Hello...
I need a scanner that will be able to pick up my local EMS/fire & rescue, poliece, and maybe a few other things.
Here is my county, I plan to pick up everything from all three of these areas: http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=1672

And the "system" for my whole area: http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=4417

So, am I going to be able to pick up the signals from that second link, or is it all scrambled?

I'm thinking about getting the Radio Shack PRO-97, I'm selling a domain for $200 so that should be just perfect. Any other suggestions?

Pro 97 won't pick up P25 signals. It's only good for EDACS, LTR, and Motorola. Scanners that pick up P25 are Pro 96, Pro 2096, Uniden BCD996, BC796D, BCD396T, or a BC396D. Looks like you're in a digital system, so you'll need a digital scanner, which is around the $500 range (Pro 2096, Pro 96, BCD996, or BC396).

Good to see another person from RadioReference on here. I'm over there under Austin4Wyo.

Here's info on APCO Project 25. (http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Project_25)

Here's the RadioReference Forum on APCO P25 Systems. (http://www.radioreference.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25)

Hope that helps. I won't be much help for programming, so I'd advise asking over at RadioReference either in the forum dedicated to your area, or in the P25 forum.

Jeez, I cant afford that! I guess I'll just spend it on my vices.

I'm speculating, but I'll take a wild guess that you've never used a scanner before, eh?

If that's the case, you'd be up the creek anyway. There's a bit more to radio monitoring than opening the box, turning it on, and hearing the action. It's not all that interesting anyway. Unless you know what they mean when they go "Sam Thirty-Eight, Code 5 with Nebraska passenger car eight-five-George-young-Adam," you'd be disappointed. It's not like an audio version of COPS or America's Most Wanted. Learning the radio protocol in any area takes time and patience, something that, considering you're unwilling to save up for the receiver equipment, I doubt you would be willing to invest into the hobby anyway.

Damn, strait up! Lol, I guess your right. I've been listening on SW for ages tho, Once I got it, I knew I'd be interested. I might save up some money and get one anywase. My county isn't P25 I don't think, that was just the big city a little way away. So I might still get the scanner.