Multiple Radios

[6079smithw]

Say things like "honey, you never looked so beautiful," and "They were throwing out this scanner", Or "There was a once in a lifetime sale at Amazon." Best of luck with that. Greg

You have a better chance of getting hit by an asteroid in your back yard than thinking she's gonna buy that... (Ask me how I know)

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

I noted that many of you mention that you have different things programmed in to the various scanners, and listen to different things on each scanner.

I listen to different things on each scanner, but I program each scanner type identically. By "type", I mean all of my modern Unidens have the same profile, and all of my modern Whistlers have the same profile. I use the bank/zone selection to determine what each scanner actually monitors. This allows me to only have to edit a single profile per scanner type, and then I can load the one profile into all of the scanners of that type. And if (when) I get another of the same scanner type, it's ready to use in just a couple minutes. Having all of the scanners programmed identically also makes finding things quick and easy when time matters. Modern scanners have enough memory capacity to load in "everything".

yep. That’s exactly what I do. All my whistlers are programmed exactly the same. It allows me to only have to deal with a single code plug, but I can also switch them out if need be. I also keep spare SD cards with the plug and programming software taped to the scanners in my car/work truck so if something happens to the card, I can just switch them out and go.

 

[Cognomen]

I also keep spare SD cards with the plug and programming software taped to the scanners in my car/work truck so if something happens to the card, I can just switch them out and go.

That's actually a good idea. On our last radio-investigating road trip, my buddy's 668 SD card crapped out. We were in a small town not close to anywhere, and were not able to purchase another SD card, so we were down one scanner, even though we had the Toughbook with us. I think I'll keep a spare programmed card with my spare batteries.

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

That's actually a good idea. On our last radio-investigating road trip, my buddy's 668 SD card crapped out. We were in a small town not close to anywhere, and were not able to purchase another SD card, so we were down one scanner, even though we had the Toughbook with us. I think I'll keep a spare programmed card with my spare batteries.

yep. You just have to remember to dump the installer on there to so if you need to make changes, you can just install the software on the new machine and go to town.

 

[Giddyuptd]

Fwiw ic in most modern places will have a dedicated communications officer that will monitor and relay as needed on multiple radios. Sometimes 2 comm officers.

This practice is lax in many agencies.

You dont miss critical comms and relay the priority essential to x channel.

Most your fire ground is on a tac and not scanning which should be policy. Some use a main channel.

Scanner user its logical to monitor primaries and a side channel so the die hards aren't wrong.