reedeb
Member
For many many years I had scanners in my vehicles, on my person, etc. NOW I sit at home listen to the action in my room or carry the Portable or HT [2 mter] when I go for a walk. [Dallas is a very busy place]
does a scanner usually leave the house with you?
- Thread starter 97guns
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2008
- Messages
- 857
In the winter i usually don`t take my scanner with me, as my HAM radio will allow me to monitor most of the stuff i have in my scanner anyway, and it`s easier to carry just one unit around under a jacket. During the summer OTOH i DO take my scanner with me, it`s nice to have when i want to go somewhere on my bike, as i can get a heads-up on anything that might cause a traffic issue and thus plan my ride to avoid the affected area or delay it till the sittuation has cleard. My scanner also goes with when i travel to NW WI and down to the southern part of WI too, lots of stuff to listen to down there 
, so yes, my scanner does sometimes go with, sometimes it does not, all depends on where i`m going, and the sittuation. N9NRA
, so yes, my scanner does sometimes go with, sometimes it does not, all depends on where i`m going, and the sittuation. N9NRASquierStrat
Member
i guess im backwards... (for this thread anyways) My car is the only place i listen to my scanner. having 2 young children, both under the age of 3, make listenting at home....... impossible.
I bought a Bear Tracker scanner a number of years ago - say maybe 14 and it traveled in the truck with me until one day when I was traveling down the interstate and the antenna fell on the road and broke the magnetic mount and put a bunch of dents in the side of the new Avalanche.
So I took it in the house and repaired the scanner antenna and put it on a old dresser and from time to time I turn it on.
The problem is that it was programmed by state 15 or more years ago and since then the majority of transmissions has moved up into the 450 - 460 band and those frequencies are not programmed into the scanner as a factory default.
The problem is that the battery - memory is weak and if you unplug it for a week - it looses all memory and goes back to the factory settings.
Add to those problems the fact that the fire companies 15 years ago in Pennsylvania had their transmitters in the 30 - 40 mhz range and has also moved their transmitters up into the 450 - 460 Mhz range and so the lower frequencies which has been abandoned are now full of birdies - which if you block all those frequencies you are ok. But once you unplug the scanner for a week - it forgets what you blocked and what you programmed and you have to start all over again.
At the same time the State Police - Open Sky has all moved up into the 800 Mhz and is now digital and the analog scanner cannot hear the radio traffic for the SP unless they revert back to their original frequencies - 150 Mhz, or if they are talking to the county control or the firemen on the 450 - 460 Mhz frequencies. Their Motorola radios must be pretty good is all I have to say.
Add to that - the fact that they all have a cell phone in their vehicle - provided by the state of PA, their own cell phone and a computer - that has GPS, a printer and on screen - hands free communications - they don't have to dispatch their cars over the radio anymore. They can send the message over the internet and with that - each person has their own name and password and they don't always hear all the radio traffic - only the traffic that pertains to them. They can switch back and forth between the frequencies - to what ever they need or want as they please. Even the CB - which they had monitored for many years.
So having a scanner in the car - really isn't worth the bother anymore - unless all you want to listen to is the local police and the firemen - or as in the case of this scanner - it can also pick up the CB radio as long as you have the right antenna and are close enough to the people who are transmitting.
So I took it in the house and repaired the scanner antenna and put it on a old dresser and from time to time I turn it on.
The problem is that it was programmed by state 15 or more years ago and since then the majority of transmissions has moved up into the 450 - 460 band and those frequencies are not programmed into the scanner as a factory default.
The problem is that the battery - memory is weak and if you unplug it for a week - it looses all memory and goes back to the factory settings.
Add to those problems the fact that the fire companies 15 years ago in Pennsylvania had their transmitters in the 30 - 40 mhz range and has also moved their transmitters up into the 450 - 460 Mhz range and so the lower frequencies which has been abandoned are now full of birdies - which if you block all those frequencies you are ok. But once you unplug the scanner for a week - it forgets what you blocked and what you programmed and you have to start all over again.
At the same time the State Police - Open Sky has all moved up into the 800 Mhz and is now digital and the analog scanner cannot hear the radio traffic for the SP unless they revert back to their original frequencies - 150 Mhz, or if they are talking to the county control or the firemen on the 450 - 460 Mhz frequencies. Their Motorola radios must be pretty good is all I have to say.
