Question about me buying a police scanner.

[NDAR15MAN]

I am 61 and when I was around 10 my grandfather had a police scanner. That was when CB’s and police scanners took off on sales. Will I would like to buy one for home use. I remember my grandfather told me you had to by some crystals he called them for certain like frequencies were you could pick up your local police force , fire dept etc. he new the game warden and some how got his frequency and could listen to his arrest etc. so my question is this do they still sale these things ? Are they even worth buying one ?
I never hear about any one having them and I am thinking they might have outlawed them ?
Any recommendations on what brand and model I should buy and how would I go about finding out what channels I need to get to listen to my local police force calls etc ? Thanks. MD

 

[Mauser06]

Depends on your area and what radio systems various agencies use.


If you have a smart phone, there are free scanner apps.... I don't know the ins and outs but I was with someone and they were listening to radio traffic during one of the recent riot type events.... not even a nearby state let alone local. He said he could tune into pretty much anywhere...


Some agencies, you'll probably never be able to pick up. Some police agencies have gone to encrypted systems because of officer safety issues with people having scanners.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Its all digital now. You may can figure out how to hear it on a website but comms are secure now for a reason. Kinda defeats the purpose of being stealth when the criminals can hear you coming or know where you are

 

[David101]

As other have said most agencies have gone to encrypted transmissions. the old crystals were replaced by electonic oscillators and phase locked loops which reduced any and nearly all drift in frequency as well. My first WT was a 3 crystal job and you purchased the different crystals from Radio shack to change channels by swapping out crystals. Now days by a Baofeng for the price of an old single crystal. Program any frequency you wish with software.

 

[edwardware]

In my experience the only thing you'll hear on a scanner these days is the one last Olde Timey trucking company that hasn't gone to cell phones, and maybe a municipal road maintenance department. Even podunk police agencies are in encrypted radio networks.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

It sounds like everything is encrypted now a days. I bet would be a waste of money. Thanks for the info. Saved me some money. MD

 

[rjtfroggy]

I've been running scanners for 50 years now, I'm a retired fire fighter and still like to listen in on the calls.
I have gone from the old crystal type (now defunct) to the ultra modern programable and I currently run a Uniden Bearcat model 996P2 and haven't dropped a call yet. ( about 3 years)
Uniden makes several different models and they are all available on Amazon. They range from easy to set up to needing a degree (kidding) but you will need some computer skills to set them up. One model is as easy as put in your zip code and it will find the signals and then you lock them in.
Prices vary but they aren't cheap. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[brokeasajoke]

Our police/sheriff dept. is encrypted but all other emergency services are not. A cheapo baofung brand radio will work if you can find someone to program it in your area. We use them at my fire dept because we can get them for $25 occasionally. Just dont key up on it i.e. hit the button to talk. Just listen.

 

[Fuj]

Cleaning out the closet had me find my old Motorolla
hand held crystal. Years back you could walk into your
local Radio Shack, and have them do some (cough)
work. The Shack is gone, and my hand held is equivalent
to a stone. Everything here in my area has all consolidated
into one large digital com's building, and all departments,
can now talk to each other instead of having to go thru a
dispatcher.

 

[Park ranger]

https://m.broadcastify.com/listen/near

Listen all over the country.

 

[okie]

In my experience the only thing you'll hear on a scanner these days is the one last Olde Timey trucking company that hasn't gone to cell phones, and maybe a municipal road maintenance department. Even podunk police agencies are in encrypted radio networks.

or the arkies trying to cut off a deer and trying to figure out where their dogs went???!!...it gets plumb crazy

 

[squint-n-squeeze]

Ham operator here. Park Ranger's suggestion is the first thing I was going to suggest. That's an online portal that lets you listen to a lot of kinds of radio traffic, from police departments and fire, to amateur radio repeaters. Check that out first, and see if you find it interesting.

The next thing I was going to mention is that most departments are not actually encrypted, they use a trunking system. There are several kinds of trunking systems, but the one you are interested in is called P25. If you want to pick this up on your own scanner, you will need a fairly modern one to decode P25. Uniden and Whistler are brands that make scanners for this - you should expect to pay upwards of $400.

Also keep in mind that the antenna is just as important as the receiver. I wouldn't count on a radio mounted "rubber ducky" antenna to be able to pull in tons of traffic. The easiest way to get a good antenna up is to use a 20 foot piece of top rail (for chain link fence). Put one end in the ground about a foot, and use a wall mount on your eaves to hold it upright. You can get that stuff here:
https://www.channelmaster.com/Antenna_Masts_and_Mounts_s/373.htm
Put an inexpensive discone antenna up there (tram makes OK antennas), and some coax cable (put drip loops), and you'll be pulling in all kinds of traffic. Lightning suppressor is recommended on the coax. Have fun!

 

[Bill K]

Scanners are for sale at many places and even online shopping sites.. Also, as mentioned apps are available for smart phones. Nothing wrong with having them, if you want to listen to LE, Fire and others. But also remember many have scrabbled or other codes that you will not be able to pick up and listen too. If you want one and want to listen, have at it.

By the way, the crystals you grandfather use or needed are no longer used in the new units and apps. The old CB radios and others did use crystals, for a given frequency, in the old days.

 

[NDAR15MAN]

Ok thanks again for the good info. Marty

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Encrypted, or secure channels must not be hard to intercept. The "protesters" have planned their looting and burning around police movements. Or else the mayor's and governors are tipping them.

 

[squint-n-squeeze]

Encrypted, or secure channels must not be hard to intercept. The "protesters" have planned their looting and burning around police movements. Or else the mayor's and governors are tipping them.

Encrypted communications, done correctly, are not possible/feasible to decode. But most radio traffic is not encrypted. Trunking is a scheme that allows lots of stations to talk on the same piece of frequency at the same time. The traffic is accessible if you know where to look - see the broadcastify link posted above.

 

[squint-n-squeeze]

Encrypted communications, done correctly, are not possible/feasible to decode. But most radio traffic is not encrypted. Trunking is a scheme that allows lots of stations to talk on the same piece of frequency at the same time. The traffic is accessible if you know where to look - see the broadcastify link posted above.

Except for cell phone traffic. That's encrypted, but ironically the police run man-in-the-middle attacks on cell phone towers to collect cell phone calls. That's called a stingray, and has been used in a number of cases where no warrant was sought.

 

[Mudcat]

sitting here listening to the local police traffic as I type. Just have a Uniden scanner, seems to pick up plenty of traffic and chatter.

 

[LonewolfMcquade]

This is the one I use on my tablet &;smart phone

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xyware.scanner

 

[Pawnee Bill]

In my area, the local PD and the SO have gone encrypted. When I was riding with my State Police buddy, he could not hear what was going on with them since they were encrypted and he did not have their type radio.