Scanners?

[NorCalSam]

I have been procrastinating about buying a good scanner for Police and Fire info for years now. I know almost nothing about them, but I do know what I want. I want one that can do it all, (Military, weather, ham, CB, Police but mostly for Fire info in the summer time). I would like to be able to hear all fire and police info. (It seems like some times comms are coded or something (digital encryption). Do they make scanners that decode the police and fire talk? I think I would like a mobile one but it doesn’t have to been.

Will any "trunking scanner" work?

I would like to pick one up before the fire season next year. Can anyone help me with this?

Thanks, Sam

 

[Lynn]

Maybe 10 years ago I bought a Uniden BearTracker. It was the only one I could find that also did CB channels. 'Course, there's probably a lot of choices out there now...

 

[TD64]

I have the Uniden Bearcat BCD396T and It looks like it will do everything that you are asking for (not sure about the military and encrypted systems).

I was very fortunate to have this scanner during the recent San Diego wild fires. I was able to find information, alert friends in harms way and evacuate when I heard that the CHP reopened the I-15 North for an area just a few miles from us.

Also check out the eham.net scanner review page and the Yahoo! Scanner Groups (they have groups for most models).

 

[TD64]

A CB, Ham radio and cell phone came in handy too! As we were driving through the flames on the I-15 I called out on the CB asking what the story was on the 15N at Fallbrook. I received a reply that we had a CHP escort and everything was clear ahead. I called my wife on the cell phone (she was right behind me) and passed the info. Check her rear view mirror in the attached picture.

 

[TJVach]

Scanners are a very handy useful piece of equipment. I especially like the National Weather Service Alerts. One thing that you might want to check before you go out and get one if the area your trying to listen to has digital trucking, then you have to get a digital scanner to tune into them, which can be quite expensive. I know a lot of areas are starting to do this now so just take a look at it first. Just a fyi.

 

[gary in ohio]

Scanner are handy but if your going mobile with them know the laws of the sates your in. Some states its illegal to have them in a vehicle, some just having them in the vehicle transporting them its illegal.


Since frequencies vary even within a state a computer to quickly program up a a mobile scanner is a must. With more and more places going trunked or digital pc programable is a MUST.

 

[TD64]

This scanner wiki has some good information and links.

I agree that having the programing software is a must! It really makes it easy to setup.

 

[HenryJ]

I am a part time firefighter, Regional Hazmat team member and emergency medical technician.
I would like to second the suggestion to go for your amateur radio technicians license. Then you can use a ham radio for your scanning needs.

I use a Yaesu FT-8800R. It has come in handy a few times to contact the Rescue and dispatch as well as radios for the company I work for full time.

I do have two portable scanners in the house. A uniden Bearcat 10 channel and a Uniden Sportcat. Check pawn shops locally. They are a good source for inexpensive older models. You don't need hundreds of channels to scan. By the time it covers the range, you miss the action. Under 20 is a good place to be.

I keep State PD, local PD, County PD, Fire, Search&Rescue, Ambulance, Hospitals, DOT. and some of the local district services programmed on the dual band in my truck.

 

[adrenaline503]

If they are using an encrypted signal, then you will not be able to pick it up on a scanner. I can assure you that you do not want to get the equipment to break the encryption, that would be illegal to say the least. Not to mention that encryption is used for a reason. That reason being that you shoudnt hear what they are saying.

 

[NorCalSam]

If they are using an encrypted signal, then you will not be able to pick it up on a scanner. I can assure you that you do not want to get the equipment to break the encryption, that would be illegal to say the least. Not to mention that encryption is used for a reason. That reason being that you shoudnt hear what they are saying.

It sounds like to me that it is not really a encryped signal just a "trunking" thing, and if I have a newer trunking scanner I would be getting all the info.

 

[adrenaline503]

It sounds like to me that it is not really a encryped signal just a "trunking" thing, and if I have a newer trunking scanner I would be getting all the info.

An encrypted signal would not sound like a garbled voice, just static or clicks.

 

[gary in ohio]

Almost universally states that have scanner laws allow an exemption for hams. So should you live in a state that makes it illegal to have a scanner, get out the book and take your technician's test!

True except for new york. Also keep in mind many the allow it also state it can be use while committing a crime. Speeding is a crime and often punishment increase if using a scanner and do a crime.

Here is a good reference to scanner laws.

http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/scanner5.html

 

[gary in ohio]

Please note encryption and digital transmissions are NOT the same. A digital signal may or may not be encrypted as can an analog signal.

 

[gary in ohio]

An encrypted signal would not sound like a garbled voice, just static or clicks.

Not true, Depending on the encryption and the modulation method you may indeed sound like garbled speach, It may sound like white noise or may sound like nothing because its two wide for the receiver.

 

[Cabrito]

Almost universally states that have scanner laws allow an exemption for hams. So should you live in a state that makes it illegal to have a scanner, get out the book and take your technician's test!

I have heard conversations between other hams talking about cops trying to confiscate their scanners even though they were showing their FCC licenses to the cops - They were talking about cops assuming that the scanners were not legal and actually taking them out of the owner’s car - I would say this type of thing happens very rarely, but it could happen.