTown Programming. If they are not computer savvy HomeTown Programming is the best option. HomeTown Programming means the scanner will be ready to go out of the box! HomeTown Programming takes 7 to 14 business days, so get your order in early!

4. Accessories
Make sure they have everything they need to when they get there new scanner! Carry Case, Computer Cable, Software, and so on. With each scanner on our website you can make your own package.

5. Make sure you select the best shipping option, visiting our Holiday Shipping Schedule.

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Scanner Master Blog

The Nation's Oldest and Largest Scanner Only Dealer

Scanner Master Road Trip – Hopkinton, MA

New ProductGRE PSR-200U Scanner

Product Test Ferret 8 Band Base Antenna

Product Test Uniden 4″ External Speaker

Scanner 101 – Installing the GPS Receiver for Uniden BC346XT and BCD396XT

New Product RadioReference Subscription

Racing Season – Are you ready?

Product Test WAN-97A Active Nomad Base Antenna

Free Ground Shipping to U.S. in December 2009! *

Holiday Gift Guide – Buying the Right Scanner