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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!trsvax!mikey
From: mikey@trsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re: Scanner Info Wanted - (nf)
Message-ID: <52800021@trsvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Jun-84 10:49:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: trsvax.52800021
Posted: Fri Jun 22 10:49:00 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Jun-84 09:16:32 EDT
References: <369@hou2a.UUCP>
Lines: 35
Nf-ID: #R:hou2a:-36900:trsvax:52800021:000:1776
Nf-From: trsvax!mikey    Jun 22 09:49:00 1984

#R:hou2a:-36900:trsvax:52800021:000:1776
trsvax!mikey    Jun 22 09:49:00 1984



If your Bearcat crystal scanner was unclear, were you using standard
crystals?  If you were, that was the problem.  I used to be in retail and 
sold scanners as part of my line.  Bearcats at that time used a different
IF (10.8 as opposed 10.7 MHz)  I don't know if that is still true, but
it would be a good idea to check.  I know of a few people that just
calculated the crystal frequency and then ordered a standard crystal 
at an offset, like 154.570  when you really want 154.470, or something
like that, but it still was off.  I think that the Bearcat used different
capacitance on the crystal or something.  I'll admit I'm not a fan of
Bearcat.  The only scanner that I like of theirs is there new RS-232
scanner that is computer programmed, but I've heard that the program only
comes on the C64 and it is VERY  SLOOOOWWWWWWWW!  If you wrote your own
on another computer, it MIGHT be faster.

Before you buy any scanner, you should look into the features that are
not really stressed, but you will have to dig in the manuals for.  Things
like in search mode, will the scanner track to the center frequency, or
will it lock and sit on the edge, giving only a lot of noise.

Personally, I own a Radio Shack PRO-2001, but that was as much a matter of
company loyalty as it was the scanner quality back in 1978.  However, all
loyalties aside, my next scanner will be either the Radio Shack portable
programmable or the new Regency that offers CONTINUOUS coverage of VHF
and UHF. I haven't really investigated the Regency yet, but I'm 
interested in the 220 MHz ham band, and it will cover it.  When
I get enough money saved, I'll have to decide if I  want portability
or coverage, assuming the Regency is up to snuff, quality and feature wise.


mikey at trsvax (KA5MJQ)