Getting a police scanner

[BradT]

This one is marked from $200 to about $130 at radio shack. I am thinking about going to pick one up:
http://www.radioshack.com/prod...-RSK&parentPage=family
It says that it tracks trunked channels. Doesn't this mean that it will cover most modernized police reinforcement talk?

 

[The Stigenator]

only problem i see is that places are moving to digital systems. I know LA Sheriffs and LAPD are digital now. But i am sure lots of places in the US cant afford to go digital so they are still analog and it will work there.

 

[BradT]

So if my city has gone digital, what would be the purpose of it? I could listen for weather reports, right? Would it be able to pick up most other radio frequencies such as truckers?

 

[bmacd]

If your local city has already gone digital, you might be able to pick up other local cities that are still analog. I'm in the same boat.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

So is there no way to pick up digital signals?

 

[BradT]

I went to radio shack, and the manager unfortuneately told me that the entire state of NH (my state) has gone digital. Is there anyway to pick up digital signals?

 

[MegaVovaN]

Advice? Here you go:
stop speeding

 

[BradT]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
Advice? Here you go:
stop speeding

If that was my concern I would be getting a radar detector not a scanner. I want a scanner because my father used to have one and they are a fun thing to listen to sometimes when you are bored.

 

[bmacd]

Uniden makes a great digital scanner...unfortunately, I didn't have the $700 to shell out for the top of the line unit.

 

[Dualist]

It says that it tracks trunked channels. Doesn't this mean that it will cover most modernized police reinforcement talk?

Trunking was meant to cover chatter mainly coming from Motorola II radio systems, and they sometimes stay on one channel and switch frequencies often. You'll need to obtain a police scanner manual that list trucked frequencies and other conventional frequencies you can catch in your area. Ask the Radio Shack guys for one, they sometimes carry them.

I think it's called the "Police Call" handbook.

 

[herm0016]

what you need to listen to the police is an 800mhz duel trunking scanner like the radio shack pro-97 or pro-95. unidin also makes a bearcat duel trunker, not sure of the model number.

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: Dualist

It says that it tracks trunked channels. Doesn't this mean that it will cover most modernized police reinforcement talk?

Trunking was meant to cover chatter mainly coming from Motorola II radio systems, and they sometimes stay on one channel and switch frequencies often. You'll need to obtain a police scanner manual that list trucked frequencies and other conventional frequencies you can catch in your area. Ask the Radio Shack guys for one, they sometimes carry them.

I think it's called the "Police Call" handbook.

It's all available on the internet.