Would you classify this guy as "out there"?

[Omega-TI]

Strange things happen in public, when minding your own business listening to your scanner...

A guy I've never met, walks up to me and starts asking all kinds of questions about my scanner, then he proceeds to tell me he's looking for a stealth scanner. Being that I've never heard of a "stealth scanner", at this point I should have said, good luck, but stupidly I asked the guy, "What's a stealth scanner?" He said, "One that fits in your pocket with an internal antenna and has a Bluetooth transmitter connected to what looks like a hearing aid." At this point I said, "Never heard of one." He then tries to talk my leg off even more, but I politely look at my watch, say "Sorry, I'm late I gotta go."

Now I'm thinking either this guy is "out there", or maybe it really is something I've simply never heard of before. Now I seriously doubt such a thing exists, but nothing irritates me more than having an open question in my head. So, with that in mind, was he "out there", or did they ever, or do they sell such a scanner. If they do, I cannot imagine it would pick much other than the strongest local stuff.

 

[ka3aaa]

dont exist

 

[GlobalNorth]

Nothing like that by the large manufacturers

 

[WPXS472]

While nothing like probably exists now, there is no technological reason why it couldn't. A small SDR and mini rasberry pi in a small case with custom software could do the trick. And the bluetooth part is already out there. My hearing aids will pair to any bluetooth appliance. Obviously, being hidden in a pocket would create limitations, but I could see a use case.

 

[trentbob]

Hahaha, in the old days I used to use an Electra Bearcat thin scan in my top pocket, the gold one, which was the vhf high and UHF model and I would use an earphone coming out from under my collar. That's as close as I ever came to a stealth scanner.

The guy was probably just a wacker since none of us have ever heard of a class of scanner called a stealth scanner.

 

[AM909]

SDR with a wire antenna + smartphone + software

 

[chrismol1]

Yea a cell phone scanner app with a bluetooth or in real time a unication pager hooked to bluetooth easily concealable

 

[vagrant]

I have used my Yaesu and Kenwood handhelds in my pocket to scan paired with a BT earpiece, but the antenna is not internal for obvious reasons. Still, I use a smaller antenna when I do that. I mainly use the Yaesu FT3DR when I do that as the Kenwood D74A is larger.

 

[Binger511]

XTS4000 with a Bluetooth adapter would work assuming it's conventional.

 

[Omega-TI]

dont exist

Nothing like that by the large manufacturers

I didn't think so, of course I'm not that addicted to scanning that such a thing would even interest me, but it's good to know. Thanks.

While nothing like probably exists now, there is no technological reason why it couldn't. A small SDR and mini rasberry pi in a small case with custom software could do the trick. And the bluetooth part is already out there. My hearing aids will pair to any bluetooth appliance. Obviously, being hidden in a pocket would create limitations, but I could see a use case.

The only things I could think of is trying to get away with listening while at work or without the wife knowing you're not giving her your undivided attention!

The guy was probably just a wacker since none of us have ever heard of a class of scanner called a stealth scanner.

I was thinking the same exact thing!

SDR with a wire antenna + smartphone + software

Yes, I suppose a guy could use the Scanner Radio Pro app on a cellphone and a Bluetooth earpiece, but I imagine that would also drain the cell phone battery at a decent clip as well.

 

[mmckenna]

Yes, I suppose a guy could use the Scanner Radio Pro app on a cellphone and a Bluetooth earpiece, but I imagine that would also drain the cell phone battery at a decent clip as well.

Sounds a helluva lot like a Unication pager with a bluetooth earpiece would do 100% of this. Or am I missing something?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Did you follow this guy back to his embassy? They do indeed exist. Here is one that uses Phonak earpiece and induction loop. Bluetooth not invented yet:

SRR-100

www.cryptomuseum.com

I have pondered such a thing as I would like to be able to listen to police traffic when out and about without having an obvious scanner or portable radio. I was thinking something like a news reporters IFB receiver and earpiece to relay my scanner from my truck to me.

 

[racingfan360]

Similar to above suggestions, an Icom R2 or R5 with a wire antenna and an add-on 3.5mm bluetooth transmitter all packed into a small pouch, paired to a set of bluetooth earphones would come close to what's being described. An inductive loop transmitter/earpiece setup would be more covert.

 

[Citywide173]

The Unication pagers might qualify in this realm as well. I have had mine in my coat pocket with it paired to a cheap pair of headphones on many scenes.

 

[Cognomen]

The funny thing is, if you were using a stealth scanner, he wouldn't have known to question you about stealth scanners.

 

[Railbender]

That's what I do with my Unications daily. A Bluetooth ear bud and a loose fitting shirt, you can't see the belt holster.

 

[Omega-TI]

Similar to above suggestions, an Icom R2 or R5 with a wire antenna and an add-on 3.5mm bluetooth transmitter all packed into a small pouch, paired to a set of bluetooth earphones would come close to what's being described. An inductive loop transmitter/earpiece setup would be more covert.

Maybe the manufacturers will get smart and start putting Bluetooth transmitters in the next generation of scanners. Yes, an R2, R5 or R6 with a wire antenna screwed onto that SMA post would work.

Now even for those of us who don't need or want stealth, Bluetooth built-in would be awesome. For the price of the SDS series of scanners, it would have been an awesome selling feature. Many of us have purchased 3rd party add-on Bluetooth transmitters, but that just adds to the aggravation of more cords and separate charging devices. A portable scanner is not so portable when you need to take extra cumbersome items along.

​

 

[imonitorit]

Most new hearing aids are bluetooth. You might be able to send scanner audio to them using a plugin BT audio tx.

 

[mmckenna]

Most new hearing aids are bluetooth. You might be able to send scanner audio to them using a plugin BT audio tx.

My wife streams music and phone calls to hers. Hard to know if she's mad at me or dealing with a telemarketer.
Actually kind of a cool setup, and if I needed them, I'd try streaming radio audio to them. Thankfully, I'm not there yet.

 

[Railbender]

Most new hearing aids are bluetooth. You might be able to send scanner audio to them using a plugin BT audio tx.

It won't work with mine (Costco KS10s). It shows connected but no audio.