Newbie - Any help or advice would be appreciated :)

[midnightsky]

Hi all!! I am new to the whole scanner world, and have no idea what I am doing or what scanner I should get. My boyfriend is a volunteer firefighter is Jackson, NJ, and I want to get a scanner to listen to what is going on when he is out on a call. I heard that it is on a "trunked" channel, but I have no idea what that means. I want to make sure I get a scanner that will do what I want it to do, and I want to make sure I know what to do with it once I get it Any advice on which scanner I should get would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!

 

[K5MAR]

First, check the database section for the frequencies & modes used in your area, that will give you an idea of what you need to look for. You also might check the New Jersey forum, if you haven't already, and see if there are other scannists in your area who can make recommendations.

Off hand, I recommend the Radio Shack Pro-95, as long as you don't have digital in your area. This can easily be used in home or on the go. It has tha ability to put "alpha" tags on the frequencies so you know who's talking, and uses common AA batteries. There are Uniden scanners (the 250 or 296) that are very good, but they use proprietary battery packs that can be a pain. The 95, 250 & 296 can also be programmed using a computer, a very handy feature.

If you have a digital system, you'll need the Pro-96, the Uniden BC250 (with digital card) or the BC296.

Hope this helps,
Mark S.