Handheld vs. base/mobile

[jhulik]

Hello all,

My late father had a BC140 scanner that I kept in my garage for years after his passing. Recently, there have been some crime concerns where I live and the scanner was brought out of storage. Now I'm finding it hard to turn the thing off. I guess I'm hooked.

I generally listen to emergency/police frequencies but I would also like to listen to railroad related stuff as well. I am looking to buy a new scanner but I'm torn between a handheld and base/mobile unit. I'm concerned that the handheld would not be able to pick up the signals as well as a base unit but I like the idea of carrying the thing from room to room or even the car.

So the question is, would a handheld be a good purchase?

Thanks
Joe - Middlesex, Dunellen, Greenbrook, Piscataway area of NJ

 

[photovision]

Some people say that the handhelds are not as sensitive or do not cope with front end overload as well as base units. The specs between comparable models in a product line are often exactly the same. Other than variances due to component tolerances you should be able to expect equal operation.

 

[ermin]

I have excusively used handhelds for over 25 years. My area has great trunked systems but I also use a small antenna in the atic when I'm home and a small mag mount while on the road. Haven't missed a thing in years.

73

Ermin

 

[LordJ]

If you missed it, how would you know?

 

[DPD1]

Hi gain external antennas can sometimes be too much for some hand-helds. Not all, but it depends on the model. I was running a pretty big antenna on a hand-held out in the desert the other day and realized I was getting the same ATIS across about 5 different freqs, and it wasn't even that close by.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[jhulik]

Thanks

Thanks for all your help.