We are considering buying an inexpensive scanner for my Father for Christmas. He's never used one, but is pretty inactive, so we are thinking that it might give him something to do and 'talk about', just listening to what goes on in his county. I'm wondering if the Uniden BC355C 800MHz 300-Channel Base Mobile Scanner would be a decent choice (since he's not really expressed an interest, but we think he'd enjoy it) for an 85 year old man, and would it give him what we're looking for, in just picking up things that go on within about a 50 mile radius of him? And, would it be simple enough to program? (he lives in Manistee County, Michigan...it's in the northern part, but not in the upper peninsula) If anyone could give me advice, I'd greatly appreciate it.