Own a scanner?

**Just KC** · 06-03-07, 01:41 AM

I want to purchase a police scanner for at home. Kinda unsure on what kind to get.

I do know I need a trunking one.....but other than that, clueless. Anyone here own one? Use it much? Sites to share? I had someone send me a site called Scanners R Us, but their site is down right now.

Any and all info much appreciated!

**Willowdared** · 06-03-07, 02:59 AM

I think they are very pricey.

Ask your Supervisor if there is a handheld you can check out.

**Pudge** · 06-03-07, 03:06 AM

Don't waste your money. Once you get through your training and start listening to that stuff all day long, you'll come home and turn it off.

**Cidp24** · 06-03-07, 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by Pudge113

Don't waste your money. Once you get through your training and start listening to that stuff all day long, you'll come home and turn it off.

+1000

Cheech · 06-03-07, 04:40 AM

Originally Posted by Pudge113

Don't waste your money. Once you get through your training and start listening to that stuff all day long, you'll come home and turn it off.

agreed

**conalabu** · 06-03-07, 06:11 AM

There are a few reasons against that idea. I made it a rule as soon as I came on the job that there would never be a scanner in my house. I don't want my wife/loved ones listening to me on the radio or listening to what happens. The radio gives such a distorted view of whats going on when you are listening from home. The second reason is because even when I get home now and shut the radio off, I can still here that sob in my mind until I go to sleep. There are times that I will be walking in the grocery store and someone will say something over the friggin PA and I'll tip my head so I can "hear my radio better". To hell with having that damn thing in my ear anymore than absolutely necessary. When I am home, they can dang well call me if they need me that bad.

**Jim1348** · 06-03-07, 10:00 AM

I would suggest a Uniden Bearcat BCD996T if you want one for the home or vehicle. If you want a portable, then the Uniden Bearcat BCD396T is a good choice. Here are a few sites:

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/

http://www.strongsignals.net/index.cgi

http://www.uniden.com/index/home.cfm

http://www.usascan.com/

http://www.uniden.com/products/produ...ublic%20Safety

http://www.uniden.com/products/produ...product=BCD396
T&filter=Public%20Safety

You may also want to consider amateur radio as a hobby. Although it does involve two way radio, nobody there is sending you on a knock down drag out domestic or a burglary.

http://www.arrl.org/

**dapples** · 06-03-07, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Pudge113

Don't waste your money. Once you get through your training and start listening to that stuff all day long, you'll come home and turn it off.

I listen to ours when Mav works nights......sometimes that is not a good thing.....
The first thing Mav does when he gets off duty is turn it off...BUT...he does turn it on a half hour or so before he goes in to get a "feel" of what's going on....

**jmur5074** · 06-03-07, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by dapples

I listen to ours when Mav works nights......sometimes that is not a good thing.....
The first thing Mav does when he gets off duty is turn it off...BUT...he does turn it on a half hour or so before he goes in to get a "feel" of what's going on....

I have one and that's what I do with mine.

About an hour before I go to work I turn mine on and listen to what's going on. It gives me a feel for how the night is going, and let's me know if I'm walking into a giant shitstorm when I get to work.

**TXCharlie** · 06-03-07, 11:15 AM

I own an old Radio Shack Pro-95, and a newer Pro-97 handheld trunking scanners. I got them on sale for less than $200.

Both are pretty good - I've dropped the Pro95 on concrete several times and the thing keeps ticking. The Pro97 has a much better lighted display.

Both also have software and interface cables available that allow you to program the frequencies on your computer in a spreadsheet-like format, and upload it to the scanner.

One note of caution: Radio Shack sells the USB interface cable to the Pro-97, but the software drivers that they carry is NOT what you want - They're totally useless, I don't know why they even sell it.

The software you want is available at this site, and only costs $25:
http://www.starrsoft.com/

The new version of Win97 for the Pro97 now supports direct import of frequencies from RadioReference.com so you don't have to do a lot of copy/pasting (which is flakey as all get-out in Win97), but I haven't tried the import feature yet.

**Jackalope** · 06-03-07, 11:18 AM

I have a Radio Shack Pro-95 scanner that I got used (in great shape) for $50. I can understand why you'd hate listening to a scanner after you've been on the job for awhile, but when you're first starting out it's a great way to learn you radio codes and phonetic alphabet. When I was an Explorer, I had the alphabet and codes memorized before my first ride-along, because I'd been listening to my scanner.

