Want a basic scanner, suggestions?

I have become very interested in the police and ems scanner activity and would like to purchase a inexpensive scanner to listen to local activity. I see that the Madison WI Public Safety system is on a trunking system. Motorola Type II Smartnet, Analog. System frequencies seem to be 854.xxxxx to 859.xxxxx. Then there are the DEC and HEx, and it all makes my head spin......I start to think I know which radios would suffice and then I read more on the forums and I get confused and feel like all my knowledge is now incorrect! :) SO if anyone has a basic system they "recommend for a newbie that needs this kind of Capability I am all ears...



Does a digital system pick up analong? But not vice versa?



Looked at PRO-164 and just not sure it is the best choice.



Any help is greatly appreciated



Sutter

Want a basic scanner, suggestions?