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Other Stuff That Has Little To Do With PLA => General Discussions => Topic started by: alext9 on August 27, 2008, 06:01:41 AM

Title: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: alext9 on August 27, 2008, 06:01:41 AM
I've been thinking about getting a scanner and have leaned towards the hand held ones, however it seems like there is so much to deal with when looking for one, I cant even start.  I want something that can listen into cordless phone and drive through frequencies.  After looking for a while (on PLA and other sites) I'm slightly confused.  The scanner pages on here say that there is a range of 40-50 ish on the cordless phones, but if the current phones are operating at 1.3 some Ghz, how does the scanner receive it (aren't the 40-50 numbers in Mhz?).  I'm looking for a sub $130 scanner.

The one scanner that seems to have a good price range for me is this :
http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BC92XLT-Bearcat-Handheld-Scanner/dp/B0002QIBP8/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1219817398&sr=1-7 (http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BC92XLT-Bearcat-Handheld-Scanner/dp/B0002QIBP8/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1219817398&sr=1-7)
its refurbished for only about $70.

I would really appreciate it if you guys could help me out, I just cant seem to find a place to start when purchasing a scanner.
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: Lestan Gregor on August 27, 2008, 05:27:19 PM
Yes
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: sknOOb on August 27, 2008, 06:08:22 PM
There are 4 billion people on earth.
237 are scanners.
They have the most terrifying powers ever created .........and they are winning.
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: Lestan Gregor on August 27, 2008, 06:33:11 PM
Okay...okay. I'll try being helpful. If you want something that will listen to cordless phones and drive thru's than a basic scanner like the one you posted a link to, will work. If, however, you want to listen to local emergency calls and whatnot, you will need a trunking scanner. As for the 1.3 and 2.5 ghz phones...you cant listen in on them as they tend to frequency hop. :( Old cordless phones that operate in the 49 mhz range are still audible though.

Check out www.universal-radio.com for a decent selection of scanners.
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: Lestan Gregor on August 27, 2008, 06:33:46 PM
Okay...okay. I'll try being helpful. If you want something that will listen to cordless phones and drive thru's than a basic scanner like the one you posted a link to, will work. If, however, you want to listen to local emergency calls and whatnot, you will need a trunking scanner. As for the 1.3 and 2.5 ghz phones...you cant listen in on them as they tend to frequency hop. :( Old cordless phones that operate in the 49 mhz range are still audible though.

Check out http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanners.html for a decent selection of scanners.
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: alext9 on August 27, 2008, 07:36:14 PM
okay, thanks for the help.

as for transmitting on those freqs, I'm guessing that the price increases significantly?
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: Lestan Gregor on August 27, 2008, 08:19:51 PM
If you want to transmit on the drive thru's you will need a vx-7r or similar which will run you 300 or so.
To transmit on the cordless phone frequencies, your cost goes up to about 900 bucks.
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: alext9 on August 28, 2008, 03:34:42 AM
Wow, $900.  I'll just have to save up some money to mess with the drive thru.  $900 is SLIGHTLY out of my price range  :-[

possibly I could rip open an old CB radio  ;)
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: sknOOb on August 28, 2008, 05:19:06 AM
 ???
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: Zazen on August 29, 2008, 12:59:50 AM
If, however, you want to listen to local emergency calls and whatnot, you will need a trunking scanner.

Check if this is actually true in your area. Where I live the cops just use plain ol' radios with no trunking or anything.
Title: Re: Purchasing a scanner
Post by: Lestan Gregor on August 29, 2008, 01:11:27 AM
If, however, you want to listen to local emergency calls and whatnot, you will need a trunking scanner.

Check if this is actually true in your area. Where I live the cops just use plain ol' radios with no trunking or anything.

in bumfuck idaho...yes.

Zazen is mostly right...there are always divisions of police/fire/hopital/REMSA that dont use trunking. We have both here in Reno.