Scanner

[snal]

Went to Radio Shack tonight to get a 102" whip and some coax for a cheap CB base antenna, and they had a nice scanner on sale. With snow falling hard tonight it has provided some interesting entertainment!

[Zombie Axe]

Love me some scanner listening... I even have a a pre-ban model :D

Good item to have!

Dunno WTF is gonna happen when they switch over to this VIPER system...

What kind of scanner did you get???

[snal]

Radio Shack (Uniden) Pro 160 Triple Trunking AC/DC

[nitehawg]

OK folks, timely topic. Yesterday my hand held scanner met it's demise under the wheels of my truck,:( now I'm looking for a new one. Living in rural AR is a digital scanner necessary? Price difference is substantial and if I don't need digital I really don't need to spend the extra $$$ for it. Thanks for any advice.

[Rednekdaddy]

www.scannerworld.com they are the folks that I have done bussiness with and never had a problem pluse they are about the best prices that I have found!

[methusaleh]

Since there's a good chance you will encounter a digital signal or a system that is going to be re-banded on 800MHz, I would recommend getting a digital-capable scanner.

Personally I own a Radio Shack PRO96 (handheld) and 2096 (mobile) because they were the most affordable at the time.

Both the 96 and 2096 are on a somewhat "clearance" type sale now (forgot what they call it, but it's not a normal clearance). I would advise you to take full advantage of it while you can!

Price seems to vary by store; the lowest I've heard of are the 96 for $180 and 2096 for $200.

A friend of mine who is a RS regional manager had trouble finding the catalog numbers in his computer when I asked him; he had to do some special function to access the inventory. So I guess they are being phased out...though the question is, replaced with what??? His stores have no plans to receive any digital replacements in the near future.

[snal]

Since there's a good chance you will encounter a digital signal or a system that is going to be re-banded on 800MHz, I would recommend getting a digital-capable scanner.

Personally I own a Radio Shack PRO96 (handheld) and 2096 (mobile) because they were the most affordable at the time.

Both the 96 and 2096 are on a somewhat "clearance" type sale now (forgot what they call it, but it's not a normal clearance). I would advise you to take full advantage of it while you can!

Price seems to vary by store; the lowest I've heard of are the 96 for $180 and 2096 for $200.

A friend of mine who is a RS regional manager had trouble finding the catalog numbers in his computer when I asked him; he had to do some special function to access the inventory. So I guess they are being phased out...though the question is, replaced with what??? His stores have no plans to receive any digital replacements in the near future.

Small world....my BIL is a RM for RS in the southeast.

[Zombie Axe]

Yeah I'd go ahead and get digital as that is where must public service freqs are going to... That way you will be ready :)

[nitehawg]

Thanks y'all for the help. I was leaning towards going digital, but guess I just needed reassurance. Looks like I'll be heading to RS before our ice storm is scheduled to hit.

Again , Thanks

[Zombie Axe]

nitehawg, I often find listening to the scanner during bad WX is very interesting. You get to hear about road closures , the wrecks and all types of other stuff...

One time when we had 2 tropical storms dump a bunch of rain over W NC the Catawba started to rise above her banks. I had the ham rig set up to scan and found a bridge that was not closed so I could ride out the crest of the flood on MY side of the river:D

Good stuff :)

[havensal]

I have 3 scanners in the house. 1 base, a mobile hooked up down stairs and my portable.

My portable is a Pro-95. I have the USB data cable and use Win95 software to program it.

I don't know what other models that software works with, but it's free and works great. ;)

[Defcon090]

Scanners are a BIG part of my shack. And with this being the eve of 9/11 I am wondering if anyone has been searching the gov portion of the scanner spectrum? I have been doing searches of most of the band from 163.000 thru 174.00 and believe I have heard a slight increase in comms, mostly digital such as APCO25 and others. Currently I do not have those type scanners and can not decode them but these is a slight increase in activity.

[KSDeputy]

I have six analog scanners, 3 are trunk trackers. Every thing here went digital. I am not going to buy a digital scanner for $ 500, then have them change again.

[Defcon090]

Copy that! But I think you would be okay for a few years with a APCO Phase 2 scanner. Phase 2 is the latest digital mode and most agencies would not want to spend the millions of dollars to upgrade to a new technology so soon. And you can find scanners for around 400 bucks if one looks hard enough. Good luck.

I have six analog scanners, 3 are trunk trackers. Every thing here went digital. I am not going to buy a digital scanner for $ 500, then have them change again.

[KSDeputy]

Thanks, I am still thinking on it. My friend who is a HAM is trying to get me to get a license, but is a lot of work for me. I have worked with radios for many years, but know nothing about HAM radios, just law enforcement radios.