Where do you take your scanner?

[N4DES]

I typicially carry my Visar on the weekends and my XTS2500 during the week. I carry it almost everywhere except the gym. You never know when you gotta call for assistance.

 

[rhutch]

The other good thing it looks like they are going to get rid of the morse code requirements in the US. they already got rid of them up here in Canada. You never now you might just like amateur radio as much as scanners. Even with a 2m handheld you can talk all over the world with the help of IRLP or Echo link (voice over IP).

VE3HTU

 

[MacombMonitor]

The other good thing it looks like they are going to get rid of the morse code requirements in the US. they already got rid of them up here in Canada. You never now you might just like amateur radio as much as scanners. Even with a 2m handheld you can talk all over the world with the help of IRLP or Echo link (voice over IP).

VE3HTU

No more Morse code! They should have done away with that back when we no longer had to crank our telephones to call someone. Amen!

 

[vanderneut]

I only use a scanner for info gathering. I take it on roadtrips so I know how long it will take to clean up an accident on the interstate. Or at the airport to find out what the status of flights REALLY is. I don't see the point of bringing into the mall with you so you can listen to mall security. That's prettty lame.

 

[Al42]

No more Morse code! They should have done away with that back when we no longer had to crank our telephones to call someone. Amen!

Say that the next time you have a transmitter, no mic and need outside assistance to keep you alive. It's happened.

Or no radio. People trapped in ships or collapsed buildings have sometimes communicated with rescue crews by tapping morse on the hull or a beam. Since it's no big deal to learn the code (it can be done in a few weeks, at most), there's no reason to not learn it. (I'm not saying that, except for prestige, there ought to be a 20 wpm requirement.)

 

[rhutch]

I know the code, but those excuses have been used for years. How often have any of those things happen and I mean for real not as an urban legend. Amateur Radio is the last service to get rid of the code. Don't get me wrong cw is great (especially when the sunspot cycle is at it's min.) and has a great purpose in radio but I don't think it should be a litmus test as to whether someone is deserving enough to get a licence. But it looks like the debate is over (and I doubt it will have much of an effect one way or the other).

VE3HTU

 

[radiopete]

Thanks for all the Ham license info, that website is very informative. There's a book called "Now you're talking" that I would like to find and browse thru at a bookstore before deciding to purchase it.

FWIW You can find the book at radio shack. At one time they quit carrying it. Now they carry it again. Also check your local ham clubs. Many of them offer the class for free.

Pete

 

[KB4REA]

FWIW You can find the book at radio shack. At one time they quit carrying it. Now they carry it again. Also check your local ham clubs. Many of them offer the class for free.

Thanks...I didn't realize Radio Shack carried it and I've been in there soo many times the last two months.
I actually just came back from Barnes & Nobles. Found the book under the engineering reference section. It's quite a big book...I also found out that there's an exam session in my area Sept. 17. I have two weeks to decide what I'm gonna do.

 

[K2KOH]

Since I pretty much only listen to aircraft traffic, the radio stays in the car. Whenever I go into a store, there's usually something inside that interferes with aircraft frequencies on a scanner.

 

[k0bzv]

Just had to respond to this. I use my scanner at work. I am a security
officer (Rent-A-Cop) and my scanner has become almost as essential as my
clipboard. When working gates at gated communities, it lets me know when
fire/rescue is heading my way and I can have the gates open and entry lanes
clear. On all-nighters at cars lots or buildings, the PRO-95 is a lot of fun to
listen to while walking about and I also have a vague idea of events in my
area. My ham hand-held is also good but ain't too many folks up at 3 am!!
BTW: I live in Florida and have had no problems with real police. Just be a
bit discreet.
Carl - K0BZV (Central Florida)

 

[b52hbuff]

I take it everywhere I go...

It's been inside a casino, to theme parks, malls, stores, in the park, in the car, on military bases, through airports, and airshows. Had it out in the open on Presidential visits, and Govenor visits.

Took a Ham HT to Paris, Disneyland Paris and Paris Airshow.

I'm surprised to read about all of the concern. I've never been 'approached' by anyone who gave me a hard time about it. Actually was talking to a Disneyland security guard and noone said anything...

Have folks actually had these bad scanner experiences, or is it all just urban legend??

