Why I have Multiple Radios

[a727469]

In the beginning as a kid in the mid 60s it was all tunable radios so you really did need more than one, at least three running at one time. Crystal scanners, a few would do at one time but in those days there were so many choices and brands and they just kept coming out with newer and better radios. Couldn't help myself.

Then the programmable radios came out and they kept getting better and better and it was so much to listen to, we had a saying in The Newsroom, the more you scan, the less you hear, you didn't want to miss a bank robbery down the street because of a car stop in the next Township.

And you had the trunking radios, then you had the introduction of all the different bands. Then you had digital, then you had all the different types of digital.

God I wish I had a nickel for every radio of every type that I have owned in the last 60 years. I'm down to one in the car listening to about five different things and a couple radios on my desk now. Retired but still don't want to miss anything.

Probably that nickel per radio would get me an sds100💰😃

 

[rf_patriot200]

Probably that nickel per radio would get me an sds100💰😃

DID you check the classifieds here on RR ? There are a couple deals on 100's there .

 

[steve9570]

Probably that nickel per radio would get me an sds100💰😃

Me too I have know idea how many I have of the top of my head.

 

[steve9570]

In the beginning as a kid in the mid 60s it was all tunable radios so you really did need more than one, at least three running at one time. Crystal scanners, a few would do at one time but in those days there were so many choices and brands and they just kept coming out with newer and better radios. Couldn't help myself.

Then the programmable radios came out and they kept getting better and better and it was so much to listen to, we had a saying in The Newsroom, the more you scan, the less you hear, you didn't want to miss a bank robbery down the street because of a car stop in the next Township.

And you had the trunking radios, then you had the introduction of all the different bands. Then you had digital, then you had all the different types of digital.

God I wish I had a nickel for every radio of every type that I have owned in the last 60 years. I'm down to one in the car listening to about five different things and a couple radios on my desk now. Retired but still don't want to miss anything.

How about a buck for every one I have had in the past 60 years too. I have 8 more months till I retire ( again) and I could live good with that money. As a LEO for 23 year you learn to listen to many radios going off at the same time.

 

[trentbob]

How about a buck for every one I have had in the past 60 years too. I have 8 more months till I retire ( again) and I could live good with that money. As a LEO for 23 year you learn to listen to many radios going off at the same time.

Absolutely, you get used to it pretty fast, just a tone of voice of the dispatcher or officer to indicate more urgency than normal. Knowing the voices of the various dispatchers so you know what you're listening to without looking at the radios, As I was saying as a long time newspaper man, you don't want to miss anything, the more you scan the less you hear so the only way to handle that is have more radios running.

Yeah a buck a radio, I could use new tires on the car.😄

 

[steve9570]

Funny you say that. My wife asks How you can tell whats going on. I can tell What channel I am listing to just by the dispatchers voice or the way the channel closes out. I have many FQs memorized with out having to look them up. I guess after 60 plus years of monitoring it just happens. After working at the Boston PD so long I can tell you each FQs and sector of the top my head. Fire and EMS too. Other normal stuff not to much LOL Steve

 

[a727469]

DID you check the classifieds here on RR ? There are a couple deals on 100's there .

Actually I had one and sold it and kept my 200 and bcd996p2! I would still take the nickels or especially the 1 dollar per radio though!

 

[es93546]

Funny you say that. My wife asks How you can tell whats going on. I can tell What channel I am listing to just by the dispatchers voice or the way the channel closes out. I have many FQs memorized with out having to look them up. I guess after 60 plus years of monitoring it just happens. After working at the Boston PD so long I can tell you each FQs and sector of the top my head. Fire and EMS too. Other normal stuff not to much LOL Steve

I can tell different agencies by the sound of the carrier, before and after the dispatcher talks. It is the sound of the hum in the radio, the way the squelch dropping off and the strength of the signal. The speed and cadence of the dispatcher's voices tends to vary by agency as well.

I got used to having one scanning radio, which had enough banks so I could lessen the number of frequencies I was listening to and able to transmit on. I had a BC760 mounted under that radio so I could listen to the CHP on low band, Caltrans on 800 MHz and aviation. Most of the radios in the eastern Sierra rural area were on VHF High. I could also put my handheld King radio in manual and leave it turned up. That is 3 radios at once. Working all these radios while enroute to an incident required driving safely as well. I had the roads well memorized. When on a large fire I generally scanned the command channel and the unit [park, forest or district (BLM)] as well as my assigned divisional tac on my King handheld. I had it set up so it stopped scanning and landed on the tac channel as that is what I transmitted on 98% of the time. I'm retired from the U.S. Forest Service and my last job, the one I spent the most time in, was as a field supervisor, a sergeant type of a job.