Wife Wants a Scanner-- Suggestions?

J

Josh Feltman

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Feb 12, 2001
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My wife wants to get a radio/police scanner, and I'm kinda keen on the idea myself, so I figured this would be the place to get some good advice. I'm looking for a trunking scanner that is very easy to use (if there is such a thing.) I don't need lots of whistles and bells, and would in fact prefer a unit without them; I'm tired of technology that's too complicated to use. I'm thinking that a home unit would be better than a portable, but I'd consider either type. Any suggestions?
--Josh
 
If you are talking about the police/fire/etc. type of radio scanner, the Uniden/Bearcat models are excellent, and they do have some pretty simple models. Just run a Google search on Uniden/Bearcat scanners and you'll come up with lots of info.
 
I assumed he was taling about a computer scanner. Any number of useable options exist for those, just pick one of the higher resolution ones. I would go with a flat bed unless you have lots and lots of loose pages you want to feed in. And really try not to scrape the optical anti-reflective coating on the bed.

Other than that, maybe go to a good pet shop. Being able to do your own cat scans would be pretty cool too.....
 
Sorry for the confusion-- I'm looking for a police/radio scanner-- just edited my original post for clarification.
--Josh
 
I have a couple of the lower end Bearcat portables that are great! I think you will be getting into the spendier units with more features if you want something with trunking capabilities. I have found that it's better to ASSume that you will want more channels down the line so do it now. I ended up finding TONS of frequencies for my area and I wish I had more channels now... A portable with an AC adapter is the way to go because then you can bring it around the house with you and use an ear phone if your stuck watching the same TV program as someone else in the house.:D I think Wally World sells a BC60 or BC80 for a good price. A portable will do all a console will do but you can't walk around or go outside with a console. Especially if there's a power outage or some other type of emergency... You may find that's when you want it most and you can't use it. Make sure it has an AC adapter and just leave it plugged in if your not needing to be mobile.
out,
Cris
 
The Uniden BC785D is the premier trunking scanner at the moment. They go for about $350. I got one a few months ago and like it a lot.

The BC780XLT though is pretty similar, but not digital-capable, and can be found for about $250.

Both are great trunking scanners.
 
I've got a Uniden Bearcat BC60XLT1, a very basic, non-trunking scanner. 30 programmable channels w/ priority channel, one-touch WX, plus 10 programmable banks. Bought it at Wal-Mart several years ago for about $80 and believe it or not, I probably listen to the scanner radio more than I watch my TV. The weather channel function is very handy, I just don't see how I lived without it in the first place.
 
Uniden Bearcat is the one to buy...Betty Bearcat wrote the book...(after you buy one you'll catch the humor...then you can decide if it was funny or not....):D :p ;) :cool: :eek:
 
Thanks guys, sounds like I need to take a look at the Uniden Bearcat. Can anyone tell me the difference between digital and non-digital? Does it limit what signals you can pick up?
--Josh
 
Some cities are moving to trunked digital systems. The BC780XLT can't decode digital transmissions, but the BC785D can (with the digital decoder card, another $250). Check to see if your locale is even transmitting digital, or has plans to. Unless it's a bigger city, there's probably no plans to do so for a while.

I chose the 785D not for it's digital capabilities, but because it was only a few bux more than the 780, but had 2x as many channels (1000). I've heard from others that the 780XLT receiver front end is more sensitive than the 785D's though...

For an antenna, I would highly recommend NilJon - a very innovative antenna that works remarkably well and is very low profile. Again, a litle on the expensive side, but I just got one recently and I'm quite amazed at it's performance.
 
Thanks for the info, Kinzli. I'll see if I can ask around about digital transmitting in our area.
--Josh
 
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