I choose the Motorola XTS2500 as my radio based on price and availability. Other capable radios include the XTS1500 and XTS5000. From what I have seen, the XTS1500 is usually comparable in price to the XTS2500. However, the chances of finding a used XTS1500 with the desired/required feature set is less common. Whereas the XTS5000 is more common than both, but is typically more expensive.
There are a few different hardware models of the XTS2500.
Model 1: Basic, with no display.
Model 1.5: Large bitmap display. A display is needed if you want to see what Talkgroup it has stopped on.
Model 2: Large bitmap display and navigation buttons. The navigation buttons are nice if you want to manipulate the Scan List on the fly.
Model 3: Large bitmap display and full keypad. The full keypad has no advantage as a scanner.
There are two main features required for the XTS2500 to work on the Brown County SIREN System:
First, it has to be 700 MHz capable.
Rebanding support in the ASTRO 25 platform was introduced in Host R07.
The model number theoretically dictates if the radio is rebanded of not. If the model number ends with a "2BN" in the codeplug, then radio will not do 700 MHz, nor will it be able to do any digital features!
If the radio was flashed up to a "7BN" codeplug, then it will be a standard XTS2500 that will allow for 700 MHz and all of the available flashcodes for that particular model line.
However, going by the model number on label as the radio doesn't necessarily mean it's not capable. If someone later updated the firmware/flashkey to Host R07 or above, it will still work.
Second, it must support 9600 baud. If it supports this, it will obviously support digital, and is the type needed for Brown County's system.
To determine this, as well as other features, you'll need to look up the radio's flashcode: