What's the difference between a scanner and receiver? I've noticed receivers are more expensive and have a greater frequency coverage and they both scan. Just wondering if I should of bought a handheld receiver instead.
Difference between scanner and receiver
- Thread starter Wally46
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N8IAA
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Just wondering why you bought the 436 and the 536 when everything in your feeds are conventional? $1100 could have bought few 15X's.
Communications receivers offer more spectrum and modes of scanning. Some use them for SW, some for conventional frequencies. I use the Alinco DJ-X11 for those reasons.
Larry
Communications receivers offer more spectrum and modes of scanning. Some use them for SW, some for conventional frequencies. I use the Alinco DJ-X11 for those reasons.
Larry
Because there are a lot of phase25 transmissions right across the river in Illinois. And many more digital transmissions in other counties here in Iowa. I was missing out on a lot of action before I went digital.
KB7MIB
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Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (BREW; Opera Mini/6.0.3/27.2354; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 320X240 LG VN530)
Scanners have AM/FM/FMN/P25 (and X2/Phase II if you have the right models), and can trunktrack, also with the right models. They have a single receiver and antenna input, versus typically dual receivers and multiple antenna inputs in communications receivers. They have much faster scan rates, and have a much greater memory capacity than communications receivers. They're typically less expensive than communications receivers due to the use of less expensive circuit components, with correspondingly lower specifications when it comes to sensitivity, selectivity, etc.
Communications receivers have a much wider frequency coverage, with the widest typically covering from about 100 kHz continously up to 2 or 3 GHz (and goverment/industry sales include the cellular phone ranges), have AM/SSB/CW/FM, but only a few (1 or 2 from AOR?) models have P25 capability, with an optional board. You can usually select various bandwidths to go with your mode selection. None have trunktracking to my knowledge. More expensive components mean better sensitivity, selectivity, etc, than your typical scanner.
If you like to sit on a specific frequency looking for weak signals and/or DX, a communications receiver is probably a better choice than a scanner. If you enjoy listening to your local public safety agencies over multiple frequencies, then a scanner is a better choice.
I would have loved an Icom IC-9000
Scanners have AM/FM/FMN/P25 (and X2/Phase II if you have the right models), and can trunktrack, also with the right models. They have a single receiver and antenna input, versus typically dual receivers and multiple antenna inputs in communications receivers. They have much faster scan rates, and have a much greater memory capacity than communications receivers. They're typically less expensive than communications receivers due to the use of less expensive circuit components, with correspondingly lower specifications when it comes to sensitivity, selectivity, etc.
Communications receivers have a much wider frequency coverage, with the widest typically covering from about 100 kHz continously up to 2 or 3 GHz (and goverment/industry sales include the cellular phone ranges), have AM/SSB/CW/FM, but only a few (1 or 2 from AOR?) models have P25 capability, with an optional board. You can usually select various bandwidths to go with your mode selection. None have trunktracking to my knowledge. More expensive components mean better sensitivity, selectivity, etc, than your typical scanner.
If you like to sit on a specific frequency looking for weak signals and/or DX, a communications receiver is probably a better choice than a scanner. If you enjoy listening to your local public safety agencies over multiple frequencies, then a scanner is a better choice.
I would have loved an Icom IC-9000
Thanks for that awesome explanation.
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