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Going to buy a police scanner

RedMF40

RedMF40

Well-known Member
In my area the traffic is in constant state of mayhem all day long. Huge drama, all day every day. I monitor the news radio when I have to be on the roads, but they don't always get the memo until too late. Then it's usually the case that the road ahead is blocked by the latest chaotic event.

I tried a cheap police scanner awhile back, but didn't realize I had to pay more to get one that actually works. I recall monitoring one radio call between an off-duty trooper and a colleague, talking about their moonlighting as security at a nightclub. Didn't sound too demanding, and the trooper considered it a gravy job.

Anyway...does anyone have experience with the scanners that monitor the emergency services like fire and police and ambulance and so on? And is it necessary to get the unit programmed for the particular area you're in? I'd like to hear in real-time what is happening on those days I need to hit the roads.
 
(quoted from post at 18:08:42 06/19/19)I tried a cheap police scanner awhile back, but didn't realize I had to pay more to get one that actually works.
Click to expand...

Yes, used to be a time when you could use any scanner from Radio Shack and be able to pick up almost everything out there. Now, everything has gone digital. Have you seen these new GMRS walkie talkies? I think they still have cheap ones that just work on the basic channels, but most now have sub-channels and special digital encoding.

Even in our ultra-rural area, the only calls we can hear on our old scanner (bought for the excellent NOAA reception) are shared frequencies, such as state mutual aid. Not enough action out here to invest in a better radio.

Good luck in your search.
 
About 35 years ago, my son had a little jingle in his pockets, and bought a scanner, well when he got tired of it he let me use it, this was before there was the limit or restriction there is today, and some police stations talk in code and you cant figure out what their saying, but it was interesting what police people have to do in a average day, it's not a easy thing either. It also picked up delivery of fuel to farmers, at that time it even picked up some cell phone's, and Business Bands, it helped pass the time!
 
Like KCM said the 800 MHz "trunked" digital system is becoming the status quo for public service, even in rural areas. Our county is off-the-beaten-path enough to not have a single 4-lane
road but a few years ago transitioned to the new system. This used to be exclusively a "big city" system but not anymore. Find out what your area uses before buying a scanner. To
monitor the 800 MHz trunked systems requires a scanner that will cost several hundred dollars whereas one without this capability might cost $50. I believe many of the high-dollar ones
can program themselves if you plug in a zip code.

Another option would be a scanner app on a smartphone. The catch here is that they can eat up a lot of data unless you're on wi-fi.
 
As someone said, check you area to find what type radio system is being used. Our county is going digital and the police frequencies will be encrypted so somebody with a scanner will not be able to listen to the police calls.
 
I had a traditional scanner for years, but everything around me has gone to 800 mhz. I have found some online scanner sites that I have used if something big seems to be going on such as multiple emergency
vehicles going by. I just used google and searched for online scanner for my area.
 
They are all going digital with encryption, save your money, will soon if not now, nothing to hear.
 
I have not kept up with scanners, but the Uniden Home Patrol may be a possibility. Though they are not cheap. Keep an eye on CL for one.

Else, as others have stated, apps or websites can have police etc radio feeds.


(quoted from post at 02:08:42 06/20/19) In my area the traffic is in constant state of mayhem all day long. Huge drama, all day every day. I monitor the news radio when I have to be on the roads, but they don't always get the memo until too late. Then it's usually the case that the road ahead is blocked by the latest chaotic event.

I tried a cheap police scanner awhile back, but didn't realize I had to pay more to get one that actually works. I recall monitoring one radio call between an off-duty trooper and a colleague, talking about their moonlighting as security at a nightclub. Didn't sound too demanding, and the trooper considered it a gravy job.

Anyway...does anyone have experience with the scanners that monitor the emergency services like fire and police and ambulance and so on? And is it necessary to get the unit programmed for the particular area you're in? I'd like to hear in real-time what is happening on those days I need to hit the roads.
Click to expand...
 
Digital encrypted and most of them just use computer terminals in the car digital and encrypted or cell phones.
I would say those days are gone
The last one I got was trunk tack and I found that as soon as I got that the systems went digital.

Perhaps with a old fashioned or basic one you will still pick up the local volunteer fire dept dispatches and mot much more.
 
I been eyeing a whistler 1040,seen reviews and it
covers the new 700 band law enforcement is going
to. I got 4 scanners that work fine aged too but
digital encrypted slows em down.but southwest mo
still uses uhf as well as this moswin thing.
I got a radioshack pro 2046,pro 94,pro 95 and a
uniden bearcat 245 xlt. Traded some parts and the
last 3 were in the trade.
 

RedMF Just use a GPS on your smart phone. It works in real time to read traffic and reroute you to a better more clear route before the cops even get the call.
 

Has to be trunking capable and APCO-25 digital compliant .
Most of law enforcement has gong encrypted however some of the highway service agencies are still in the clear .
There is still a lot to hear if you research for hours and find every obscure frequency, hand held radio vehicle repeaters , little known government departments, some businesses and general aviation, marine , GMRS, FMRS , etc
 
My wife has a smart phone. People are posting on facebook things before the police are even on scene. Even the Police post on there too. All the flooding in our area she gets all the up to date road closers.
 
Thanks, using the phone for those times I have to hit the road seems to make the most sense. Even if I bought one for entertainment purposes, looks like an outlay of around $400 would buy me something that still needs to be set up or programmed. Not exactly "plug n play." Requires some commitment, but I'm sure the enthusiasts out there who have the time can make these things work.

Latest from our roadways: Last night an 18-wheeler hit the barrier on the beltway, caught fire, driver killed. A sad incident but fairly common in the Washington, DC/Northern Va area. Morning commuters encountered a road that was mostly closed, allowed a trickle of cars to get by. Don't know how drivers get to work in this area unless they leave around 3 am--and even then it's not a guaranteed smooth ride.
 
(quoted from post at 09:42:35 06/20/19) Thanks, using the phone for those times I have to hit the road seems to make the most sense. Even if I bought one for entertainment purposes, looks like an outlay of around $400 would buy me something that still needs to be set up or programmed. Not exactly "plug n play." Requires some commitment, but I'm sure the enthusiasts out there who have the time can make these things work.

Latest from our roadways: Last night an 18-wheeler hit the barrier on the beltway, caught fire, driver killed. A sad incident but fairly common in the Washington, DC/Northern Va area. Morning commuters encountered a road that was mostly closed, allowed a trickle of cars to get by. Don't know how drivers get to work in this area unless they leave around 3 am--and even then it's not a guaranteed smooth ride.
Click to expand...

Red, I have to drive to Boston and back once a week. It has gotten so that even though I know my way and don't need the GPS in my phone I turn it on anyway, because maybe every fifth trip it will reroute me automatically to avoid a major slowdown.
 

Law enforcement officers ALL carry smart phones these days. Much of their communicating is done using those phones. A scanner is not nearly as useful as it used to be.
 
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