Issue 23 - Scanner Digest Newsletter

VERMONTJim Lawrencec/o Scanner DigestPOB 207 Jamison PA 18929ScannerDigest@usa.comShortly after its release, I decided to buy a Uniden 250D with itsBCi 25D accessory card so I could once again listen to lawenforcement in New Hampshire. I've had my unit about threeweeks and I love it!The 250D features 1000 memory locations divided into 10 banksand covers frequencies from 25 to 512 and 806 to 1300 MHz,minus cellular of course. It also offers three modes, AM, FM andNFM, as well as the ability to decode APCO Project 25 (P25)digital voice. And, of course, it tracks trunked systems.The radio's a champ when it comes to listening to APCO P25digital voice. I can once again listen to the Grafton County, NHsheriff as well New Hampshire State Police. In addition, there areseveral federal law enforcement agencies that are using APCOP25 digital voice, including ATF and DEA in Vermont. When theytransmit non-encrypted voice, the 250D receives it perfectly.When the radio receives an encrypted voice signal, the displaywill show the letters "ENC" to let you know that it's receiveda signal it knows something about but it can't decode. The audiofrom an encrypted signal sounds exactly like the beeps andboops made by the Star Wars' robot R2D2. The only thing theradio can't do is whistle.Now for some bad news about federal land mobile monitoring. Ifyou're hoping to use the 250D to listen to the FBI, you'll bedisappointed. In Vermont, the FBI is still using DES encryptionand the 250D doesn't know a thing about that. In addition, the USBorder Patrol is using APCO P25 digital now but it's alwaysencrypted.And I've received a report that the Newport PD also cannot beheard using the 250D. They are using Ericcson's proprietaryAegis digital voice.Listening to a digital signal successfully on the 250D requires twothings; a strong signal and tuning the unit to set the sound qualityof the digital signal. If the signal received is not strong and clearenough, the radio opens the squelch and you'll hear the digitalhiss normally heard on analog-only receivers. Also, once youdecide which systems you want to listen to, you must sit downwith the unit and set the sound quality for that system. If you'relistening to a system with relatively little traffic, this may takesome time.Information from listeners in New Hampshire indicate that the250D does a great job on both trunked and non-trunked systemsstatewide.The unit also offers superior image and intermod rejection. Of allthe handheld scanners I've owned over the years, this one doesthe best job handling noisy pager systems and their splash allover the VHF public safety and federal government bands.Another feature this unit offers that I really like is access to the225 to 400 MHz military aviation band. Also built in to the unit arecertain pre-set frequency ranges associated with services such aspublic safety or civil aviation. I really like this capability and use itwhen I go frequency hunting.The unit offers computer control, and the software and cablecame included with mine. I have not tried this feature out as ofthis writing as I am still getting used to all the features in the radio.Obviously, this is a new toy that really takes some time to getused to.Now, clearly, this receiver's digital voice capability is not one thatyou'll use a lot here in Vermont where virtually all signals areanalog and there are very few trunked systems. However, ifyou're like me and you travel to states where a digital voicesystem is in use, you'll definitely want one. I like my 250D somuch that I've made it my everyday take-it-wherever-I-goscanner. It is pricey with the digital decode board option; I paidaround $700 for mine, including shipping.Finally, here are a few New Hampshire frequencies to try in yournew 250D:NHSP - Troop C - 154.6650NHSP - Troop F - 152.6300NH Fish & Game - 151.3400Grafton Co. sheriff - 154.7700I'm sure there will be much more discussion about the 250D andlistening to digital systems in the New Hampshire column nowbeing edited by the very knowledgeable John Bolduc.In other news, the State of Vermont's Agency of Transportation isin the planning stages of upgrading their radio system. The plancalls for a separate frequency for each of the nine districts.New frequencies from Orange County include Tunbridge fire nowreportedly dispatched on 154.2050.Finally, we'll wrap up this edition with a few frequencies fromWindham County, located in southeastern Vermont along theMassachusetts border.Vermont State Police - 453.3000 and 460.4750 for extremenorthern Windham County.Windham Co. sheriff - 158.7300, 453.0500, 460.4500, 857.2125,858.2125 (800 MHz used very little). And I got these from arecent FCC listing: 155.5050, 159.4200, 156.0150 and 159.9200.State of Vermont uses 159.4050 for fish & wildlife and 45.5200,453.8250 and 458.8250 for emergency management.Environmental Conservation works 151.4750. Agency ofTransportation is on 159.1800 and 159.1950.Local PDsBrattleboro PD - 460.2000Dover PD - 453.3000, 453.7250Wilmington PD - 460.2500, 453.3000Fire & EMSWindham Co. fire mutuals - 154.3850, 154.8300, 154.2800Londonderry - 154.1450, 154.4450, 154.2950Brattleboro - 33.5400, 33.6800, rescue 155.1600Vernon & Guilford - 33.4800, 33.5400Virtually all the other towns in Windham Co. are dispatched bySWNH on 154.4300.And that's it from the Green Mountains. As always, if you haveany frequencies to share, I'd love to hear from you. Drop me aline at the address above!SCANNER DIGEST NEWSLETTER – ISSUE 23 PAGE 9