|
Introduction
to :First Level Personal Preparedness:Communication Devices
: Transcievers & Scanners
|
Transcievers
& Scanners, a subset of > Communications
Devices, are discussed in the section
First Level Personal Preparedness because
advance warning of eminent danger is deemed an essential aspect
of preparedness and mitigation.
What are Scanners?
A scanner is a radio receiver that automatically tunes, or
'scans', 2 or more discrete frequencies ( like stations)
. Generally, scanners cover the non-broadcast radio
bands between 30 and 950 MHz using FM although there are models
that cover more of the radio spectrum and use other modulation
types.
- Scanners are receivers of signals making them suitable for
listening to communications (Unilateral Broadcasts)
- Scanners, with thier multiple frequencies, allow a radio
to move on to the next frequency after a transmission ended
on the first frequency.*
- Scanners allow chosen frequencies to be stored in memory
banks to allow them to be monitored later and will only stop
scanning when there is a signal strong enough to break the
radio's squelch setting
- An average scanner can be programmed with 50 to 1000 frequencies.
These are like 'stations'.
- Scanners may be portable and hand-holdable
The
key advantages of hand holdable Scanners are:
-Pocketability & Handiness
-*Automatic signal jumping from pre-set to pre-set. Because
scanners can pick up local Police, Fire and Emergency communications,
as well as other communications in the non-broacast spectrum,
they are a good tool for informing ones self about emergencies.
Knowing how to properly use the power of a scanner requires
some training and may require licensing. They are not something
that a novice to radio can effectively use 'out of the box'
What
are Transceivers ?
A transceiver is a radio receiver and transmitter housed in
one device. Also known as walkie-talkies or 2-Way Radios ,transceivers
are portable, bi-directional radios, first developed for military
use. Major characteristics include a half-duplex (only one
handset unit can receive and transmit at a time) channel and
a push-to-talk switch that starts transmission.
Hand-held transceivers are a valuable communication tool for
police, emergency services, and industrial and commercial
users, using frequencies assigned for these services.
The personal civilian walkie-talkie operates on the Family
Radio Service. FRS operates in the GMRS band, which is also
used for business walkie-talkies and mobile radios. Tranceivers
are a viable option for multiparty, 2-Way communications that
do not depend on Cellular networks.
The
key advantages of Transceivers are:
- Viable back-up to Cellular wireless telephony
- Accessible to civilians as well as professional first responders
- Bilateral Communication
- Transceivers
may be portable and hand-holdable
A
quick tutorial on Scanners & Transceivers is available
in the section > Understanding and Using Transcievers
& Scanners
|
| Scanners |
| |
 |
 
 |
| |
|
Icom IC-R3 Marginally
Recommended
Retail Price- $449 (Includes Shipping)
Retail Source-
http://www.ccrane.com/radios/handheld-scanners
Dimensions-4.7"H x 2.4"W x 1.3"D
Weight -
10.6 ounces
Power Source-
Li-Ion battery pack/3XAA Optional
Frequency Range-
- 0.495-2459 MHz (cell frequencies blocked)
- AM, FM, WFM modes for audio reception
-AM and FM TV and wireless video
Sensitivity-
sensitivity
.25 µv, typical
selectivity
Speaker/Display-
2-inch TFT LCD color display
Antenna-3.6–6.3 vDC, .7 amps
antenna connector-BNC female
Earphone Jack
3.5 MM
Accessories Included-
A/C Charger, 3xAA caddy, telescoping antenna,carry
pouch, Instructions
|
Comments-
• Signal strength level indicator
• Long hours monitoring capability
• Remaining battery power indication
• 450 memory channels memory channels
• Multi function "joystick" switch
•Automatic squelch
•Tone squelch features
•One touch semi-duplex monitoring capability
•Auto power off timer, power saver function
•Use the monochrome LCD display when the color LCD is
turned off
The IC-R3 combines a 2-inch TFT color display along with a
wide band receiver to bring a visual element to what has traditionally
been only audio. The IC-R3 not only covers the commercial
broadcast channels, 2-69, and the amateur radio ATV frequencies
in the 430, 1200, and 2400 MHz bands, the IC-R3 also gives
a free tuning AM TV receiver from 25.500 MHz to 2450 MHz,
along with FM TV capability from 900-1300 and 2250-2450 MHz.
The all new IC-R3 is video capable! Experimenting with wireless
video opens a whole new world for monitoring.
