Scanning help

[Ronyo]

I have this Uniden BC278CLT scanner for years now but never used it.
Today is the first time I turned it on.
I got few frequencies from the web of police and fire in my town and start scanning.
It will scan an stop on a frequency but there is no audio only white noise.
My question,
1. Is my scanner too old for this?
2. Do they still use analog communications or it is all digital?
3. Do I have the correct frequencies? Where is the best place to get the current frequencies?

 

[Sportster77]

With out knowing what frequencies you have or what city or county you are trying listen to, it will be hard to answer your questions.

 

[W8RMH]

That scanner technology is over 15 years old. Radio technology has come a long, long way since then with the advent of trunked systems, digital systems, and most systems operating in narrow band.

The noise you are hearing is probably digital. As stated above more information is needed to be sure.

Aside from public safety you should be able to receive weather, aviation, marine, some railroad, business (maybe) and amateur VHF/UHF.

 

[DickH]

...
3. Do I have the correct frequencies? Where is the best place to get the current frequencies?

Go to the top of this page. Right under the large RADIOREFERENCE click on Database.

 

[Ronyo]

I'm in the Los Angeles area and this is some of the frequencies I got:
484.9375
484.5125
858.9375
506.7125
484.9625
506.8875
484.8500
484.8875
470.5125
506.9750

 

[Ronyo]

Will a newer scanner do the job?

 

[wtp]

p-25

it seems most of the frequencies that you posted were P-25. that means digital so you will need a digital scanner to hear them. it will open up a new world for you. the radios are really computers that receive radio frequencies. the really old days of crystals are gone the old days of scanner channels are almost gone. now you put a freq into a system folder. but don't worry there are many here who will help. i would (and have) re-purpose the old radio for other areas to scan, like ham radio,local businesses, airplanes.

 

[Ronyo]

it seems most of the frequencies that you posted were P-25. that means digital so you will need a digital scanner to hear them. it will open up a new world for you. the radios are really computers that receive radio frequencies. the really old days of crystals are gone the old days of scanner channels are almost gone. now you put a freq into a system folder. but don't worry there are many here who will help. i would (and have) re-purpose the old radio for other areas to scan, like ham radio,local businesses, airplanes.

Great,
Does "re-purpose" means to modify the scanner? or am I already able to listen to HAM radio?

 

[N8IAA]

Great,
Does "re-purpose" means to modify the scanner? or am I already able to listen to HAM radio?

No modifications necessary. The radio has a search range just for ham frequencies. I believe it does VHF air also.
Larry

 

[Ronyo]

So is it possible to listen to police and fire today? or it's all digitally encrypted.

 

[BaLa]

So is it possible to listen to police and fire today? or it's all digitally encrypted.

Yes it's possible.

Some places are encrypting everything others are encrypting just a few channels.

According to the DB
The LAPD Channels are 'just' P25 (not encrypted)