Baofeng and others sold as scanners.

[Scannerfreak6743]

If they are programmed for receive only, then there's nothing illegal about that. No, they are not great scanners, but they are a low buck option for those that just want to listen to a few local frequencies.

If they are programmed to allow transmitting, then that is another issue.

A lot of people will never be anything but a consumer. They don't know how radios work. They wouldn't know how to program one. They are perfectly comfortable paying someone to do the hard work for them in exchange for a box that lets them listen.



Well, yeah. Digital on it's own will not fix that.
But let's talk about encryption...
People transmitting where they do not belong is -exactly- one of the reasons that agencies like encryption and like trunked systems that have good access control and security.
We've had that issue locally where individuals with two way radios have programmed them to transmit on local public safety systems. They see no issue with popping up on the local fire channels during active wildland fires to ask questions or give advice. The FCC has busted people for that and it's well documented.

People that do stupid stuff like this with radios, be it a CCR, MARS/CAP modded ham gear, or an eBay Motorola are part of the problem. Unfortunately they are too stupid to understand the consequences of their actions.

I think the transition to digital by just about every department across the US will make Baofengs useless as scanners just like the current analog Uniden scanners. The only thing I can pick up in my area on my old Baofeng aside from Ham Radio, are railroads and marine boats. I hardly hear of Baofengs being used to pick up public safety comms anymore.

 

[mmckenna]

I think the transition to digital by just about every department across the US will make Baofengs useless as scanners just like the current analog Uniden scanners. The only thing I can pick up in my area on my old Baofeng aside from Ham Radio, are railroads and marine boats. I hardly hear of Baofengs being used to pick up public safety comms anymore.

Yes, between trunking, encryption and digital, the usefulness of an analog only receiver is limited.
Still, a lot of rural areas where analog is still in use and for those that just need to listen to a local fire and PD, a simple receiver is an option.
Considering one can get a CCR for $25, and even the most basic scanner will push near $100, it's an option some choose to take.

 

[kingshootr]

Not to hijack the thread - but...

I am quite fortunate that all Public Safety is analog(?) in my scannable area. In my shop I use a SDR system, and for the house and patio, a Tidradio H3 set up as a scanner, 150MHz -160MHz. Only exception is aviation, which is a total of 2 frequencies unless I want to include high altitude air control.

So, what I'm wondering is what is a current HH scanner that just has to deal with these frequencies? I really like the form factor of the CCR's, but they scan slowly and are not able to switch to an active frequency quickly.

 

[MTS2000des]

BearCat BC-125 is about the best analog handheld you can buy, will blow away a Turdradio or any
CCR for scan speed, sensitivity, overload, and bands covered. Fully supported by Uniden too.

BC125AT Radio Scanner

Uniden BC125AT handheld scanner offers 500 alpha‑tagged channels, Close Call RF capture, NOAA and emergency frequency monitoring in a compact design.

uniden.com

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

I think the place where most of us CCR users/techs/experimenters agree is that they make dandy little receivers for some specific uses. Aside from @buddrousa 's use for PS families monitoring crews, they're great for some of the niche services as well. My Baofeng 5RMs do great for railroad monitoring, put dispatch on one VFO and road on the other. My Radtel RT-860 and RT-880 work great for aeronautical listening, especially together. I can monitor 2 HF and 5 V/UHF simultaneously for well under $200. I don't think I could get 2 name brand rigs to cover that, certainly not without adding an order of magnitude to the price.

That is exactly what I told one of my local news stringer friends. Our fire department is analog, and I told him to get one of these radios so he could put one channel on dispatch, and the other channel on fire ground, so he can know what’s going on at big fires.

 

[kingshootr]

BearCat BC-125 is about the best analog handheld you can buy, will blow away a Turdradio or any
CCR for scan speed, sensitivity, overload, and bands covered. Fully supported by Uniden too.

BC125AT Radio Scanner

Uniden BC125AT handheld scanner offers 500 alpha‑tagged channels, Close Call RF capture, NOAA and emergency frequency monitoring in a compact design.

uniden.com

I guess it pays to be a pack rat...

I was rummaging through a box of cables and adapters, and hiding in it was an old Radio Shack PRO-83. I put in new batteries, did a wipe of all the channels, put in frequencies of a few targets to test - and the sucker works perfectly. Heck, I even get clear signals with the little rubber duck antenna when I'm inside my steel building.

 

[PDXh0b0]

Stupid people doing stupid things. It's what makes the world go around....

Speaking of stupid. I bought a Quansheng last year when it was "all the rage". Updated it with Egzumer and it's really not a bad air frequency scanner! Perfect for beating around with and not having to worry about.

Got 2, great for while out fishing