Find Frequencies where you are:
http://www.cityfreq.com/
Some Issues-
-At 1.2 GHz FM video its not very good but far better than
at 2.4 GHz. Its performance at 2.4 GHz video is below acceptable
-reception is totally blocked from 816.00 to 902.000 MHz.
-It's Not Water Resistant or Water Proof
- You will get less than 1 hour of TV viewing on one charge,
then it takes 15 HOURS to fully recharge. The supplied wall
charger is underpowered, so you cannot operate the receiver
on AC while charging the battery.
Optional Accessories-
CS-R3, Programming Software (requires OPC-478)
$24
OPC-478, Programming Cable $39
http://www.icomamerica.com/receivers/handheld/icr3main.asp
Recommended |
| |
 |
Uniden
BCD 396T
 |
| |
|
Uniden
BCD 396T Highly Recommended
Retail Price- $499.95
Information Source- http://www.Uniden.com
Type:
HF/VHF/UHF receiver/scanner
Band Coverage:
* 25-512 (continuous)
* 764-776
* 794-956 (excluding cellular)
* 1240-1300
Mode:
AM/FM/NFM/WFM
Supported Step Sizes:
5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 kHz
Voltage:
3.6-4.5 VDC (3*R6/AA)
Power:
3AA Batteries or DC
Current drain:
? mA
Impedance:
50 ohms, SMA
Dimensions (W*H*D):
2.72 x 4.6 x 1.26"
Weight:
0.48 lbs
Manufactured:
2005-200x
Other:
3000 dynamically allocated channels @ 100/s. "Close call"
RF capture technology. CTCSS/DCS. Tracks Motorola I, II &
IIi, EDACS, SmartNet, SmartZone, Privacy Plus, SCAT and LTR.
Digital APCO-25 capable
Optional Accessories-
CAS14- Hard Leather Case w/belt loop
CAS13- Hard Leather Case w/swivel clip
CAS09- Nylon Carry Case
CBL14- Uniden USB-1 USB Cable
DCC03- Universal DC Power Supply
Comments-
State-of-the-art scanner radio with TrunkTracker
IV™ and automatic scanning capabilities. You can use
the scanner’s scroll control to quickly select channels
and frequencies, and you can automatically program channels
in a system using the Auto-Store feature.
Monitor:
Analog and digital trunked public safety systems*
Includes 380-399.9 and 700 MHz band
Police and fire departments (including rescue and paramedics)
NOAA weather transmissions
Business/Industrial radio
Utilities
Marine and amateur (ham radio) bands
Aero Bands: Civilian and Military
Railroad
*Motorola® Astro®, SMARTNET®, SMARTZONE®,
and PRIVACY PLUS®, M/A-COM Private Radio Systems Inc.
EDACS® Wide, Narrow, and SCAT, and E.F. Johnson Co. LTR
systems.*
- It is lightning fast
- Memory management is superb
"It actually tracks the TXU 900 MHz narrowband
EDACS trunking system; a massive statewide networked trunking
system (something that no other handheld scanner could do).
So far, it has worked great for Motorola Type II and LTR trunking
systems as well as conventional systems. The radio hears as
well as any high end scanner/receiver that I have owned. It
does a great job of decoding the P25 digital voice transmissions
from our local police department.Using a BNC whip that extends
from 6 to 20" makes the 396 pull in all kinds of signals.
The supplied duck isn't bad, but the longer whip is so much
better."
|
Feature Highlights-
Note: The scanner’s frequency coverage is not continuous
and does not include the cellular telephone band.
Preprogrammed Systems - preprogrammed with over 400 channels
covering police, fire, and ambulance operations in the 25
most
populated counties in the US.
Close CallTM RF Capture Technology - you can set the scanner
so it detects and provides information about nearby radio
transmissions. Dynamically Allocated Channel Memory - your
scanner’s memory is organized so that it more closely
matches how radio systems actually work, making it
easier to program and use your scanner and determine how much
memory you have used and how much you have left.
CTCSS and DCS Squelch Modes – prevent interference from
stations not using the mode you select.
Fire Tone-Out Standby – Lets you set the scanner to
alert you if a two-tone sequential page is transmitted. Up
to 10 settings (transmit frequency, tone frequencies) for
standby monitoring.Repeater Reverse – You can set the
scanner so it switches to the input frequency on a conventional
repeater system. Control Channel Only Scanning
Adaptive Digital Threshold – Automatically sets the
digital decode threshold for APCO 25 systems.