 

[elk2370bruce]

One big no-no in my area (central New Jersey) is the NJ Transit Trains and the glorified subway cars that take you under the Hudson River into beautiful, fragrant, lower Manhattan (New York City). The friendly transit PD's are not so friendly with scanners in view and it may be against their rail laws. I was advised to turn it off and place it in my carry-along for the duration of the trip. I said Yessir and did as I was asked. His K-9 partner could have eaten my leg as well as munching on my scanner. I do have two scanners at my operations desk at work; along with the trunked base stations that we use. Normally can take the hand-held just about anwhere but rarely in Wal Wart or similar venues.

 

[Navycop]

Does VA have any scanner laws? Everytime I read these post I always see some more good info I can use for just starting out..

 

[b52hbuff]

Normally can take the hand-held just about anwhere but rarely in Wal Wart or similar venues.

Is this by choice or by law? I can't imagine a Wal Mart would actually care...

I'd also be interested in following up on that 'rail restriction'....

 

[trainwreck100]

I take mine where i want to, but not usually inside businesses, unless there's something I can't miss, just because it's annoying to be hanging down there. But I was sitting talking to our town cop awhile back and we were comparing scanners, so I guess it must not be real illegal around Oklahoma.

 

[K5MAR]

Trainwreck, you're safe here in Oklahoma. State law privides for penalties for use "in furtherance of a crime" I believe the wording says. Other than that, no restrictions. For information on what the laws are in the U.S., see this site.

Hey B52HBuff, I guess that (your nickname) makes you a "BUFF" buff! (Sorry, couldn't resist!) :lol:

Back on topic, I'm more likely to carry one of my wideband ham HTs, which work well as scanners in my non-trunked area. My VX2 fits nicely in a case designed for a Moto cellphone, and with an earpiece plugged into the top, nobody thinks twice. But in the springtime, if the weather is looking "interesting", then I pull out my ADI AT600 HT w/ extra capacity battery. I'm easily identifiable as one of those "crazy storm chasers" (only half true), who are common in Oklahoma, so other than having to field frequent questions as to what the weather is going to do, people don't give me a second look.

Mark S.

 

[cdenton]

Scanner

Mine stays in the car. I will take my Kenwood or Icom (dialed in to the local freqs) with me into the big box stores, though. They come in handy when I need help finding something - I just call out a request for help for the section I'm in, and they show right up!

 

[khvfdff]

Took mine into Wal-Mart once was listening to a structure fire on one of the Putnam TAC channels. A Putnam county deputy even stopped, he and I listened to the fire. I think that as long as you are a police officer and/or a firefighter and are able to prove it by some ID you probably won't be messed with. But to be on the safe side I would also get a HAM operator license.

 

[mkewman]

I find it funny how people react to my scanner.

Some people think i'm an undercover cop (LOL) or a firefighter (as if! i could pass off easier as a cop with the northern california 'law enforcement gut') or something to that effect, as for on my vehicle, people seem to think it's an unmarked cop car (it's a 95 ford taurus, white, with a single antenna... doesn't look like any cop car i've ever seen) and i've never been cut off since i got the antenna on there, nor have i had any pesky slow cars in front of me on the fast lane, they just move right over!

a common courtesy though- turn your scanner DOWN when going into your local grocer or department store or drugstore. the other day i came across another scanning hobbiest who had his radio BLASTING... there wasn't anything going on, but other customers were visibly annoyed.

however, the only problem i HAVE run into, was the local campus police at my college, they tend to talk S*it about people over their radio system, and i've gotten a little more trouble from then than the average student. (nothing serious, just a little "dude, why do you have that? what do you need it for?") i guess it makes them a little uneasy.

other than that, never had any problems.

 

[Buckskinner33]

I used to carry mine all over the place but when I got my Motorola I started to leave the scanner in the truck or at the office. My work radio is loaded with a few LE and fire talkgroups. I still use my scanner at work just for the fact it can not be loaded with every talk group our system runs.

My wife on the otherhand is a different story...If there was a designer holder for her scanner she would by it ..... Imagine a Lois Vouton or Dooney Bourke holder for a scanner....Jeeze

And If any you guys make one, I want commission rights!