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Anyone listen to police scanners?

I don't know about your location but our local PD switched to a digital setup. A conventional scanner won't get this signal.
 
RTFM? 😀

We have one that took me a while to figure out and I still don't have it down pat. It's got some channel hopping shit I can't figure out but I got it preset to a few local channels.

You might be able to take it to a local electronics place and have it tuned. I know some TV repair and radio repair places do it here.
 
Here is a link where you can listen to scanners online all over the US. I listened to the Joplin MO scanner after the tornado touched down and it was crazy. I do have a scanner in my office and I can pick up county 911 but not city.

http://www.radioreference.com/

Edited to say I didn't even notice you had the same site linked.
 
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Whenever the tones go off for our fire hall, I just listen in online. I think it's the same link that weadjust pointed to. I listen to everything going on in the county - usually it's very quiet.
 
I used to have one in my work truck, I always just kept it turned off unless something was happening. Between that scanner, the CHP radio, the State radio and the FM radio, it was to busy.

But ya on the digital. You should have look into what frequencies were used in your area before you bought one. It should just be a matter of turning it on and hitting the scan button to get something. Assuming it has an antenna.
 
I bought it used on ebay for $20. I looked up the frequencies online and it said 150.5800 so I figured this could do it.

I'll mess around with it a little more. Sucks that this county doesn't have online scanners

Thanks guys!
 
The site the OP linked is a good one. Unless you are in deep canyons you should not have any trouble hearing your local emergency and law enforcement calls because they are usually relayed through repeater towers. Car-to-car radio traffic is sometime on direct and their signals won't reach as far.

Some agencies have gone to trunked digital radio systems that are basically impossible to listen to, but most law enforcement, fire and EMS broadcast on frequencies almost all scanners will pick-up.

Despite internet rumor, it is NOT illegal to listen to a police scanner. In a very few states you need a permit or license. You can't use a police scanner to aid in any criminal activity, to listen to cellular or cordless phones, pick up encrypted or scrambles signals, or for personal gain. It's also illegal in most places to "relay any information you here on a scanner to another person", but I don't have the foggiest idea how that would hold up in court for 2 seconds. The media is allowed to report on scanner traffic and every person in the U.S. has the same basic right as the media guaranteed by the constitution.

http://www.police-scanner.info/scanning/police-scanner-laws.htm

You will probably need to program your scanner with several frequencies for each agency you are listening to. Large agencies can have several dispatch freqs, many tactical and other frequencies that are used in special situations or dedicated to a particular use. Program them all in for each local, county and state agency you have in your area. Don't forget your local hospital, airport, and municipal agencies.

Now that you have a bank of scanners frequencies programmed, write it down so you know what agency is on each channel. You will set your scanner to scan the channels at its fastest setting and it will stop when there is traffic on that channel. If one channel you don't like is monopolizing your scan then hit the lockout button.

You'll soon learn which are the busy freqs, dispatch channels usually, for your local area. Find yourself a list of the penal codes, 10-codes or whatever codes that agency uses so you know what they are talking about.

If you still can't receive anything then a trip to the local radio shack is in order. Ask who the staff scanner nut is and he or she will probably tell you more than you ever wanted to know about what's going on over the scanner in your town.

Also remember that there is a search feature you can set a limit on so you scan every possible frequencies between a start and a stop point. That can be fun to do at times to find obscure frequencies in your area...though it does get boring listening to the local fast food drive-thru or taxi service after awhile.
 
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Paladin3 said:
The site the OP linked is a good one. Unless you are in deep canyons you should not have any trouble hearing your local emergency and law enforcement calls because they are usually relayed through repeater towers. Car-to-car radio traffic is sometime on direct and their signals won't reach as far.

Some agencies have gone to trunked digital radio systems that are basically impossible to listen to, but most law enforcement, fire and EMS broadcast on frequencies almost all scanners will pick-up.

Despite internet rumor, it is NOT illegal to listen to a police scanner. In a very few states you need a permit or license. You can't use a police scanner to aid in any criminal activity, to listen to cellular or cordless phones, pick up encrypted or scrambles signals, or for personal gain. It's also illegal in most places to "relay any information you here on a scanner to another person", but I don't have the foggiest idea how that would hold up in court for 2 seconds. The media is allowed to report on scanner traffic and every person in the U.S. has the same basic right as the media guaranteed by the constitution.

http://www.police-scanner.info/scanning/police-scanner-laws.htm

You will probably need to program your scanner with several frequencies for each agency you are listening to. Large agencies can have several dispatch freqs, many tactical and other frequencies that are used in special situations or dedicated to a particular use. Program them all in for each local, county and state agency you have in your area. Don't forget your local hospital, airport, and municipal agencies.

