My Police Scanner Choice; and the Winner is:

PRO-97 1000-Channel Triple-Trunking Handheld Scanner

High-powered handheld.
High-performance, extended-coverage scanner has the ability to scan both trunked and conventional channels at the same time. Program up to 100 frequencies in banks of 10 for easier access. Triple-trunking lets you follow a signal in virtually any market that uses an analog trunking system. Signal Stalker™ circuitry searches for nearby frequency transmissions and lets you hear a nearby radio without knowing its frequency. Skywarn lets you hear local severe-weather observers and get warnings before they are broadcast on local radio or TV. The SAME feature provides weather and other emergency alerts for the areas you program into your unit. For a list of codes, click here.

* Alpha-numeric display for ID tagging allows frequencies to be identified by the name you assign
* Lighted keypad and backlit LCD display for use in low light
* Digital weather alert keeps you informed of emergencies; 7 NOAA weather stations preprogrammed
* Easy programming: download frequencies from computer to scanner (software and cable optional)


What's in the box

* Radio scanner
* Belt clip
* 6" flexible rubber antenna
* Two battery cases
* Owner's guide
* Quick start guide
* Preprogrammed frequency addendum [...]

At last we have a police scanner. After a lot of research, I picked a Radio Shack Pro-97. It's normally $200, I got it on sale for $169.

I could have got a decent cheaper model, if I had only wanted to scan police, fire and EMS frequencies. But I went with this more expensive model because it also scans a lot of HAM radio frequencies too, as well as Marine, Aviation and CB channels. It's also capable of handling trunked radio systems. I don't think any of the agencies in my area are using trunking presently, but if they ever move to it, I'll still be able to scan them.

I picked this particular model because it's been out for a few years now, and it has 300 customer reviews, most of which give it high marks. It has the most reviews of any scanner on the Radio Shack website.

There was an upgraded model, the PRO-164 1000-Channel Handheld Scanner, which looks exactly like the Pro-97. It's normally $219.99, but was also on sale for $169. It has extra features, such as a bar graph signal-strength meter, tone ID of priority tagged frequencies, and the ability to scan the 700 MHz range, which will become available next year when commercial TV goes digital. I could kinda kick myself that I didn't get the Pro-164, but I chose to stick with the Pro-97, because it has a proven track record. The Pro-164 only has 23 reviews, and some of those say the sound quality is not as good as the Pro-97, and I just didn't want to be a guinea pig for a new product.

So back to the Pro-97. It's portable, I can use rechargable batteries and recharge them without removing them from the scanner. Programing the scanner isn't what I would call easy, it reminds me of what programing VCR's used to be like when they first came out; semi-rocket science.

Many of the user reviews had said it's worth buying the cable and software to program it with, so I did. I'm using the Win97 program from Starsoft, which works fine with Windows XP on my PC. It's enabled me to download the frequencies for our local police, county sheriff, State police, EMS, and Fire departments. There are other codes for other things, such as Forrest service, Transportation department, etc. but the above is all I've done so far. The results have been very satisfying.

I am going to have really sit down with the manual though, and read it thoroughly to comprehend all the features, and to block things I'm not interested in, make backups of the frequencies I want to keep, etc. Some people complain that the manual is difficult to follow. If you find it so, there is help. There is a re-written version of the manual that's been posted on-line, that many have found useful:

Easier to Read Pro-97/2055 Scanner Manual

The salesman at Radio Shack recommended that I buy an external antenna, since I live a considerable distance outside of town. He said a good antenna can make all the difference, so I went with his recommendation:

Outdoor VHF-Hi/UHF Scanner Antenna

At home, when I use the scanner with just the antenna it came with, it does pick up radio traffic from town. But when I use the external antenna, it seems to pick up a lot more traffic, including areas farther away, so I think it's worth every penny. I bought a 50ft cable to go with it. If you buy it, be sure and get the BNC connector to attach the scanner to the cable. I forgot mine, and had to go back days later to get it.

I won't be able to do an in-depth review until I work with the scanner more extensively and learn to utilize all of it's features, but thus far I am impressed with it's performance, and happy with my purchase.

If you are thinking of buying a scanner and you are only interested in scanning Police/Fire/EMT services, you would probably be happy with a cheaper scanner. But you need to find out if any of your local services are using trunked systems. If not, you can get a good scanner for as low as $79. Talk to the folks at your local Radio Shack, they probably know what's being used in your area. My store also gave me a sheet with the local frequencies to program the scanner with, but you can also find that information on-line by googling it.


