Newbieeee needing frequency answers

[slamina]

Hi, Please know I am brand new to all of this but am wanting to surprise my mother with a radio where she can listen to police, ambulance and anyother emergency. She's not interested in talking with truckers, etc.. I don't know where or how to begin looking for what I need. My mother lives in Center Point, IA and wants to pick up from there to Cedar Rapids, IA and Benton county. These are all within a 17 mile range. Center Point is 17 miles north of Cedar Rapids. Benton county is just about 10 miles northeast (?) of Center Point. These are only approx.. I don't know how precise I need to be. Can anyone give me some steps to take if needed and/or advice on what type of radio and frequencies needed? I'd appreciate any help. Thanks so much, Slamina

 

[qlajlu]

slamina, if I were you, I would go to the Iowa discussion forum and post your question. That would put you in a group of folks familiar with the area, the types of systems, and any problems you may encounter. They might also recommend the best equipment needed to cover the area you are talking about.

I think your idea is a great one and I commend you for your thoughtfulness.

 

[n2mdk]

Let me say welcome to the site. OK so your interested in Linn and Benton Counties. Let me start with the sort of bad news first Cedar Rapids is a trunked digital system so it's going to take an expensive scanner to listen to it. New radios are around $500, you can find used ones for lets say $300.
Benton Co. looks to be mostly conventional FM frequencies.
I would ask questions down in the Iowa Regional forum http://www.radioreference.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=43 to get more info from people in that area, I'm West of the area over in Ames.
Below are links to the database, as well as a link to the Wiki article on digital scanner
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Category:Digital_Scanners

Links to the database with the systems/frequencies and other info
Benton http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=790
Linn http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=841

 

[slamina]

Wow... thanks for the warm welcome and 2 quick helpful posts. I did move it on to the Iowa forum. I'm not the best w/posts when I don't know what I'm wanting, let alone asking about!! I figured Cedar Rapids would be a toughy (especially now) with trying to recover from our flooding. Thanks again for your time and help. You don't know how much I appreciate it. Maybe I'll become a fan of radios. Slamina

 

[WayneH]

Cross-posted. Replies to: http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112726