Scanning Information

I don't claim to be an expert in the scanning field, nor am I trying to compete with any of the scanning information sites. However, I have been scanning for years and I hope that others can benefit from my experience.

I currently own Uniden models UBC3000XLT and UBC9000XLT, a Realistic PRO-2004, and a Welz 1000. I have owned a Realistic PRO-34.

The PRO-34 is a fairly basic scanner. It covers the most used frequencies and can easily be modified to receive cellular. It has almost no image rejection so signals are received 21.4 Mhz away from their true frequency with almost equal efficiency. It has a quite sensitive receiver and is prone to intermod etc. Hooking it up to a base antenna is not likely to be successful.
Covers 30 to 54 or 66 to 88, 136 to 174, 380 to 520 Mhz.
200 memories.

The UBC-3000XLT is suitable for use with external antennas. I use mine in my car with a mobile antenna and an amplified speaker.
Covers 25 to 550, 760 to 1300 Mhz.
400 memories.

The UBC-9000XLT is fairly basic as base scanners go, although it works well and has a few nifty features.
Covers 25 to 550 Mhz, 760 to 1300 Mhz.
500 memories.

The PRO-2004 is quite dated but it has an excellent receiver.
25 to 520 Mhz, 760 to 1300 Mhz.
300 memories out of the box, 400 with simple mod.

The Welz 1000 is tiny. It has good audio and lots of menu settings. It scans slowly and is fiddly to program.
0.5 to 1300 Mhz.
400 memories.
There is a Welz 2000 available.
0.1 to 1300 Mhz.
800 memories.

You can use a LIPD to transmit the audio from your scanner, so you can listen to your base scanner while working around your property.
Why bother? Why not just take a handheld scanner with you?
If your base scanner is connected to an outside antenna it will receive better than your handheld.
You can use a basic receiver instead of carrying a full blown scanner.
You can check out the propagation of a low power TX.
It's legal.

I use my 9000XLT base scanner with a Digitor LIPD walkie talkie. I use the carrier operated relay in the 9000XLT to key the transmitter. The COR releases as soon as the carrier drops, and I found that a glitch can cause the TX to be locked out until the COR next releases. To get around that I connected a 100 uf capacitor across the relay contacts to give a two second delay. Apart from that, it's just a matter of connecting the line output, COR, and mic input, in series. I get a reception range of two kilometres or more at 434 Mhz using 20 mw.
Some walkie talkies and baby monitors have VOX, which you can use if your base scanner does not have a COR, or you can leave it to TX all the time. Consult the LIPD 2000 file to see what frequencies and power levels you can use.

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