Police Scanner
- Thread starter Creeker
- Start date
Joshua
Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
If he has internet he can monitor the police and fire channels online. All he needs is a smart phone or a tablet and some headphones.
I will listen in every once in a while. Gunshots or a house fire.
m.broadcastify.com
I will listen in every once in a while. Gunshots or a house fire.
Kitsap County Sheriff, Fire and EMS, Bremerton City Police Live Audio Feed
Kitsap County Sheriff, Fire and EMS, Bremerton City Police Live Audio Feed on Broadcastify.com
m.broadcastify.com
Last edited:
Tomme boy
Well-Known Member
I would say the baofeng radio but it could get him in trouble if he uses it to talk. https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Band136...316893&sprefix=boafang+snanner,aps,207&sr=8-4
I have this and it works well but you have to have a ham license to talk on it. But lots of people still use it without set up on their own freq.
I have this and it works well but you have to have a ham license to talk on it. But lots of people still use it without set up on their own freq.
Uniden Bearcat has a wide range of scanners from handheld to desk top,
Bearcatwarehouse Uniden Online Store - Bearcat Warehouse
Bearcatwarehouse Uniden Online Store - Bearcat Warehouse
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Do a little research on the area before you commit to anything.
There are a LOT of different public safety radio systems in use (even in rural areas) and the gear needed to receive that radio traffic is no longer universal.
In the old days you would encounter a couple of VHF bands and maybe a UHF band - all operating as analog systems. A simple VHF/UHF scanner would work fine in those days.
Now there are digital systems operating in the 800 MHz band, some are trunking systems, there's more than one digital encoding standard in use and many are encrypted. The days of a simple analog scanner are over.
More affluent regions tend to have more modern systems. Even some rural communities are modernizing their systems (some states require it) so location is no guarantee of system type.
Bottom line - Learn what systems are in use in your area BEFORE you buy any equipment.
There are a LOT of different public safety radio systems in use (even in rural areas) and the gear needed to receive that radio traffic is no longer universal.
In the old days you would encounter a couple of VHF bands and maybe a UHF band - all operating as analog systems. A simple VHF/UHF scanner would work fine in those days.
Now there are digital systems operating in the 800 MHz band, some are trunking systems, there's more than one digital encoding standard in use and many are encrypted. The days of a simple analog scanner are over.
More affluent regions tend to have more modern systems. Even some rural communities are modernizing their systems (some states require it) so location is no guarantee of system type.
Bottom line - Learn what systems are in use in your area BEFORE you buy any equipment.
Wise advice. This on the Uniden web site may help in that search.
Uniden Police Scanners Radios by State | Expert Uniden Programmers - Bearcat Warehouse
Uniden Police Scanners Radios by State | Expert Uniden Programmers - Bearcat Warehouse
JonB
Halcyon member
Creeker, IIRC you are pretty well connected in your local area. There must be a few people you know how are "up" on police scanners and the current frequencies (or transmissions) used in your area. You could even ask the Sheriff ...A good Sheriff will give you a square answer for this particular situation.
that's my 2¢
that's my 2¢
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
The systems used in an area are not secrets. However the average user of that system will rarely have an accurate grasp on the radio system he or she uses everyday. It's not that they want to be misleading. It's simply that they generally don't care how the radio works, only that it works !
They may be able to tell you that it is an 800 Mhz system or maybe that it is digital system. Most users can't tell you what type of digital standard is in use, whether or not it is a trunking system (or what TYPE of trunking system) or which frequency pairs are in use (which can be numerous in some systems)
So, don't base purchasing decisions on the information provided by an end user unless you know that user is particularly knowledgeable about public safety radios.
The link provided above by Rick is a big help. Another good source is to talk to the radio technicians that repair the equipment in your area. They DO know how it works and can generally answer technical questions.
And by the way, if the system is digitally encrypted, you're completely out of luck. So that's a key piece of information before you even start.
They may be able to tell you that it is an 800 Mhz system or maybe that it is digital system. Most users can't tell you what type of digital standard is in use, whether or not it is a trunking system (or what TYPE of trunking system) or which frequency pairs are in use (which can be numerous in some systems)
So, don't base purchasing decisions on the information provided by an end user unless you know that user is particularly knowledgeable about public safety radios.
The link provided above by Rick is a big help. Another good source is to talk to the radio technicians that repair the equipment in your area. They DO know how it works and can generally answer technical questions.
And by the way, if the system is digitally encrypted, you're completely out of luck. So that's a key piece of information before you even start.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Went into the local corner store one day a few years back. Local Highway Superintendent is in there and as soon as I walked in he yells out, "Hey! What happened down on Pine Hill Last night?!! There was some sort of accident!" I probably looked at him like he was an idiot (which he was) and said, "How the h would I know?!!!" He sez, "Well, I figured the Troopers would call you and let you know." I replied, "I've been retired for 5 years. They didn't call me, or anyone else for that matter, when I was still working unless it was because I screwed up or they needed me to get into work for some OT. Why would you think they'd call me, or even remember I worked out of another station 20 miles away that doesn't cover this area, to tell me some guy schmucked the guard rail in the middle of the night?" His reply, "Well, didn't you hear it on the scanner?" Dear Lord, anyone that spent years having the radio spewing crap 24/7/365 is probably beyond ever wanting to listen to it again. But he scanner land types just love it. Probably the same people that follow celebrities on Instragram and Twitter.
JonB
Halcyon member
"scanner land type"
My Dad was the scanner land type...as well as the Citizen's Band radio type. We had a powerful CB base station radio and big antenna.
Funny story, when I was 16 (Circa 1981), I inherited my Grandpa's 71 Olds Delta 88 (only 21K miles on it). When it was transferred to me, my dad had custom plates put on it, with our CB call letters (KEL3455). Because of the additional letter, the plate looked like a commercial light duty Truck plate ...Minnesota allowed that back then, I guess?
I'd get pulled over a lot with that car, not just because of plate confusion, but no doubt that was an extra factor a LEO would be curious about, as I was frequently asked about it. Back in the Day, I did a lot of recreational night driving (cruising Main street). My Dad would ALWAYS know when I got pulled over, because when the police scanner would blurt out our CB call letters, my Dad would wake up from full slumber.
My Dad was the scanner land type...as well as the Citizen's Band radio type. We had a powerful CB base station radio and big antenna.
Funny story, when I was 16 (Circa 1981), I inherited my Grandpa's 71 Olds Delta 88 (only 21K miles on it). When it was transferred to me, my dad had custom plates put on it, with our CB call letters (KEL3455). Because of the additional letter, the plate looked like a commercial light duty Truck plate ...Minnesota allowed that back then, I guess?
I'd get pulled over a lot with that car, not just because of plate confusion, but no doubt that was an extra factor a LEO would be curious about, as I was frequently asked about it. Back in the Day, I did a lot of recreational night driving (cruising Main street). My Dad would ALWAYS know when I got pulled over, because when the police scanner would blurt out our CB call letters, my Dad would wake up from full slumber.