Hello,
I guess I'm ready to delve a little deeper into my lifelong railfanning interest. Mainly I like to photograph trains. I used to live in the Metro NYC area. I could figure out train movements with an ordinary public timetable. Or just go trackside and wait. There was always plenty of action.
But nowadays I live in Ithaca, NY and the action is mostly freight, and often hard to find. Except for the CSX Rochester Sub about an hour to the north. It seems to be busy most all the time. So I figure a handheld scanner will help. BTW I read the newbie threads. I still have questions mainly about brands/models.
The Bearcat line attracts me. Quite a few used ones appear on eBay.
First I figured I'd go for the $96 Bearcat BC75XLT. But then some reviewers said it's insufficient as an all-rounder because it doesn't get digital frequencies. They say the $213 BC346XT is the cheapest model that does. But now someone says that's not true, either. An honest seller told me the BC396T or 396(XT?) is the best do-it-all handheld. Anybody got a handle this?
Also, will I need a longer antenna than the one these units come with? How do you connect a car antenna to the scanner, if advised?
My goal is to get some kind of a heads up when trains are coming so I can be ready with my camera. And also to find trains when nothing seems to be going on, if possible. I might also listen to aircraft and local police from time to time. Many reviewers say these Bearcats are a little difficult to program. I do have a PC to assist if that's advisable. But even so, how do I determine the specific frequencies I will need for CSX/NS/FGLKS and other Central NYS railroads? Does Amtrak have its own frequency?
Do guys ever try and call the railroads themselves to find out when there might be a movement on a seldom used but known to be active line?
Thanks to all. I hope these questions aren't annoying!
David in Ithaca, NY
I guess I'm ready to delve a little deeper into my lifelong railfanning interest. Mainly I like to photograph trains. I used to live in the Metro NYC area. I could figure out train movements with an ordinary public timetable. Or just go trackside and wait. There was always plenty of action.
But nowadays I live in Ithaca, NY and the action is mostly freight, and often hard to find. Except for the CSX Rochester Sub about an hour to the north. It seems to be busy most all the time. So I figure a handheld scanner will help. BTW I read the newbie threads. I still have questions mainly about brands/models.
The Bearcat line attracts me. Quite a few used ones appear on eBay.
First I figured I'd go for the $96 Bearcat BC75XLT. But then some reviewers said it's insufficient as an all-rounder because it doesn't get digital frequencies. They say the $213 BC346XT is the cheapest model that does. But now someone says that's not true, either. An honest seller told me the BC396T or 396(XT?) is the best do-it-all handheld. Anybody got a handle this?
Also, will I need a longer antenna than the one these units come with? How do you connect a car antenna to the scanner, if advised?
My goal is to get some kind of a heads up when trains are coming so I can be ready with my camera. And also to find trains when nothing seems to be going on, if possible. I might also listen to aircraft and local police from time to time. Many reviewers say these Bearcats are a little difficult to program. I do have a PC to assist if that's advisable. But even so, how do I determine the specific frequencies I will need for CSX/NS/FGLKS and other Central NYS railroads? Does Amtrak have its own frequency?
Do guys ever try and call the railroads themselves to find out when there might be a movement on a seldom used but known to be active line?
Thanks to all. I hope these questions aren't annoying!
David in Ithaca, NY
