Scanning and professionals

[lschmidt]

What other professions besides the newsmedia would require one to have a scanner nearby?

 

[n4voxgill]

I am retired now, so did not vote. I was in public safety for over 40 years. I retired from Orlando Police and the last 10 years there I was commander of the communications division. I had a mobile mounted in my car and an assigned portable. both pre-trunked and with the trunked system I always had a scanner, and generally carried it instead of portable. Scanner was much lighter, battery life was better and did so much more than a portable radio could ever do. I ordered and installed sccanners in K9 cars and CSI units as they needed to monitor more than one channel and/or system. I responded on all SWAT or Hostage Negotiator call outs and many times with my scanner(s) set up a mobile comamnd post on the spot.

After retirement I went to work for the county and again had an assigned trunked portable in my car and one on my desk, but I primarily used a scanner for it's capabilities.

gill

 

[SAR923]

I am one of the search and rescue coordinators in our county. I have both VHF and UHF radios but still have a scanner, both mounted in my Explorer and a handheld. I've used scanners for everything from a crude DF for ELT's on downed aircraft to running almost entire mutual aid operations cross talking between different agencies with incompatible radio systems with our scanners as the thing that tied the systems together. I can't imagine not having a scanner. It would make my job much more difficult.

 

[kingpin]

We have one in the comm room to monitor neighboring cities that we don't have in the dispatch console.

 

[Llwellyn]

used scanners for everything from a crude DF for ELT's on downed aircraft

Exactly! When I was in CAP I carried it all the time, along with a paperclip. Don't let anyone tell your scanner is a "piece of crap" and their $500 L-Per with it's $250 antenna can never be wrong. :lol:

On a training run on 121.600 with a practice ELT, I DF'd 2/3 before the guys with the L-Per. The thing is not infallible; one of them was placed inside a railroad bed touching the track, and the other was placed inside a chimney with duct tape. The one the L-Per found first was inside a couch, and wasn't being messed with by surroundings.

I wouldn't rely on them as a primary unit, but it never, never hurts to have a backup, in any situation.

 

[INDY72]

As a deputy sheriff we ran scanners to monitor the local PD's, and surrounding counties,.. as a Volee FF/FR I use my scanner to monitor the surrounding counties, EMS agencies,.. as otherwise we would not know the real dispatch and ETA info etc,.. but would only get told the usual blah blah blah,.. and as a security officer we were required to monitor our scanners to keep up with local PD/SO responces to our properties, and to monitor other SA's areas that were near our stuff to give assistance. Hope that helps out some,....

 

[K5MAR]

What other professions besides the newsmedia would require one to have a scanner nearby?

I have equipped the local Red Cross director with a scanner for her office, as well as one for the RC van. It helps her keep track of possible situations that might require Disaster Services.

Mark S.

 

[INDY72]

And here is a list of jobs where a scanner is almost a MUST HAVE:

Security Officers, Deputy Sheriff, Volee FF/FR, PRO FF/FR, Police Officer, Commincations Official, News Media, Radio Techs, CAP, Red Cross, EMS, Some Taxi Co. Officials, SAR Officials,... hmm I leave anything out?

Have fun guys.

 

[cipher66]

I use a scanner in my job all the time - USAF Disaster Preparedness (Emergency Management).

Paul

 

[hcsd35-32]

I don't officially need a scanner for my job, but I take my handheld in when I work dispatch so I can listen to what the State troopers are doing and let my guys know if something might be happening in our county. I also like to have it on me a few hours before my shift so that I have an idea of whats going on and the shift before doesn't have to brief me.

 

[K2KOH]

After the proverbial poop hit the fan on September 11th, and we began to run a 24/7 Operations Office, I brought in one of my BC 780 scanners so we could listen to Westchester County PD and White Plains PD. I still keep a portable with me so I know what's going on around Westchester County, as well as NYC. Good thing to have when you're on the job...

 

[AZScanner]

OK, I got one more.... computer programmer. While not my primary job, I do get paid on occasion to write scanner software for some of the more popular Uniden's out there. It'd be kinda hard to do that without the scanner itself handy (which is a nice fringe benefit that I enjoy - getting to play with new toys for free). 8)

-AZ

 

[mlevin]

Ambulance Chaser!!!! :lol:

 

[mikerabbit]

In Westchester NY every different department wether it be police fire ems etc is on a different frequency band so a scanner is necessary, if you want to be aware of your surroundings.

 

[K2KOH]

In Westchester NY every different department wether it be police fire ems etc is on a different frequency band so a scanner is necessary, if you want to be aware of your surroundings.

Ah, wonderful Westchester County...125 little kingdoms!!