Add to that - the fact that they all have a cell phone in their vehicle - provided by the state of PA, their own cell phone and a computer - that has GPS, a printer and on screen - hands free communications - they don't have to dispatch their cars over the radio anymore. They can send the message over the internet and with that - each person has their own name and password and they don't always hear all the radio traffic - only the traffic that pertains to them. They can switch back and forth between the frequencies - to what ever they need or want as they please. Even the CB - which they had monitored for many years.
So having a scanner in the car - really isn't worth the bother anymore - unless all you want to listen to is the local police and the firemen - or as in the case of this scanner - it can also pick up the CB radio as long as you have the right antenna and are close enough to the people who are transmitting.
Here is the scanner that I need to buy - when the economy gets better.
PRO-197 39,000-Channel Digital Desktop Scanner - RadioShack.com
PRO-197 39,000-Channel Digital Desktop Scanner - RadioShack.com
MOGA
Member
I have a PSR 500 and Yaesu 7800 in my personal vehicle, but carry a trunking handheld, a 2/70 HT, spare batteries and external antennas, etc. in my GHB. I can't count on always having access to truck for comms.
In fairness, I listen to police radio like other, non-radio people listen to broadcast FM. I like to be aware of my surroundings beyond the appearance on the surface. I find it much more useful than AM/FM radio as well.
In fairness, I listen to police radio like other, non-radio people listen to broadcast FM. I like to be aware of my surroundings beyond the appearance on the surface. I find it much more useful than AM/FM radio as well.
MOGA
Member
LOL. My nightmare is looking down at my belt and realizing that I've left my Para LTC at home instead.
If I'm awake, it's with me
acepilot340
Member
I leave with mine all the time because when I don't bring it that's when I see squad cars fleeing to a scene and I have no idea whats going on. I also used to plow snow and I would always take it with then to know what the road conditions are in certain areas.
You will love the 197.
johnvassel
Member
Since smartphones and scanner feeds, I rarely bring a scanner.
Most of what I'm interested is near home, a feed I provide.
If I'm stuck out of town, it's much easier to just look up local feeds via gps/scanner radio and listen.
Most of what I'm interested is near home, a feed I provide.
If I'm stuck out of town, it's much easier to just look up local feeds via gps/scanner radio and listen.
I've taken my scanner into Church with a headphone.
spdfile1
/\/\ Junkie
I got several in the house and in the car, but my days of carrying one around (on the belt) are long gone. Used to do that back in the day when I was in high school. Now I think the wife would look at me funny just before she has me sign the divorce papers!!!!! I will carry the portable if there is something hot going on. You can catch me more often carrying the Kenwood TH-F6A around while walking the dog.
Last edited:
So your wife is fine with you having a conversation with voices coming from a little box, but not just listening?
Just had to ask...
Just had to ask...
spdfile1
/\/\ Junkie
So your wife is fine with you having a conversation with voices coming from a little box, but not just listening?
Just had to ask...
She actually listens as well and is interested, but to carry one around all the time....probably a little much.
koumar573
Member
Always
I used to have my pro-96 with me wherever i went, in fact i broke the belt clips on them all the time. I now have my pro-106 with me all the time. I leave the house and check if i have my wallet, keys, phone, and scanner lol
I used to have my pro-96 with me wherever i went, in fact i broke the belt clips on them all the time. I now have my pro-106 with me all the time. I leave the house and check if i have my wallet, keys, phone, and scanner lol
i have my pro-106 under my shirt and i put it not too loud and not to soft. and im in Los Angeles and anyone in the street these days can be a cop with there gun badge and radio hidden. they dont drive crown vics they drive regular ordinary cars. So with me having it under my shirt and being 16 and looking older and like a cop told be my friends. people look at me like holy sh** thats a cop! lol. Cant wait to be lapd
marvelusmarvcus
Member
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2011
- Messages
- 24
i take mine everywhere i go, even to work with me
you never know when you might want to use it
you never know when you might want to use it
jmp883
Member
There is a scanner mounted in my vehicle (along with my ham transceiver) as well as a home shack full of ham radios and scanners. However when I'm out of my vehicle (and not at home) I rarely have a portable with me anymore. Even with the small size of today's portables I find that they just get in my way. The only time I have a portable with me anymore is when I'm out taking railroad photos. A portable scanner makes it easy to monitor train location so I can be ready for the next photo op.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
