Hello all,
Thank you to everyone who provides the source audio for the various online scanner feeds.
I usually visit this scanner site when I hear a lot of emergency vehicle sirens outside. Unfortunately, many of the feeds I find are simply doing frequency scans (for a particular agency) instead of following a specific talk group (so you end up with all sorts of fragmented conversations). Most scanners can probably only simultaneously follow one talk group (I'm assuming?) so the frequency scan is probably an attempt to minimize dead air that is streamed to the web?
I've toyed with the idea of buying a scanner, but I'm not really sure what the best option would be. I suspect most agencies are using digital only transceivers so anything analog would be out? Those using digital are probably using trunked radio? Which scanners support that? How many agencies encrypt their communications? Do any of the scanners allow one to enter a decryption code (e.g. if I'm a member of an agency that encrypts, can the scanner decode the signal for me if I give it the correct key?)
Are there any other technology changes on the near horizon that would render a scanner purchased today useless tomorrow (e.g. introduction of some new wireless protocol?) Is there such a thing as a firmware update to keep the system operational?
Are there any scanners that can be connected to/controlled by a computer interface?
Looking forward to your advice,
CR
Thank you to everyone who provides the source audio for the various online scanner feeds.
I usually visit this scanner site when I hear a lot of emergency vehicle sirens outside. Unfortunately, many of the feeds I find are simply doing frequency scans (for a particular agency) instead of following a specific talk group (so you end up with all sorts of fragmented conversations). Most scanners can probably only simultaneously follow one talk group (I'm assuming?) so the frequency scan is probably an attempt to minimize dead air that is streamed to the web?
I've toyed with the idea of buying a scanner, but I'm not really sure what the best option would be. I suspect most agencies are using digital only transceivers so anything analog would be out? Those using digital are probably using trunked radio? Which scanners support that? How many agencies encrypt their communications? Do any of the scanners allow one to enter a decryption code (e.g. if I'm a member of an agency that encrypts, can the scanner decode the signal for me if I give it the correct key?)
Are there any other technology changes on the near horizon that would render a scanner purchased today useless tomorrow (e.g. introduction of some new wireless protocol?) Is there such a thing as a firmware update to keep the system operational?
Are there any scanners that can be connected to/controlled by a computer interface?
Looking forward to your advice,
CR