WCCO has a story on the scanner hobby

[N0YFE]

It's rare to see media coverage of amateur radio and scanner hobbyists. I thought I'd include the link from WCCO and the article also mentions Radio Reference. He's a self proclaimed "scanner nut".

‘Scanner Nut': A Patient Listener Waits For Breaking News « CBS Minnesota

 

[wogggieee]

In my opinion these stories always seem to miss the mark; they always seem to pick the wrong person to represent the hobby.

 

[bat_wings_2000]

Not kidding, there is so much wrong with this story it makes my head spin. To top it off, unless
the guy is using a fake name, he doesn't have a ham radio license, which makes his supposed mobile
scanning illegal.

DAK

 

[mikey60]

Not to mention the 500 channel 11 meter radio... hmmm

 

[W8RMH]

They definitely could have selected a better representative of our hobby. Tow truck driver (probably uses scanners to jump calls), has 3 or 4 jobs yet is "low income", got his HAM license (allegedly) to "listen", lives in a mobile home covered in antennas (permitted through a grandfather clause), and 11 meter, isn't that CB. Purchases new scanners for $100, can't be listening to much. Then he goes into "Battle Mode".

"Scanner nuts often obtain their first thrills through illicit youthful experiments and a genial disregard of certain FCC regulations". Not sure what this is supposed to mean. Sounds more like CB too.

"He also uses scanner websites, like RadioReference.com, despite the inferior audio quality and elevated bandwidth consumption", well just consider the source.

That's like whenever they interview witnesses after fires, tornados, UFO sightings, it is always the drunk hick with no teeth in front of the trailer. If you are going to do a story about scanner nuts how about someone like Lindsey Blanton or Tom Swisher.

 

[ottomatic]

Couldn't have picked a worse representative. Calling himself a "Nut" and listening 21 hours a day?

Sure, I'd want to jump into that "hobby" with both feet!

 

[Triangulum]

Not a fan of stories like these. I prefer the hobby to be esoteric and under the radar so to speak.

For me, its not about "the nut" being a representative or not. Its more about not appreciating the hobby being broadcasted out for mass consumption. His devotion is respectable though.

 

[eaf1956]

(He also uses scanner websites, like RadioReference.com, despite the inferior audio quality and elevated bandwidth consumption.) HUH??? Gee I feel like I got insulted.

 

[mrmeowmittens]

Maybe he should have ran the article by the newsdesk before hitting submit, pretty sure they've had no issue with radioreference in either quality of audio or bandwidth. Maybe he should stick to writing articles about urban exploring

 

[wogggieee]

Not sure if its a stock issue or not, but for some reason the 996 on the top is upside down.

 

[mike6454]

Most Journalist Start out Scanning

WCCO could have done a story of the newsroom of WCCO news dispatchers scanning the airwaves..
Most journalists start out at the bottom listening to multiple police scanners for breaking news
jouralists on the scene have portable digitals to monitor the event as well as multiple base scanners on the news van.
I have called in countless events to 1 media outlet,and out of 21 calls over the last 6 months they were already on top of it.
Only once i had a good news tip in 6 months.
With him stating a new scanner $100.00
at fleet farm for a scanner has to be about 14 or 15 years ago on the analog not now.

 

[10-7Goodnight]

This guy may need to get a life.

 

[flythunderbird]

"He can assemble a makeshift scanner by twining stereo wire up a tree."

Really? That's all we have to do to build a scanner? Uniden and Whistler, your days are numbered! LOL

 

[johnmoe1]

"He can assemble a makeshift scanner by twining stereo wire up a tree."

Really? That's all we have to do to build a scanner? Uniden and Whistler, your days are numbered! LOL

IMBE decoding must take some really special "twining".

 

[SCPD]

The news media in this town have no clue. I agree, like to keep it on the low down so as not to draw unwanted attention to the hobby. Hell, I know of one station in town that has 3 Astro Spectras bought from the state with rx only RID's, 2 BC996XT's and an a remote controlled BC996XT located at their Shoreview transmitter to be able to monitor Ramsey county since they are way out or range of those sites. All the radios/scanners had their volume turned down and nobody was listening. They just rely on tips like the person featured in the WCCO story.

 

[SCPD]

The KSTP Ch.5 dispatch was something back in the day, it looked like a 911 center will modified scanners tied into the console. They also had a dedicated Bloomington EDACS radio!. Now days the assignment listens to a few scanners if that. They are too busy reporting gang signs being pointed at the mayor of Minneapolis. "Pointergate"

 

[bearcatrp]

One of you guys with a good shack should do your own story and send it in to rebute that story and set the record straight.

 

[wtp]

but...

i only listen for 16 hours a day. i am not worthy..

 

[Voyager]

Not sure if its a stock issue or not, but for some reason the 996 on the top is upside down.

The speaker is on the bottom, and I think the 996 has an 'upside down mode' for the display.

 

[mule1075]

The speaker is on the bottom, and I think the 996 has an 'upside down mode' for the display.

You are Correct.

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