Akuriko
Member
Hello, I am not knowing where to post this so here goes, I have a short story for you, the other day my county sheriff said why do we need scanners. just use your phone, i was like really holding my tongue on his remark, which got me to think, most people want an app for it so it's slowly dying, but is there a main reason why? of course, my opinion is this. I have family all over the USA who want to get into the hobby, but since I am the one who is retired I am supposed to cater and do their bidding as some say, lol and do massive research for their needs of hat ever, they're all interested in an everyday scanner to listen to the base station and mobile, I keep telling them to use radio reference and use broadcasting to know if it's for them, then they say well I don't understand this or that, take my big brother, he buys a 355N doesn't work then now installing an SDR software for a Linux ubuntu, lol to see if it works. the 355N was sent back, a lot of people where i live to want to listen to the scanner, and they ask me questions I'm like well try this or that, unfortunately, I think the following could be fixed to get new members in the hobby.
1. conventional vs trunked, most police, fire, and ems still use trunked, when shopping for a scanner or someone who needs to get into the hobby people sit there and say which one?, well analog? or well digital?, conventional or trunked?
2. manufactures should let people know or others what works and doesn't work? I am not going to send someone down the wrong rabbit hole on scanners, for example, if I recommend someone a scanner its either the 15x for trunked analog systems or a 325p2 or 996p2 to make sure they get the trunked police they want, I live on an island and I'm learning more and more every day, fire and ems on separate supposedly encrypted channels, the sheriff wants digital but has too many fire and police boats needs to sell em to cover the bill for it and with only 200 calls a week recorded in the paper they really don't want to waste the money currently,
I am always recommending the 325p2 or the 996p2 to start if you are on an island like me because some people buy a non-trunked scanner it will be used mostly for marine and railroad,
3, makers of Uniden or whistler should tell people this unit will and can pick up public safety with a star * saying within reason, a lot of people buy analog thinking well i use it in my analog town then don't know the police, fire, ems is trunked.
for example the 355N, then I haven't got it to pick up the sheriff or any of the others, 30C same thing, the 75xlt or 125at or the 365crs, the same thing, so my thoughts is if the public safety is trunked then the basic scanners won't work, they need to get a trunked scanner the 325p2 or the 996p2 to start or the 15x if its analog and not going anywherre or people are not traveling, most mobile scanners can be used as a hobby but i have not seen yet without being trunked to pick up public safety.
now like me i do get the P2 system on the WSDOT otherwise mostly the sheriff, witch means 1 channel for me, lol, but when i go to skagit or watcom county i take my hand held and i have tested the analog and without it being trunked doesnt pick up any public works so there is a difference, i do highly recommend the 436 and 536 for the all rounder scanner for mobile and for travel, for analog and digital i also recommend unless your in a simulcasting area you dont need anything better then the 436 and 536, like i said 1 channel where i live on most days, but i wanted to share my thoughts, is it a dead hobby because of the phones? or apps? maybe, is it dead or dying because of everything going encrypted, most definitely.
to help people like my naibors out who all want a scanner to listen to the police they say what works now i can say a trunked scanner, a $100 whistler or up to $150 uniden non trunked wont work, so there like oh better use a app or something, so i have done so much research on this with helping my brother and naibors but i dont mind i wanted to share my thoughs and opinions.
have a safe and happy new years eve and new years day, lets make 2023 a great year.
Peace and love
~Akuriko
1. conventional vs trunked, most police, fire, and ems still use trunked, when shopping for a scanner or someone who needs to get into the hobby people sit there and say which one?, well analog? or well digital?, conventional or trunked?
2. manufactures should let people know or others what works and doesn't work? I am not going to send someone down the wrong rabbit hole on scanners, for example, if I recommend someone a scanner its either the 15x for trunked analog systems or a 325p2 or 996p2 to make sure they get the trunked police they want, I live on an island and I'm learning more and more every day, fire and ems on separate supposedly encrypted channels, the sheriff wants digital but has too many fire and police boats needs to sell em to cover the bill for it and with only 200 calls a week recorded in the paper they really don't want to waste the money currently,
I am always recommending the 325p2 or the 996p2 to start if you are on an island like me because some people buy a non-trunked scanner it will be used mostly for marine and railroad,
3, makers of Uniden or whistler should tell people this unit will and can pick up public safety with a star * saying within reason, a lot of people buy analog thinking well i use it in my analog town then don't know the police, fire, ems is trunked.
for example the 355N, then I haven't got it to pick up the sheriff or any of the others, 30C same thing, the 75xlt or 125at or the 365crs, the same thing, so my thoughts is if the public safety is trunked then the basic scanners won't work, they need to get a trunked scanner the 325p2 or the 996p2 to start or the 15x if its analog and not going anywherre or people are not traveling, most mobile scanners can be used as a hobby but i have not seen yet without being trunked to pick up public safety.
now like me i do get the P2 system on the WSDOT otherwise mostly the sheriff, witch means 1 channel for me, lol, but when i go to skagit or watcom county i take my hand held and i have tested the analog and without it being trunked doesnt pick up any public works so there is a difference, i do highly recommend the 436 and 536 for the all rounder scanner for mobile and for travel, for analog and digital i also recommend unless your in a simulcasting area you dont need anything better then the 436 and 536, like i said 1 channel where i live on most days, but i wanted to share my thoughts, is it a dead hobby because of the phones? or apps? maybe, is it dead or dying because of everything going encrypted, most definitely.
to help people like my naibors out who all want a scanner to listen to the police they say what works now i can say a trunked scanner, a $100 whistler or up to $150 uniden non trunked wont work, so there like oh better use a app or something, so i have done so much research on this with helping my brother and naibors but i dont mind i wanted to share my thoughs and opinions.
have a safe and happy new years eve and new years day, lets make 2023 a great year.
Peace and love
~Akuriko