Posted: 1/1/2009 7:23:43 AM EDT
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I've been looking to purchases a "police" scanner. Problem is, I have no friggin' idea what I NEED. Lots of options, big price differences, and varied features. I want to make sure it has the technology for today and, I think, easily programmable. Any insights are greatly appreciated. I don't mind spending for a higher end model, I just don't want something overly complicated to use or with features I will never use. |
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Where in North Carolina do you live? Lots of public safety going apco-25, or pro voice. Apco 25 is a digital protocol that can be heard on most digital scanners (google uniden digital scanner or gre digital scanner).
Pro voice is a proprietary digital format that is not open to scanning, the software to decode the signal is NOT available to anyone other than the radio manufacturers that build the radios. If your area is apco 25 great, if pro voice you are out of luck. Even if you public safety is not digital, I would buy a digital scanner because they will be going digital shortly. Digital allows communications and data transmission that analog just cannot compete. www.radioreference.com is chock full of great info, and of course you can always ask here. Ideas for you to take away: 1. Digital is now a necessity 2. Trunking is also now a necessity. 3. Almost all digital scanners can be programmed with a computer and economical software. 4. Scanning is as bad as guns, lots of money can be spend!!! |
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I suppose your experience with this technology has not been a positive one.  |
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Quoted:
I suppose your experience with this technology has not been a positive one.
Screen shot from the movie "Scanners" I suspect |
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Quoted: Never saw the movie, but I do like the pictures. Gonna have to save that one.Quoted: I suppose your experience with this technology has not been a positive one. Screen shot from the movie "Scanners" I suspect |
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while you will be able to pick general radio transmissions, I believe the real juicy bits are on a truncated system and you will not be able to receive them with a scanner. correct me if i am wrong. Thats where I am at w/ my old Realistic scanner. I listen to the fire calls the most since its not a Trunk Tracker. Maybe post this in OUTDOORS>HAM RADIOS section 
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Go here and register.
Go to the hometown forum for your state. Post a polite "new guy here" post telling them you are new to scanners, where you live, what you would like to listen to, and what your budget is. The guys local to you will be able to give you a rundown on what you you need for you local area to be current, and will likely be able to provide you with files you can download to program your scanner. Also spend a lot of time in the wiki section there learning. If you are anywhere near the Asheville area, I can help ya. |
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I used to be into scanners 15 years ago when the old cordless phones were in the 47mhz range I think. That was so much fun hearing everyone's conversations, could also pick up baby monitors. I still have my old one hooked up but havent used it in years. Im also curious what some new ones cost or the model numbers for a good one. The one I have is a uniden bearcat bc895xlt. http://www.uniden.com/productpop/00_productpop.cfm?prd_code=BC895XLT I dont know what frequencies the police and other emergency services use now and if this one is obsolete. Any recommendations for a good one for use in Ca.
I also remember websites that would sell ones with the cell phone frequencies activated but they had no warranty on them, are those available now or have the cell phones changed frequencies since then? |
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Quoted:
Go here and register. Go to the hometown forum for your state. Post a polite "new guy here" post telling them you are new to scanners, where you live, what you would like to listen to, and what your budget is. The guys local to you will be able to give you a rundown on what you you need for you local area to be current, and will likely be able to provide you with files you can download to program your scanner. Also spend a lot of time in the wiki section there learning. If you are anywhere near the Asheville area, I can help ya. Thanks! |
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while you will be able to pick general radio transmissions, I believe the real juicy bits are on a truncated system and you will not be able to receive them with a scanner. correct me if i am wrong. You're wrong.  Scanners that can follow trunked radio systems have been widely available for some time now. The new trend is for government agencies to move to digital radio systems. You're best bet for buying a new scanner is to buy a digital trunk tracking scanner. Radioreference.com is the best place to go for scanner info.
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