Police Scanners

She Eagle,

I own a few of them. The newest ones have more features than you need. Bearcat is an old reliable brand. 100 channels should be plenty.

In the "old days" you had to be careful to check which bands were used in your area, and try to find one that covered them all. Now it's worth asking the question at the store but, for the most part, they come with all applicable bands for police and fire/rescue.

Depending on what you want to do with it, you might consider a hand held unit. They work pretty well and are really convenient, but if you don't need the portability a fixed unit would be more convenient in a set location.

Depending on how serious you are you can buy external antennas to mount on you house, like a TV antenna (but it is a different type of antenna), or on your car, like a CB antenna. But for casual use the antenna that comes attached to the unit is ok.

A few nice features that can be found even in lower cost units are a separate weather band and a priority channel(s).

Hope this helps.

 

Since you posted this in the travel forum; are you sure you want a 'police scanner' or a 'radar detector'?

I have an old Bearcat police scanner that I use in the house. It has the antenna attached and is programmable. I have never had any problems.

I also have a new portable Cobra radar detector that is about the size of a garage door opener. It even talks to you! I got it for Christmas and haven't even had it in the car yet!


Sue

 

It's great for three legged chickens, too.

 

It's great for three legged chickens, too. </font>[/QUOTE] np

My husband bought it for me and he knows I don't speed!

Sue

 

I bought mine at Radio Shack because we don't have any of those other stores in our town.

Sue

 

Yep, Radio Shack has Bearcat and their own brand. I have both, and both are fine, although I think I like the Bearcat a little better.

Another good brand is Regency. They invented the scanner, I guess about 35 years ago. It was a 4 channel, single band crystal controlled unit (the one 35 years ago).

Hadn't noticed that this is in the travel forum, so I'll add that you can also buy uints especially for use in a car.

 

I would not get one if I were you. They are about to become obsolete. In England and Australia Police have just switched to a Mobile phone network. Scanners are on the rubbish heap.

The police are sick of criminals doing jobs, and having scanners tuned in to warn them if they are comming. This can not happen with the new mobile network.

 

She Eagle, they aren't simple to program. If you get one, figure on spending a few hours for a few nights to figure it out, especially if you don't have anyone on hand to help.

Do an internet search for "scanner frequencies" and you will probably find what you need and save the 20 bucks.

When I bought a GPS unit at Radio Shack and asked the sales person three questions in a row about it and got answers that I knew were wrong, I said "ok, I just have one more question...if I don't like it can I bring it back?

Turned out that the answers were wrong, and I did bring it back.

But a scanner should be ok. Not sure where else to tell you to go. Last one I bought was at a NASCAR race track, I use it to listen to the drivers talking to their pit crews and spotters. It's a Bearcat. Name of the company is Racing Electronics, they sell by mail also. If you find a copy of a racing paper (Winston Cup Scene is a good one) there are several adversisers selling scanners.

 

We use our scanner to monitor the weather and emergencies. We can pick up cell phones and people traveling are more reliable sources for weather conditions than some one sitting comfortably in a radio studio. Also we can monitor the conversation between the patrolmen and dispatcher. It is invaluable tool in emergencies and bad weather. True, scanners are misused, but then what isn't?

[ February 09, 2003, 09:43 AM: Message edited by: Ernie Brazee ]