Where Will Scanning Be In The Future?

[Voyager]

Public safety scanning, yes. For the most part, it's ending or has already. But there's so much more out there beyond that. Milair, weather spotters, news crews in the field, security, schoolbuses, aircraft, etc, etc, etc... lots to monitor out there and will be for years to come.

I see if just the opposite. I see Business/Industrial going away faster than Public Safety, as that's happening already. That rules out security and school buses unless a scanner comes out that supports MotoTRBO and the like.

News crews have been illegal to monitor since the revised ECPA of 1994 which was changed to include (prohibit) STLs, IFBs, RPUs, and the like.

Aircraft/Milair are about the only thing that might be monitorable for some time...

 

[Voyager]

Only scanning will be amateur radio.

With all the flavor-of-the-week digital modes, I would not count on ham radio being scannable using a scanner unless they start supporting the various digital modes beyond P25.

 

[W6KRU]

I have tried the planes, trains, and boats stuff and it is almost as interesting as watching paint dry. Here in CA we will have CHP on low band for a while I think.

Scanning has become less interesting in itself. It used to be about understanding radio systems and configuring your scanner to monitor the desired radios. Now with the new HP/EZscan scanners it is only manipulating the appliance. Not much fun now.

 

[CrabbyMilton]

Well W6KRU, it's a matter of perspective. No, I don't like the idea of so many of my old favorites after 35 plus years of scanning becoming out of reach as far as monitoring goes. But if aircraft, rail, and other "twist the dial" hit are all that are there, then that's all that is there. I don't like it but that doesn't mean the world is over. My gosh, the things that you can research thanks to the internet are countless. Let's no forget either that what you hear on the scanner is not meant for our entertainment but they often have the effect. What did people do before police had radio's? Try to dig into the ground to tap into the call box wires? Enjoy what we can still hear and if you don't find it exciting, there are other things to capture your interest in the world.

 

[AZScanner]

I see if just the opposite. I see Business/Industrial going away faster than Public Safety, as that's happening already. That rules out security and school buses unless a scanner comes out that supports MotoTRBO and the like.

With free tools like DSD, SDR# and others, there's no reason to create such a scanner. It already exists. Just add your own $20 dongle.

News crews have been illegal to monitor since the revised ECPA of 1994 which was changed to include (prohibit) STLs, IFBs, RPUs, and the like.

Pfft. Who cares, I'd still listen. I just wouldn't talk about what I heard. Suppose all scanners became illegal tomorrow - would I get rid of all mine? Hell no! I'd just keep 'em at home and out of plain sight. Mama didn't raise no fool.

Aircraft/Milair are about the only thing that might be monitorable for some time...

Heh. At the rate the FAA is going, we'll have aircraft talking on analog AM well into the 30th century. I'm not worried about losing the air bands any time soon.

-AZ