How many scanners does it take to screw in a light bulb?

[Firebuff66]

I use all the XTLs on the bottom for 1 channel and the scanners are broken up into different areas and talk groups

 

[KC1UA]

Plus it allows you to go outside and get a little sun from time to time!

I have a question....

Were you sitting outside in the sun when you started this thread?

 

[n1chu]

I have a question....

Were you sitting outside in the sun when you started this thread?

Uh, no. You may be on to something!

 

[jmp883]

My listening post consisted of 5 scanners. All were identically programmed with various FD, PD, RR, and Aviation frequencies. Normally one radio was set to FDNY, one was set to my local FD’s, one was set to my local PD’s, one was set to Newark International Airport, and the fifth one was hooked up to a recorder. If something caught my attention on one of the other 4 radios I’d use the fifth scanner to record it.

I’ve been a dispatcher for the last 31 years and have learned to listen to multiple frequencies at the same time. I like the look of multiple scanners. I have thought about single frequency receivers but I like being able to hear everything. Currently my listening post consists of just a Bearcat HP-1. Hopefully I’ll get my multi-radio post back up and running.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I would like to get a dedicated (not PC) multi channel recorder with instant recall as I don't listen continuously and when I hear police or fire activity from Nextdoor, FB or simply sirens, it would be nice to recall beyond the 3 minutes my 536 provides, assuming it was switched on. As far as dedicated receivers, small conventional synthesized scanners are so cheap on used market that you could pack a half dozen in 2 RU's of space.

 

[N9JIG]

I would like to get a dedicated (not PC) multi channel recorder with instant recall as I don't listen continuously and when I hear police or fire activity from Nextdoor, FB or simply sirens, it would be nice to recall beyond the 3 minutes my 536 provides, assuming it was switched on. As far as dedicated receivers, small conventional synthesized scanners are so cheap on used market that you could pack a half dozen in 2 RU's of space.

Before I retired I had an opportunity to get a 64 channel digital voice logger identical to the one we had in our comm center. Basically they are a Linux PC with a bunch of storage and a couple audio interface cards with Windows based recovery access. To this day I regret not snagging it. It was the sales guy’s demo unit and was almost brand new and I could have had it for next to nothing.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Before I retired I had an opportunity to get a 64 channel digital voice logger identical to the one we had in our comm center. Basically they are a Linux PC with a bunch of storage and a couple audio interface cards with Windows based recovery access. To this day I regret not snagging it. It was the sales guy’s demo unit and was almost brand new and I could have had it for next to nothing.

I have been checking out ebay for an Eventide or Nice. Looking for a older model that does not require a lot of software support.

 

[N9JIG]

I have been checking out ebay for an Eventide or Nice. Looking for a older model that does not require a lot of software support.

Ours was an Eventide VR725. It was easy to install and to get the recovery software working. You purchased cards with 12 or 24 channels each (IIRC) and it could hold up to 96 channels with the card slots full. You could add recording capacity by adding larger capacity hard drives. It was all-in-all a simple and reliable piece of hardware.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Ours was an Eventide VR725. It was easy to install and to get the recovery software working. You purchased cards with 12 or 24 channels each (IIRC) and it could hold up to 96 channels with the card slots full. You could add recording capacity by adding larger capacity hard drives. It was all-in-all a simple and reliable piece of hardware.

I just found one on Gov Deals. They claim it was working, however the hard drives were removed. I wonder if SW is recoverable from the system, or if it needs to be scrounged.

 

[N9JIG]

I just found one on Gov Deals. They claim it was working, however the hard drives were removed. I wonder if SW is recoverable from the system, or if it needs to be scrounged.

Not too sure, it has been over 8 years since I played with one. I think the OS was on a smaller capacity drive and the storage drives were in pairs, probably some sort of RAID array. There is also a license issue, we had a 5-seat license, we could install it on as many computers on the network as needed but only 5 could be active at a time. There were times a supervisor would leave it running and some other supervisor would not be able to log in as 5 computers were already logged in. I don't recall if the license was a file or a dongle.

 

[JimD56]

Like most guys on here, I can listen to multiple systems/cities/towns/agencies at once in a metro area of more than 5.5 million.
I am not a "Ham Talker" even though I have my Ham Ticket.
My 3 Motorola XTLs and Kenwood TK790 are just my agency, switching between dispatch and tactical channels as needed.
XTLs were all bought cheap from RR members or eBay. Cheaper and "easier" than running multiple scanners.
My 2 SDS200s (yes I need 2) are for all the surrounding Simulcast, 1 is set to FD/EMS, 1 for PD and the SDS100 is a backup at home and for on-the-go.
2 of the BCT15xs are for Brodcastify feeds and 1 BCT15x is for Fed Govt and aviation.
3 SDRs running SDRTrunk same as the SDS200s to not miss anything.
Portables like the 125 and XPR7550e are just for misc.

So to answer your original question "How many scanners does it take to screw in a light bulb?" I would say 15

 

[K3YGX]

Answer to the joke?

