Entry Level Scanner advice

[zugatz]

I am looking to purchase a entry level scanner. I want to listen to police and fire channels. What would everyone recommend. I am completly clueless on the details of the features that I:

1) Absolutly need

2) should have

3) Bells and Whistles I may never use

Thanks

 

[DELCOLHFC]

With some more info on where you are and what you need to monitor you will get tons of help from these forum members.

 

[zugatz]

I am in Rochester, NY.
I think we have the highest murder rate in the state.

I am looking for inexpensive, that will allow me to listen into all the sirens I hear. Mostly State and local police plus fire channels

Thank you

 

[DELCOLHFC]

Hope this helps some.......

Welcome to the site!
Looking in the RadioReference Database at Monroe County it looks like the only public safety digital in use is Kodak's Fire/Security. All other public safety seems to be in conventional mode.
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&ctid=1852
The State Police are also conventional;
http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=615
All this is good news, digital scanners sell in the area of $500, a good conventional such as the RadioShack Pro-97 (love mine!) can be had for about $150 on sale.
Check your area for RS stores that are closing here;
http://www.radioshack.com/corp/index.jsp?page=storeLocator&clickid=rsk_header_storeLocator
It looks like 3 stores in your general area are closing. You can look here to check if any of those stores have one;
http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032072&cp=2032052
I am currently using all RS scanners but Uniden also makes first class units also, I'm just not up to date on their models or pricing.
I hope this helps you some........