PortlandRL

Got this for Christmas and I can't put it down. It's amazing what goes on in the world of EMS/Police while we go about our lives. In the past ten minutes alone:

- A silent medical emergency alarm went off at an unoccupied building. Police found a hard of hearing man wandering about unaware that the alarm had been tripped.
- Medics were dispatched to a house because of a resident complaining of chest pain.
- Police were sent to the Tektronix campus in Beaverton because a woman slipped on the ice and hurt her pelvis.
- And just now, a fire alarm just went off at Columbia Storage.

I love this damn thing!

Gfaze

Make sure you post interesting stuff like college girls streaking or something. And by all means, get down there and take pics!!

97Acura3.0CL

how did you find police frequencies? I have one but I can not seem to find their frequencies. it is always changing. any ideas on how to find it

S A CHO

How much do these bad boys go for? Is it illegal or anything to have one?

harminder247

iTrader: (1)

Anyone wanna donate one to me?

combat mediC

iTrader: (1)

they make a book that has all the fequencies in them by state/metro. i've seen ricers w/ them in their cars before... dont think they're illegal?

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

I used to work with PD and to listen what went on those channels were amazing. 24/7 entertainment.

97Acura3.0CL

where is this book at?

Q1911

Scanners are fun. I've been listening to one since I was 12. I know listen to a PD where I now a bunch of the cops which make sit more interesting.

Port- Check our www.radioreference.com they have a huge up to date database.

As far as the book goes, IIRC they stopped making it, because no one would buy the book when they can easily look them up online. I still have an old one, but it's useless since alot of the freqs have changed.

I also record off the scanner sometimes and have recorded some good chases with K9s and other stuff.


Also Port, what model do you have? Is it digital or only analog?

Ken1997TL

Fun huh? The Lake Oswego stuff is amusing. No reports of streaking yet though..

incredulous1

i listened to my friend's dad's once when there was a manhunt going on for a guy who was shooting at a building with a shotgun, across the street.

it was pretty cool, but scary at the same time.

harminder247

iTrader: (1)

Whats the cost for one of these?

PortlandRL

I just set it to Scan and it scans all frequencies until it finds something. Then it locks on until they terminate the conversation and it tells me the exact frequency and what I'm listening to (police, fire, EMS, etc.). There are quite a few police frequencies.

Perfectly legal, just some ground rules. There's a small pamphlet that comes in the box that tells you what you can and can't use it for. They go for as little as $70 but the good ones are in the $200s.

Depends, see S A CHO's reply ^.

harminder247

iTrader: (1)

i gotta look into this. Probably start off with a cheap one to get to learn about it.

Chief F1 Fan

I bought one in '93 to listen to the chatter between Indycar drivers and their pits. The first day I had it I set it on scan and picked up my married neighbor across the street having phone sex with his g/f. I couldn't believe how funny that was.

PortlandRL

Its the Radio Shack PRO-164. It's a bit tough to figure out if you want it to tune a specific station and stay there. If nothing's going on it wants to run and find something. It's a Triple Trunking scanner, if that helps you at all.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Most everyone is switching to digital trunking systems. You need a digital trunking scanner to pick these up. FL is all digital. Those scanners are $550+. However with digital they have an option to encrypt transmissions, & that would make a scanner useless.

A normal scanner can still be used in some areas with some things however. I have a really cheap 5+ year old one & pick up fire/ems, & security/rent a cops.
Plus other chatter from sports events, & things like that. Even the cops still sometimes use analog transmissions I will pick up now & then.

Anachostic

A local radio station in Orlando,FL was complaining that the local police began encrypting their communication without offering a decryptor to the media. So I guess police chatter in Orlando is off-limits.

newperson

iTrader: (2)

Odd...never thought I'd see a scanning thread on AZine.

Scanner enthusiast & ham over here.

Mizouse

this wouldve been nice to have in college.

you know to know when and where cops are going to break up parties so i can roll on by and hopefully pick up a drunk chick

Street Spirit

I think it'd be fun to have for the first little while, and then I'd probably find it too depressing to listen to all of the police/EMS/fire calls and hearing of all the people needing assistance, knowing everyone's tragedy, etc. It would be like Buffalo headline news overload.

svtmike

And then this happens:

Whiskers

Life is depressing enough as it is...

SG81

iTrader: (1)

sounds cool to have

Vector02

I came close! https://acurazine.com/forums/ramblings-12/what-would-you-buy-702658/

KE5LON is my call. Good to see another ham on the board! I currently scan with a Uniden 246t.

LCRA governs our trunked EDACS system here locally. www.radioreference.com is an AMAZING resource for all public services around the US. Having to scan all bands and wait for a transmission, then having to figure out who its coming from, etc would be awful. Radioreference.com is a requirement for me.

paz840

iTrader: (2)

+982734

I've got better things to do than sit around and listen to other people's illegal and potentially tragic life events happen around me

Vector02

Then you must not watch the news either... ?

doopstr

I have one that can pickup analog cellphones. That was fun until everyone switched to digital.

paz840

iTrader: (2)

right, because that's the same thing

Vector02

Then what is most of the news? Not "illegal or tragic events happening all around you?" That was your description; not mine.

TS_eXpeed

I used to have one. I loved listening to aircraft with it.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

If you where having a party you could find out in advance if the police are coming to bust you.

Q1911

Yea, because that's what you want to do when you're at a party. Sit and listen to your scanner.

paz840

iTrader: (2)

the "news" contains some relevant current events that are important in the world...i don't want to hear that the 80-year old down the street had a heart attack, or that an unoccupied building got broken into

Vector02

A scanner can provide you lots of pertinent information. What crimes are being committed and where, descriptions of individuals and automobiles involved, where accidents are taking place, etc. These kinds of info can benefit a "civically minded" citizen.

Its just another source of info that is available to the public. I could care less who listens and who doesn't, but these systems are paid for with public funds, and should be available for public monitoring.

Don't knock it before you try it. It may not be your thing, but I've enjoyed scanning since I was about 12...

97BlackAckCL

iTrader: (6)

doesn't everyone?

newperson

iTrader: (2)

I scan 'cause I like to be in-the-know.

Using a scanner to evade police is a crime, btw.

paz840

iTrader: (2)

that info is only pertinent if you are a cop or a superhero

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

You mean you dont?

Vector02

Just about to be actually. Even if I weren't, I don't live in a hole and I'm involved in my community. You'd be surprised how important public awareness is to maintaining a safe and secure neighborhood. Without public involvement, law enforcement would be exceptionally helpless. Super heros may be ok, but the police would be screwed.