None, they have leads that need to be soldered to a pc board.

 

[ElroyJetson]

If by chance I should wind up with a winning lottery ticket worth a few million dollars more than I have any immediate plans to spend, I'd probably set up a shack of sorts with a metric buttload of Icom R9500s for general purpose receiving purposes just as a starting point. At the next level, Rohde & Schwarz equipment would figure very heavily into the shack plans.

I'd model the general appearance of the radio center on the radio rooms found in the largest US Naval vessels, such as those found on the USS Iowa, only modernized.


I'd want the capability to monitor everything that qualifies as a man-made radio transmission. Near DC to near daylight. And multisite, too.

I'd also like to set up a world class RF test and measurement laboratory that'd be the go-to facility when engineers at the most cutting edge facilities need to make even BETTER measurements.

However I'd need an operating budget of millions to build this and probably spend a million a year maintaining it and keeping everything calibrated, even with my own in-house cal lab.

 

[trentbob]

If by chance I should wind up with a winning lottery ticket worth a few million dollars more than I have any immediate plans to spend, I'd probably set up a shack of sorts with a metric buttload of Icom R9500s for general purpose receiving purposes just as a starting point. At the next level, Rohde & Schwarz equipment would figure very heavily into the shack plans.

I'd model the general appearance of the radio center on the radio rooms found in the largest US Naval vessels, such as those found on the USS Iowa, only modernized.

View attachment 163634
I'd want the capability to monitor everything that qualifies as a man-made radio transmission. Near DC to near daylight. And multisite, too.

I'd also like to set up a world class RF test and measurement laboratory that'd be the go-to facility when engineers at the most cutting edge facilities need to make even BETTER measurements.

However I'd need an operating budget of millions to build this and probably spend a million a year maintaining it and keeping everything calibrated, even with my own in-house cal lab.

Okie dokie then, got it, I always liked the joke, how many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?

Only one.. but the light bulb, has to want to change.

 

[rf_patriot200]

As one of the worst offenders of the crime of lots of scanners racked up and looking pretty let me try to plead my case to the judge and jury:

The simple explanation is that I can and I enjoy it. Part of the reason behind the racks and cabinets is wife approval. She hates mess, especially visible wires. I keep her happy, and part of that is by keeping my office clean, wires out of sight or dressed and the place clutter free. Even my car is that way with a pair of 536's and a dual bander and not a wire in sight.

As for why the large amounts of radios, I use them all. When I am not actively listening to one or more I am logging activity

As one of the worst offenders of the crime of lots of scanners racked up and looking pretty let me try to plead my case to the judge and jury:

The simple explanation is that I can and I enjoy it. Part of the reason behind the racks and cabinets is wife approval. She hates mess, especially visible wires. I keep her happy, and part of that is by keeping my office clean, wires out of sight or dressed and the place clutter free. Even my car is that way with a pair of 536's and a dual bander and not a wire in sight.

As for why the large amounts of radios, I use them all. When I am not actively listening to one or more I am logging activity.

View attachment 150431

Pssst ... Hey Rich I see a wire.

 

[n1chu]

My first impression of those who post pics of numerous scanners is “Very Impressive”. And while I appreciate the massive time, effort and cost that needs to be present in order to accomplish such arduous tasks, I question how these accomplished endeavors provide a sense of satisfaction. If it’s just the displaying of multi-colored flashing lights a high tech display devices, a mockup of the Starship Enterprise’s bridge would suffice. But to accomplish this lightshow using receivers that actually do something would amount to information overload. The average human being, with years of exposure to a busy comms center may be able to accomplish some level of comprehension, hearing numerous comms at the same time. (I was able to accomplish that as a dispatcher in a busy dispatch center and while I reveled in the various comments/complements when visitors exclaimed their wonderment at my ability to comprehend everything that was going on, there was always something in the back of my mind telling me this environment was detrimental to my health.) There were days I went home totally exhausted, both physically and mentally. (Mental fatigue can also cause physical fatigue and shorten a lifespan given the right set of circumstances. Air Traffic controllers at major airports experience this on a regular basis.)

I question those who say they routinely monitor everything at the same time, can comprehend all and not have a detrimental effect on their lives. On the flip side of this, I commend all those who have that the ability to do so. My hat is off to you!


One thing that I have taken away from these accounts of extraordinary people who have mastered such tasks is that it’s mostly the ability to complete the “builds” and then use them as intended… but once the task has been realized and mastered, they move on to something else, another challenge. Because they find their need for that satisfaction has dwindled, they become less satisfied and realize another project needs to be identified.

In no way should this post be taken as an attempt to downplay those who identify themselves with the topic at hand… I commend them all. It’s just another opinion of the human experience. And you now what they say about opinions, everyone has them, just like we all have… I’ll let you finish it.

Respectfully submitted,
Bill

 

[K3YGX]

Q: How many teamsters does it take to change a lightbulb??

(any reply)

A: 15

(second reply)

A2: You got a problem with that?