Scanners

[ATSF104]

You can never know what the railroad is going to do unless you have a scanner. What type of Scanner do you use?

-Matt

[BLW_1946]

mine is a Uniden BC350A that I've used for about 10 years. it's currently been replaced by a BC350C model which has more programmable memories.

the SC180 is a good 100 channel handheld model. Uniden's top of the line models (BCT8, 796D, and 250D - I might be wrong on the model number of the last one) all have a railroad search function that can be useful in unfamiliar areas.

On the used market, the Relm HS100, HS180, and HS200 were good handheld scanners that were produced by Regency in the late 90s...

guess what I sell at my day job... ;)

Tim Baldwin
Buffalo NY

Milepost 5 on the Buffalo Belt Line
CSX - NS - CP - CN

[wakeboarder82]

I use a Uniden BC200xlt. Its an older 200 channel handheld. I also use my dad's Icom 2 meter radio sometimes because he has an unbeleivable antenna hooked up to it. The 70 ft radio tower in the back yard tends to help too. His antenna is at the top. I use a disc cone antenna that is about 50 feet up the tower. I get some pretty impressive results with it, but after using my dad's 2 meter rig, I don't want to go back to my scanner. While a good reciever helps a ton, nothing is more important than a good antenna. When using a scanner the first thing to do is get rid of that rubber ducky antenna and get something cut for the band you want to scan.

[yellowdog]

I used to have an MT500 from the former Chessie lines. It held up to 8 cystals and would blow any scanner out of the water for reception, but did not have scanning capabilities. I sold it, though they can still be found on E-bay. My friend has an old radio from a loco stuck in his URV (ultimate railfan vehicle). It has exceptional range and DOES scan. Really nice, but he paid some good $$ for it and it's installation.

[ATF1224]

Right now I'm using a Motorola GP68...

But I'm working on programming my Motorola HT1250 just the way I want it for railfanning.

I have some old Chessie MT500's too somewhere..

I found that the Motorola Clean Cab Spectra was just too big for normal use in my truck, so I usually just clip a portable onto the sun-visor. Maybe I'll get a smaller mobile radio one of these days :D