**cajunguy** · 06-03-07, 11:23 AM

Con had one of the best reasons for NOT having one at home.

A friend of mine and her hubby had one, and she had a habit of listening to it when he was at work.

He was home for lunch when he got a call to respond to a disturbance involving one of their "regular customers". He got up and told her that he was going to go solve this problem once and for all. He responded to the location with another deputy and right after they arrived on scene, she heard (on the scanner) his backup call for an ambulance for an officer down.

She knew by the voice that it wasn't her hubby calling for the ambulance.

He couldn't. When the perp opened the door, he shot the deputy (her hub) in the head with no warning. He was DOA on the scene.

She already knew what all the Sheriff's cars pulling into her driveway a little while later were coming to tell her.

(RIP, Roy.)

.

**Claude Baulz** · 06-03-07, 11:55 AM

www.scannermaster.com for radios and guidebooks.

I work in an area with many, many (MANY!) different jurisdictions and it's very beneficial to be able to hear what's happening around me as I go from place to place. The ideal would be two-way communications but that's not possible, so listening is the next best thing.

**chris2001** · 06-03-07, 12:34 PM

I have a Pro-97 at handheld. It does what its suppose to do. I really don't even turn it on but maybe once or twice a month. As others have stated, I listen to my radio five days a week and really don't care about it when I get home. However its nice to be able to turn it on when I hear a bunch of sirens and such near my area (lets me know if I need keep my gun handy). Reason being is as Term can tell you, I live literally less than a mile or two from five different prisons.

**nsb22** · 06-03-07, 01:20 PM

I've thought about getting one, only to listen to what is going on around this town. I don't have to worry about my wife hearing me, as we are too far away and the radio signal doesn't quite make it up here.

**Crimebytes2** · 06-03-07, 01:32 PM

I have a PRO-2018 200-Channel Desktop Scanner! I wanted a hand held one, but Radio Shack didn't have any in stock and I wasn't in the mood to drive across town and fight the crowds in the mall. I listen to it when I can, especially now that I know what district I live in.

**Morning Coffee** · 06-03-07, 01:38 PM

I have had one for many many years , before cell phones existed and used the handheld , many times when i traveled ( some states its illegal to have it on in vehicle ) i had it on and would gather weather reports ahead and also it saved me many times from sitting in traffic due to an accident for hours . I also used it when asked to meet a former significant other at a certain place and if he got a call id know and could judge by the call whether to wait or not or listen to hear the key up mic code , two key ups meant wait , one meant dont or a couple other code indicators .

Their right about not wanting to hear it off duty and just before going on duty plus when on duty being able to hear other freqs around your area . ( City if your County and County if your City etc )helps give a heads up whats headed to your direction.

I feel for the wife cajun described , i have heard that kind of story several times unfortunately .

I agree with Jackalope also , it does help learn the codes and if you cant find them online on a scanner site , sometimes nicely asking with an explanation someone may get you a print off .

Right now , im looking for a good used decent priced trunking handheld , if anyone has any to sell .

**cwtlady** · 06-03-07, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by cajunguy

Con had one of the best reasons for NOT having one at home.

A friend of mine and her hubby had one, and she had a habit of listening to it when he was at work.

He was home for lunch when he got a call to respond to a disturbance involving one of their "regular customers". He got up and told her that he was going to go solve this problem once and for all. He responded to the location with another deputy and right after they arrived on scene, she heard (on the scanner) his backup call for an ambulance for an officer down.

She knew by the voice that it wasn't her hubby calling for the ambulance.

He couldn't. When the perp opened the door, he shot the deputy (her hub) in the head with no warning. He was DOA on the scene.

She already knew what all the Sheriff's cars pulling into her driveway a little while later were coming to tell her.

(RIP, Roy.)

.

How awful to find out that way.

**Pudge** · 06-03-07, 07:10 PM

I grew up with them in my house as my dad is also a cop. It was cool then to listen to, and even had one for a short while so I could get a feel for what was going on, or maybe even see what a disposition was on something that was going on when I left. I don't have it out anymore because I left it on one night when I left and the wife heard me in a pursuit, including me saying the guy was trying to ram me. From that point on she decided she hated my job, etc....so that coupled with the fact I just don't really care to listen to the radio since I already get it 8-10+ hours a day, it's packed away somewhere and I could care less if I find it.

Now I hardly have my Fire Department pager turned on because I'm home with the kids and unable to go. I'll just be pissy if I'm missing a fire.