CTCSS/DCS Search – Lets the scanner search for CTCSS
or DCS tones. You can identify up to 50 CTCSS tones and 104
DCS tones.
PC Control and Cloning PC Control – You can transfer
programming data to and from your scanner and your personal
computer, and control the scanner using a computer. This helps
you find frequencies listed on the Internet and load them
into the scanner. Free PC control and programming software
will be available at http://www.uniden.com. Clone Mode –
You can clone all programmed data, including the contents
of the scanner’s memory, menu settings, and other parameters
from one BCD396T scanner to another BCD396T scanner. On-Air
Cloning – You can clone all programmed data over the
air from one BCD396T scanner to another
Find Frequencies where you are:
http://www.cityfreq.com/
Some Issues-
- Steep learning curve
- Difficult to program using Uniden manual and software (Butel
software (ARC396PRO) Recommended
- yahoo.groups BCD396T site recommended for peer support
- Using 3 AA alkaline batteries last a very long time but
Lithium AA's are recommended
-Some users have reported problems with the BCD396T tracking
VHF P-25 (9600 bps) systems. Uniden is supposedly aware of
the problem and is working on a firmware upgrade (October
2006).
- Subscribe to RadioReference.com
|
| |
|
Oregon
Scientific WR103NX
Weather Receiver Highly Recommended
|
| |
|
Oregon
Scientific Model: WR-103NX
• Monitors U.S. Emergency All Hazards, and Emergency
Alert System (EAS) weather bulletins, warnings, & forecasts
• Receives all National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association
(NOAA) reports, which provides all available emergency advisories
on tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, floods, evacuations, civil
danger warnings & more
• Flexible programming—select Specific Area Message
Encoding (SAME) broadcasts in up to 6 different counties
• 100 decibel audio alarm with visual alert signal
• 3 levels of NOAA messages: Statement, Watch, Warning
• Non Volatile Memory Back-up
• Dual alarm with snooze function
• Includes convenient stand (to hold unit) and AC Adapt
Retail Price- $ 34.95
Retail Source-http://www.weatherconnection.com
Dimensions- 5.2"H x 2.8 "W x 1.3"D
Weight (W/Batteries)-
4.6 ounces
Power Source-
3XAA(4.5V) Alkaline or Lithium or
DC in via included adapter
Sensitivity-N/A
Speaker/Display- Mono Audio/B&W LCD
Antenna-Integrated - non-extendable
Earphone Jack
3.5 MM
Accessories Included-Belt Clip, Desk Stand AC Power
Adapter
|
Comments-
Product Description
Don't leave home without your Portable Weather Alert Radio!This
portable Public Alert Radio provides emergency alerts anywhere
in the U.S. When traveling, boating, hiking or working outdoors,
use the WR103NX to receive weather information and emergency
broadcasts from the National Weather Service.
This may well be the perfect companion at home or on the
road. It automatically activates when a weather alert is broadcast,
and gives you time to take cover if you need to. Employing
S.A.M.E. (Specific Area Message Encoding) technology, it screens
out broadcasts originating in distant locations. That means
you can monitor local counties only and receive just the info
you really need to hear. This state-of-the-art weather radio
from Oregon Scientific packs plenty of punch but weighs less
than a pound and easily fits into a coat pocket. With easy-to-read,
LCD display, backlighting for viewing at night or in low-light
conditions and time-and-date display, it's adaptable for use
around the house or office. It serves campers, hikers, travelers
and boaters, too.
Some Issues-Programming SAME function is
a bit of a hassle and requires that you read the instructions
carefully. NOAA easy On button requires a hard push to activate/deactivate
the unit.
