Best HT for Houston, Tx area. Please help

[commsfire]

I am sorry for some of you who may think this is a really dub question but I need to ask.
I would like to know which HT is the best to get for MONITORING the Houston, Tx trunked system. This radio will not be used to TX.
The reason I ask this is that I have a HT1000 mobile charger and home charger and am trying to find a radio that will work in this system so that I dont have to have 2 different chargers. If thats not possible thats fine as well.
Also, I work EMS ouside of Houston and would like to have a portable to take with me instead of a scanner due to the ruggedness of motorola's.
I have the programmer and RSS for the HT1000 and it states that I can program a MT 2000, MTS 2000, MTX 8000 and I also belive any MTX series.
I am kinda confused on what would be needed for their system such as: number of talkgroups needed as well as frequencies and so on. I have the list of what their on but dont want to make a mistake getting something that wont work. And since you all here seem to be the best of the best when it comes to these things, I thought Id post it here.
You all helped me a great deal when I had issues with our low-band radios for the Red Cross. For that, I thank you.
I can be reached thru normal yahoo mail at WA1EMT.
Thanks for your time in this matter.

[jim]

It is called a SCANNER.

Don't buy a new Corvette to deliver pizza.

[FF/EMT/KC2NFB]

I have the programmer and RSS for the HT1000 and it states that I can program a MT 2000, MTS 2000, MTX 8000 and I also belive any MTX series.

that is incorrect.

you need MTSX RSS to program MT2000,MTS2000 and MTX8000. the programing cable is the same but not the software. HT1000 RSS will only program HT1000 and VISAR.

[wa2zdy]

Yep, the scanner idea is far better. You won't be able to get all the info you need to program a radio for a trunking system first off and if you do the system administrator will zap your radio in short order. And you'll be lucky not to be prosecuted for a computer crime (hacking into the trunking system.)

This is shakey territory you really don't want to mess with. Be happy with the scanner and it'll actually serve you better just for listening anyway.

If you're in Houston, why does it say you're in Mass? Looking for skip on 800?!

[motorola_otaku]

What EMS agency do you work with? If you're lucky enough to run with one of the agencies that still uses VHF or UHF conventional (Cypress Creek being an example), then finding a suitable radio should be no problem.

As for programming radios onto Starnet, well.. there's too much to listen to on there to cover with a 10-talkgroup scanlist (the most you'll ever get out of any M trunked portable) anyway. I'll leave it at that.

[kd6rfs]

and JT1000................. HT1000 RSS does Visar, JT1000, and Ht1000....MTSX does the other Jedi radios.....a scanner actually will cover ALL your needs completly and cheaper then a Mot. radio....I know the Mot. looks cooler, but some of the new scanners actually sound pretty good...not like the old days of weak receiver output.....dont take it personally, were not telling you that your not good enough to use a Mot., just letting you know from expierence that its usually a big mistake to spend all that money on a good Tx capable HT and use it just for Listening....plus the HT wont have any features you may really need for good Rxing......but its up too you of course....anyway..good luck