FM Radio Scanners

[N3KGD]

This has always wondered my mind. Why don't scanners pick up FM Stereo? 89 - 108 MHz.? Maybe they do and I am not aware of it. Is it because of such high wattage output or does it interfere with other bands in the scanner?

 

[CrabbyMilton]

Probably since there is no need for them to do so. Police and fire departments as well as the NOAA weather radio network don't broadcast in stereo.

 

[N3KGD]

I'm talking about just FM Radio - like car radio etc... The music channels in 89 - 108 MHz. Mono/Stereo Etc...


Not that I care, but it just pondered my mind so I thought I may ask.

 

[n4yek]

My Uniden 396T and 780XLT both receive FM radio broadcast.

 

[texasemt13]

Evidently some can:
http://www.longcom.ie/scanners/ubc278.asp

I wouldn't bet that too many do these days because there is no need for it. Who scans to listen to music? If you wanna listen to music go sit in your car and listen to a commercial every 5 minutes...

Speaking of- I hate radio commercials (I know they have to be extra corny to get your attention) but c'mon they are bad these days. CDs and mp3s por vida...

 

[N3KGD]

I am up-to-date with technology. I could care less for cellphones however. I got an MP3 player and all that good stuff. And I totally agree on commercials. Such annoying they are. Canadian stations only play 2 commercials after a break. How nice.


Again - I don't care about FM Radio in a scanner, but I had that question for a while - and I guess lack of interest plus who would listen to FM radio on a scanner too.

Very good.

 

[texasemt13]

I could care less for cellphones however.

I hear that.

 

[n4yek]

Who scans to listen to music? If you wanna listen to music go sit in your car and listen to a commercial every 5 minutes...

Not all stations are music, a lot of stations are news which can also be a good source of information during disasters.

 

[reconrider8]

the whole point is if you all will follow me here is that if you want to listen to fm go get in your car lol yea my bct-15 picks up fm but would you want to sit there and listen to fm on a scanner when you got police chases and stuff going on all around you

 

[n4yek]

the whole point is if you all will follow me here is that if you want to listen to fm go get in your car lol yea my bct-15 picks up fm but would you want to sit there and listen to fm on a scanner when you got police chases and stuff going on all around you

Believe it or not, there are a lot of dispatchers that listen to FM radio with the scanners they have at their stations.

 

[KB9NLL]

I put all the receivable AM, FM, & TV freq.s in my VX7R. If there's a commercial change it. It's just nice to have a veriety If not much happens or bored of routine traffic stops. plus the VX7R is dual recieve so you don't have to miss anything. I mostly use it at my mom's house where not much happens locally. I'll somewhat miss tv next year... oh well.

 

[StuScanner]

This has always wondered my mind. Why don't scanners pick up FM Stereo? 89 - 108 MHz.? Maybe they do and I am not aware of it. Is it because of such high wattage output or does it interfere with other bands in the scanner?

Some do. But not stereo, and FM broadcast isn't currently popular as a scanner feature.

Think about it, every feature in a scanner was designed into a chip and manufactured for a very narrow
set of customers, whose needs change every few years. If a manufacturer/distributor is to make a
profit, he has to offer the most value for a discriminating group, who has to be willing to shell out
$100 X ? FM broadcast is a high fidelity medium, and not generally seen as an advantage to people
listening to GIs, cops and firemen, planes, etc.

Currently, portables are hot in the marketplace, and portables tend to be in and out of cars with
FM stereo readily available.

That being said, I have a Bearcat BC3000XLT, and a couple of older Radio Shack scanners that will pick
up FM mono.

 

[CrabbyMilton]

I think it's too bad that most baseball play by play is on AM otherwise, I could take the scanner to the ballpark and listen to the broadcast and behind the scenes activity between innings. I don't have a problem with commercials. Why would anyone since it promotes products and that pays the bills.

 

[nexus]

This has always wondered my mind. Why don't scanners pick up FM Stereo? 89 - 108 MHz.? Maybe they do and I am not aware of it. Is it because of such high wattage output or does it interfere with other bands in the scanner?

Mine does... Uniden BCD396T it not only picks up the FM Broadcast Band, but it also picks up the audio for TV channels too. Too bad that will be useless soon, but for now it does.

 

[jleverin]

Seems to me if you want FM transmission, you need to have a SW radio. I have a Sony ICF7600 radio my husband used while overseas in Bosnia in 97. It has the AM SW SSB mode or you can switch it to FM and I pick up all my local FM radio stations like a portable FM radio does. They are available on Ebay for not much money. Good little radio........

 

[Twister_2]

I do know that some scanners do pick up the fm radio band. However, the sound quality probably wouldn't be too good because it is just a little speaker made for voice.