What was your first scanner model?

[gmclam]

Do you mean literally?

When asked about first "scanner", I wonder if I should take that question literally, or if the pollster actually is asking what our first public safety radio service receiver was.

My first "receiver" was a "converter" that was placed in close proximity to an AM radio tuned to 530 KHz. It was able to pick up a single VHF frequency. Several months later I upgraded to a 2 channel converter, but you had to manually select the channel.

My first SCANNER is one that I still listen to to this very day. It "was" a Realistic Patrolman PRO-10. I say was because it is no longer 8 channels with incadescent lights to indicate the channel. I purchased a PRO-77 a year later and each is now customized with a CPU, digital readout and 20 channels each. I have 2 sets of PRO-10/PRO-77 scanners customized in this fashion.

 

[fredg]

Wow ! Some of these replies to this post really put us newbie's into prespective !
I very fortunate I missed all the tube and crystal controlled dinasours of the past

No No! You are very UN-fortunate to have missed out on the tube/crystal controlled scanners!! They were very cool at the time! And a no brainer! Pop in a crystal or spin the dial and you were good to go, non of this trunking digital stuff to deal with... AND you could pop them open and fix them when they broke!!

My first crystal hand held was a 6 channel that cost $125 USED and then I needed crystals at $6 a pop about $170 with tax for a 6 channel radio that you could not easily change the freq's on.

And if you wanted to change crystals you had to buy new ones or trade in your old ones which were now only worth $1 each!!! So there was good and bad...

And it should be noted that a "rock" scanner sounds WAY better and clearer than any synth scanner today. When my crystal scanner goes off it is like they are in the room with me no static, hum or distortion.... you have to hear it to really understand....

 

[w0fg]

Bearcat BC-8 VHF

 

[unklefester]

the first "high tech" scanner for me was a Fox 10 channel....thought it was so cool not having to mess with crystals......

 

[gpswx4cster]

My first scanner

My first scanner was a Realistic 4 channel scanner mobile unit. I saved up the money for it and my dad bought the crystals for me. I had to buy one of those radio shack 12 volt power supplies to run it. I think you could only lock out the first channel if you wanted to. The unit was black and had red leds for channel indicator. I would spend my weekends listening to the Baton Rouge City Police and Fire Department on that thing!

This had to be around 1973 to 1975. Can't tell you how much money I have spent on scanners since then!

Gary

 

[brandon]

Pro-51 around 13 years ago.


Now thousands of dollars later....

 

[ibagli]

Radio Shack Pro-2050

 

[skip21]

Bearcat 220

 

[gpswx4cster]

For all you "older" Radio Shack owners. I found this link that has images of just about every Radio Shack scanner made:

http://n7olq.home.att.net/Radio/RSscanner.htm

I found my old first scanner, which was a Pro-12 Model listed also!

 

[captncarp]

First Scanner

ELECTRA BEARCAT II or III don't remember which, bought about 1969 if I remember right. About ten crystal channels VHF.
First handheld was a RADIO SHACK, 4 crystal controlled channels. On top it had a toggle switch sticking up for manual or scan and four little on/off switches with red LED's. Don't remember what my first programable was other than it was a Bearcat. My first programable handheld was Bearcats first one, ten channels, and a mess of AA battrys sleaved on either side from the bottom.
DMC

 

[N5AMS]

mine was a bc60xlt back in 98

 

[joetnymedic]

It was a long time ago - 20+ years but I remember it was a radio shack 4 ch xtal controled portable. West Haven PD was like 154.010 or something like that. West Haven FD was on 33.70 along with just about the whole county. and the scanner only recieved VHF lo/high and was "state of the art" for its time.

 

[oregontreehugger]

RS Pro-60 given to me as a gift. After seeing all these posts I am starting to wish I had kept it! It was a great start in the hobby -- between it and Police Call I spent a lot of time programming and listening to anything I could.

 

[N8IAA]

I had a Patrolman that was FM with the VHF on that dial and UHF on a separate dial. Don't remember the number. But it was similar to the Patrolman !. Used to listen for hours to that radio)

 

[kc2kvz]

A Randix 308. 8 Channel crystal controlled. Almost state of the art in 1976...

 

[_jabber_]

Bearcat

Mine was a bearcat scanner which i sent away to Oakville for crystals.

 

[ridgescan]

Man I've enjoyed reading all these beautiful memories! And the photos! Cool stuff you guys. My first commgetter is (still have it running in den) the Realistic Patrolman-9 from 1976. First scanner was (still have in closet) a'75 Bearcat Electra 8 crystal. Thanks for posting all thse pics for us all to enjoy-I really dug that Radio shack link from gpswx4cstr!

 

[cgm889372]

Radioshack

Pro-164..... Im a greenhorn in the radio world...Im lOVIN it....

 

[elk2370bruce]

A Johnson Duo-scan
http://scanpix3.home.att.net/Misc/johnsonduoscan.jpg
Wmbio

Ditto. Before that it was an analog VHF receiver (forgot the brand) with a slide rule dial circa 1956.

 

[GemmaKnight]

RS Pro-70 50-channel handheld. Got that when I was 15. I loved that thing! Too bad it broke on me.