Posted: 8/10/2007 7:26:26 PM EDT
Okay, we admit it... we're nosy.  How much BS do we have to learn about scanners, to be able to listen in on the chaos, when and if it ever happens out here? The other night I heard a new siren, (unfamiliar tone pattern), followed not long after by a helicopter sound nearby. (both unusual here) I've heard that you gotta get the 'right crystals', or blah blah yada, but I really just want 'plug-n-play'.  |
R-32 is the SCANNER FREAK!!!! 
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Like you really didn't think on a Friday night you wouldn't get a smart assed awnser?  ETA Scanners around Seattle are worthless, too much shit going on all over. |
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Link Some online scanners... There was a thread about it before... R2D32 elaborated on it when I posted the link... |
ya, but, I didn't give a shit then  \(Okay, I'll dig ..while hoping someone will make it easy for us)...(and we did click on the snoho links in that thread, seeking R2D23s assholedness) |
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First, you need to find out if the agencies in your area use a trunked system. I checked here, and according to that site, they aren't. You just need an inexpensive programmable scanner to hear everything that your local police, sheriff, and fire fighters are up to. This one will do, it's only $100: Radio Shack |
Don't forget he is in Lewis County. I agree that if he buys one though to go ahead and get a trunker. If he doesn't need one before next weekend though I can probably hook him up with a non-trunking just to mess around with (if anyone from down Portland is heading up that way or if he wants to take a drive down). I *think* I will be home by next weekend. They already question why I'm even here in the rehab unit. I guess I walk too well. I need to learn how to milk it a little better. 
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I'll give you very low level explanation that may not be fully correct. Early on I believe they used repeaters actually in the trunks of cruisers and emergency vehicles. This way a unit that was further from the base, their signal would actually bounce from the repeater unit in a closer 2nd unit back to the base to make sure the signal made it loud and clear. I think that is where the terminology came from. Now they have higher tech systems that are computer controlled. One unit may send the signal on one frequency, and the base reply will come back on another. I think they may even change around mid-transmission now. This is so the best frequencies are used to get the clearest signals from all units and substations. The computer keeps track of everything so the right signals are going to the right recipients. Old scanners can't follow this type of system. They can still pick up those signals if those frequencies are programmed in, but they have to scan through all of the signals and you might not catch some of the convo. Trunk tracking scanners know what groups of signals to follow and will delay on the signals that may be the returning transmission and keeps everything in order. You can see what group they are coming from on the display also. For example, when I'm scanning locally I can see when it is Beaverton PD Tac 1, or Washington County Sheriff channel 2, etc. My errors will be corrected by someone, but I think that is a half decent explanation. |
This site is a great place to get frequencies for the Seattle-Tacoma and Portland OR areas. Lewis County, not so much. 
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| Another good site with a Lewis county list. From the looks of it a regular non-trunked scanner will work. |
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A "trunking" system is not what it's name would make it seem. It has nothing to do with a repeater in a vehicle. Here is a PDF that tries to explain it. If this is still confusing to you, I'll type out my explanation, but it's long and I don't want to if I don't want to do it if I don't have to tonight. Where have I heard that before? |