Digital Radio Scanners

[Brett B]

Well its been 3 years since black Saturday and where all getting on with it
But we had a bit of a scare on sunday with a fast moving grass fire and we were told to
evacuate so we did
What I would like is a digital scanner to pick up the CFA 
Does anyone have one and what brand
They are saying that they use analog and digital still in the CFA
 
Brett B

[D4D]

I get district 14, which is the same district as you, with an Icom IC-R5 (analogue)

I heard that one on Sunday and wondered if you guys were ok

[Brett B]

Mate did not know what was going on until the warning to get out on the CFA site

[qlddsl]

CFA has gone to digital radios, but still using analogue it will switch over to digital in the next couple of years.

[Savageone]

I've got an app for my Iphone that gives me live scanner feeds via the internet, works surprisingly well too.

[Brett B]

I might see if they have one for an android

[areyonga]

I've got an app for my Iphone that gives me live scanner feeds via the internet, works surprisingly well too.

X2, the app works well for all the police in each state including ambulance and fire service

[@fnq4now]

Which iPhone app guys? The one I have is not real flash.

[Savageone]

5-0 Radio

[DeLuxHiLux]

CFA wont be using Digital radios for some time. they have digital compatable radios, but  there is no plan to roll out a Digital network to support it in the next  few years.... well.. there is a plan, but lets say there is no infrasturcutre built, so the next few years an analogue scanner will serve you well (and be dirt cheap!!). Unless you want to listen to MFB or Metro Ambulance, forking out the $500 ish for a digital scanner is perhaps redundant.

The Apps for iPhone/Droid will give you scanner feeds, sometimes "live" sometimes on upto 3-4 minute delay. depends on how "live" you want your live to be.

Rural VicPol and Rural Ambulance are also on VHF high band (on a type of SMR, but with fixed channels on most bases) along with VicSES. Anyone who is decoding the encrytped Metro VicPol (and is streaming that on the 'net) is obviously cruising for chat with Mr Plod. Metro Ambo and MFB is unencrypted APCO 25 digital, VicPolice is encrypted. I happen to know someone who has had some high priced laywers look at the legislation and decrypting the Police's encrytped digital radio is likely to contravene a number of laws including the anti-terrorism laws (which seeing as you can be held indefinatley under those, are not something you want to fall foul of!!!) So beware anyone who tries to flog you a set that they say you can listen to metro cops on because you cant! Rural cops yes, metro. No.

I'd consider a cheap analogue scanner because CFA wont be fully digital for a few years yet.

[D4D]

163.56250 is district 14 vicfire channel, you can get a pretty good idea what is going on

[bobnrob]

I got mine (NSW RFS/Police etc) for the computer from Radio Reference

[areyonga]

I use Aus Scanner app on my iphone and it has NSW RFS and just had a look and there is CFA district 14 and VicFire and others.

[qlddsl]

CFA wont be using Digital radios for some time. they have digital compatable radios, but  there is no plan to roll out a Digital network to support it in the next  few years....

CFA is now using the Tait Digital radios, but still operating on the analouge system. i believe that infastructure for digital is well into planning and wont be far off instillation,,

[Ozdakar]

In NSW we are in the middle of converting to digital, Although not secure digital at this moment.

All our fire trucks will be on the new network before June, Or so there telling us. We are looking at getting scanners & hand helds and they are really pricey.

Cheers
Andrew

[DeLuxHiLux]

CFA is now using the Tait Digital radios, but still operating on the analouge system. i believe that infastructure for digital is well into planning and wont be far off instillation,,

Let just say, i know someone  who know's someone. and there is a significant body of work to be done before there is statewide coverage. Basically, Less than 25% of the State has digital radio coverage, which for a statewide body, is nowhere near enough. Some regions may transition, but analogue simulcasting may occur until all the bug are ironed out. VicSES are looking to utilise the same digital infrastrucutre, as are VicPol and AV Rural as part of a State wide Digital comms network, and leading up to that SES just installed new radios in all their trucks which are APCO 25, but running analouge. SES are not expecting to even consider starting to transition to Digital until AT LEAST 2016! The CFA"s contract with Motolora was up and the existing CFA gear needed replacing . They just did the smart thing and got in early and installed APCO 25 compitable radios now ratther re do half way through the current life cycle of the radios they have just installed.

No issue buying a digital Scanner, if you have a lazy $500 lying around. If, however, you just want to listen to the Local Caffa's over summer, then I"d say a $150 analogue set will do you just nicely for the next 4-5 years..... It is however, Your money Ralph, as was once famously said......

[D4D]

No issue buying a digital Scanner, if you have a lazy $500 lying around.

Wow I paid that for my analogue Icom a few years ago

[DeLuxHiLux]

yeah, i would pay $500 for icom, but i have trouble paying that for uniden. still good stuff, but it is just not icom......... you can get one for $395 on Fleabay now....