SAME County Codes:
http://www.weather.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm
|
| FRS/GMRS
Transceivers |
| |
 |
|
| |
|
X-Talk
300
Retail Price-$24-$50
Retail Source-http://www.midlandradio.com
Dimensions-1.25"X2.5"X6.5"
Weight -
6.5 ounces With battery pack
Power Source-
4 AA Alkaline batteries or 4 AA Ni-HM rechargeable
batteries
4.2Vdc to 6.5Vdc
Frequency Range-
- 462.550MHz ~ 467.7125MHz
RX VCO Frequency range 441.150MHz ~ 446.3125MHz (Lower Heterodyne)
IF frequencies 21.4 MHz for 1’st IF
450KHz for 2’nd IF
Channel Number 22CH Channel Spacing25KHz
Microphone
Self contained Electret
Speaker/Display-
Self contained 8 ohm
Antenna- 50 ohm +/- 25 ohm
Earphone Jack
3.5 mm
Mic Jack
2 mm
Accessories Included-
NIMH Battery Pack
Charging station
AC/DC Power plugs
|
Comments-
• 3 Watts of power
• Up to 10-Mile Range
• 22 Channels
• 38 sub channels per channel
• Vox
• Call Tones
• Water resistant
• 3 year Warranty
• Works with all FRS/GMRS
• Keylock
• Roger Beep Tone
• Scan feature
• Power High/Power Low Option
• Durable Belt Clip
• Auto Squelch
• Optional Headsets, AVP-1
• Optional Battery Pack & Drop-in Charger
• Uses 4 AA Batteries or AVP-3 Rechargeable battery
pack
Find Frequencies where you are:
http://www.cityfreq.com/
Some Issues-
-Requires FCC License for channels 1-7 & 15-22 (GMRS)
-It's Not Water Resistant or Water Proof
- You will get less than 1 hour of talk time and around 2.5
hrs of standbye time per battery charge
- between .5 and 2 miles of reach in the city - variable in
countryside - depending on terrain.
Optional Accessories-
Various remote mic and earpiece sets
Marginally Recommended |
|
|
| |
 |
Motorola
CP200
|
| |
|
Motorola
- CP200 2-Way Radio * AAH50SDC9AA2AN
CP200 465-495 MHz UHF, 16 Channel, 1-4 Watt
Retail Price(MSRP) - $475.99
Sales Source -https://businessonline.motorola.com
Dimensions H x W x L (with standard battery)
- 5" x 2.4" x 1.75"
Weight W/ Standard Battery- 14.98 oz.
Power Source-
Standard Battery (NiCD, 1100 mAh, 7.5V)
Comments-
The CP200 radio is available in both 4W UHF and 5W VHF models.
Powerful 500 mW audio output penetrates noisy environments,
providing clear, crisp
audio at any volume. A lightweight, ergonomic design makes
these radios comfortable to carry and operate, even while
wearing gloves. A range of battery choices along with rapid
recharging capabilities help ensure your radio is ready when
you are. Programmable option buttons make it easy to customize
your radio with your choice of features. The CP200 radio offers
the increased communication flexibility of push-to-talk radio
ID and selective call.
Mil Spec - 810 C, D, E, F
Antenna-
Standard Antenna (VHF Heliflex 146-174 MHz NAD6502 _R or UHF
Whip 403-520 MHz NAE6483_R)
Accessories Included-
• Battery - 2250 mAh Li-ion - Motorola
• NNTN4497
• Desktop Rapid 90-Min Charger - WPLN4138
• Standard Antenna UHF Whip 403-520 MHz NAE6483_R)
• 3" Belt Clip (HLN8255)
• Operating Instruction Manual
• Two Years Warranty
|
Radio
Features
• 1- 16 Channels
• Large Rotary Channel Selector
Changes channels quickly and easily
• 12.5/25 kHz Switchable with X-Pand Technology
• Tricolor LED
Indicates radio status and battery level
• 2 Programmable Side Buttons
Supports your choice of up to four product features
• Time-Out-Timer ·Busy Channel Lockout
• Rugged, Die-Cast Chassis
With polycarbonate housing for greater protection
• Internal VOX - Allows hands-free operation. When used
with a headset, your hands are free to work because your voice
and not the PTT button, activates transmission.
• Large, Textured Push-to-Talk Button
• Easy to find and use, even when wearing gloves
• Single Priority Scan - Programmable to an option button
or channel location, this capability lets the dealer create
one customized list of channels you want scanned -- in the
order you designate.
• Battery Status Indicator - Uses both visual and audio
signals. The Tx LED glows green, yellow or red to let you
know battery status at all times. A double beep at power up
indicates the battery is fully charged.
• Reliable Durability - The CP200 met and surpassed
military certifications and underwent 11 of the rigorous MIL-STD
810 C, D & E endurance tests and easily distinguished
itself. Additionally, the CP200 has passed Motorola's own
Accelerated Life Testing, which simulates years of rugged
usage in the field.
• Adjustable Power Levels
• MDC1200 PTT ID (Encode)
• Quick Call II (Decode)
Some Issues- Heavier than most plastic cased
units
Optional Accessories-
-MOTOROLA - RLN5198AP SURVEILLANCE KIT/NOISE KIT
-MOTOROLA - PMMN4001A EARSET WITH MIC & PTT
Highly Recommended |
|