Now that you have a bank of scanners frequencies programmed, write it down so you know what agency is on each channel. You will set your scanner to scan the channels at its fastest setting and it will stop when there is traffic on that channel. If one channel you don't like is monopolizing your scan then hit the lockout button.

You'll soon learn which are the busy freqs, dispatch channels usually, for your local area. Find yourself a list of the penal codes, 10-codes or whatever codes that agency uses so you know what they are talking about.

If you still can't receive anything then a trip to the local radio shack is in order. Ask who the staff scanner nut is and he or she will probably tell you more than you ever wanted to know about what's going on over the scanner in your town.
Click to expand...

Good info!
Thanks!
 
HAL9000 said:
That's true, but they shouldn't have to.
Click to expand...

This thread is not a discussion on whether listening to police scanners is right or wrong. It also is not a discussion on whether the police should broadcast their stuff. This is a discussion on how to use a police scanner.

You see that "New Thread button"? Go click it.
 
alfa147x said:
This thread is not a discussion on whether listening to police scanners is right or wrong. It also is not a discussion on whether the police should broadcast their stuff. This is a discussion on how to use a police scanner.

You see that "New Thread button"? Go click it.
Click to expand...

Actually this thread is about whether or not members listen to police scanners, and as I don't my response was "I'm pretty sure it's illegal in the UK, I don't get the point..."

You then decided to take issue with the fact that it is illegal in the UK by saying "Wow that sucks." which specifically makes the argument that you think people should have the right to listen to police broadcasts, which lead to my response disagreeing with you. The diversion from the OP was started by you, not me.
 
HAL9000 said:
Actually this thread is about whether or not members listen to police scanners, and as I don't my response was "I'm pretty sure it's illegal in the UK, I don't get the point..."

You then decided to take issue with the fact that it is illegal in the UK by saying "Wow that sucks." which specifically makes the argument that you think people should have the right to listen to police broadcasts, which lead to my response disagreeing with you. The diversion from the OP was started by you, not me.
Click to expand...

The thread title was calling in people who listen to scanners to assist me in setting mine up. Reread the OP.
 
HAL9000 said:
Meh makes sense to me. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

meh.

where i live a police scanner is something needed for safety. i live in a farming area. we don't have sirens to warn us if there is a tornado and half the time the tv stations go out.

The police out on patrol notify if they see a potential tornado and give the area of it. so if its near me i head for cover.

a weather radio helps (my scanner was a weather station and police scanner) but its not perfect or always accurate.

though it is also fun to hear who gets stoped and such heh.


oddly a few years ago some kids were playing near the school with guns. they locked down the school and called the cops. i heard on the scanner and told a few poeple. the School didn't notify parents about it until a few brought it up at a school event.
 
alfa147x said:
The thread title was calling in people who listen to scanners to assist me in setting mine up. Reread the OP.
Click to expand...

"Anyone listen to police scanners?"

is asking if Anyone listens to police scanners. That is the title of the thread, that is the question the thread poses. There is more to it in the OP, but this question was the title of the thread, I came here to answer that.

waggy said:
meh.

where i live a police scanner is something needed for safety. i live in a farming area. we don't have sirens to warn us if there is a tornado and half the time the tv stations go out.

The police out on patrol notify if they see a potential tornado and give the area of it. so if its near me i head for cover.

a weather radio helps (my scanner was a weather station and police scanner) but its not perfect or always accurate.
Click to expand...

That make sense, it's not really relevant for the UK however.

though it is also fun to hear who gets stoped and such heh.


oddly a few years ago some kids were playing near the school with guns. they locked down the school and called the cops. i heard on the scanner and told a few poeple. the School didn't notify parents about it until a few brought it up at a school event.
Click to expand...

No. The thread does NOT pose that question. This derail is all on you.
admin allisolm
Hah crazy.
 
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HAL9000 said:
No, I'm not really interested in discussing the morality or legality of police scanners, I just wanted to say my bit and leave, issues were raised.
Click to expand...
You do realize that most of us aren't in Britain? We left and then kicked your ass for a reason.
So silly British rules/laws don't apply here.
 
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