Related Links:

Learning Ham Radio; start with a Police Scanner?

Police Scanners part II; back to the $100 models

Radio Communications in a Changing World

Resource Links: Radio Codes & Signals
     

Police Scanners part II; back to the $100 models

In an earlier post, "Learning Ham Radio; start with a Police Scanner?", I was looking at $200 scanners, attracted by all the bells and whistles. But since then, I've gotten my "Two-Way Radios & Scanners For Dummies" book, and after reading up on them, I think the $100 range would suit me fine.

Here are the top three I'm looking at now, from Radio Shack:


200-Channel VHF/AIR/UHF Desktop Scanner with 1-Touch Service
Some good friends of ours own this model, and recently they came to visit and brought it with them, so I got to see first hand how it works. Easy to use, and good reception. They use it in town, but even out here it picked up the police and sheriff's departments just fine. It gets 200 channels, and is programmable. It goes for $100, but I've seen it on sale for $79. It's got good reviews by users, but some reviewers claim it's little more than a toy. The one drawback I could see is that it only runs on AC power, no option for batteries, so if your power goes out, you're out of luck.


PRO-82 200-Channel Handheld Scanner
This model is also 200 channels. The manual is easy to read (the manuals for all these units are available for download as .pdf files), and it can run on batteries and is very mobile, great for traveling. It's $100.


PRO-433 1,000-Channel Triple-Trunking Desktop/Mobile Scanner
This last model is the one I think I'm leaning towards. It costs $120, but for that $20 more you get 1000 channels, 800Mgz capability, more frequencies, the ability to scan trunked radio systems, the option of batteries and the flexibility of mobility and portability. It's also gotten great reviews from customers.

I don't think any of the places I'd be scanning are using trunking, but if they upgrade to it later, I'll still be able to listen. I'll read up on them more, then visit our local Radio Shack and start asking questions, and see if I can clarify what would be the best for my situation.

I've also got the book: "Ham Radio For Dummies" by Ward Silver, the same author who wrote the scanner book, and I'm looking forward to reading it too. But first things first, and I think it will be focusing on a good scanner and making that purchase.
     

Learning Ham Radio; start with a Police Scanner?

While reading many sites on the internet about Ham Radio, I came across this bit of advice for Ham Newbies from Ron Hashiro in Hawaii:

Getting Started in Ham Radio

Your first ham radio station

So, you're studying for your first amateur radio license -- probably the Technician Class license -- and wondered what kind of equipment to get in the meantime. If I could do it again with modern equipment, here are some of my thoughts.

Enjoy, and feel free to drop me an e-mail if you have any questions.

First: The receiver

I feel the first thing to buy for ham radio is not the radio transmitter itself, but a decent receiver. If you pass your exam for the Technician Class license, you'll be able to talk on the VHF (50, 144 Mhz band) and UHF frequencies (440 Mhz band) as soon as your license is processed by the FCC. (By the way, these days, the VEC-FCC process takes as little as a week to complete, and you can transmit as soon as you can see your callsign on any of the various web callsign databases on the Internet. When I was first licensed, it took about 6-8 weeks, and you had to wait for the processed license paperwork to arrive in the mail.)

So, the initial temptation might be to get a transmitter or a combination transmitter-receiver called a transceiver. But, you might underbuy or overbuy on your equipment. So, it makes sense to try it out on a comparatively inexpensive solution. Get a "police" scanner first.

Scanners can go through a number of frequencies very quickly. You can monitor all the popular repeaters and simplex frequencies in a matter of about one or two seconds. I listen to the local frequencies with a scanner, and when I hear someone that I want to talk with, I turn on my radio (if it's not on) and make a contact.

For fun, you can also add the local aviation, weather and other frequencies to monitor -- and lock them out if you don't feel like listening to it at the moment. Best of all, they cost around $100 or so new. If you're fortunate to find a used model, your cost might be less.

Any old time ham will tell you that a good, solid and sensitive receiver is a must because there's an old adage "If you can't hear 'em, you can't work'em." -- meaning that if you can't hear the other station, you can't make a two-way contact with them. That makes sense. But, starting out, you probably don't need a top-of-the-line scanner. If you go to your nearest Radio Shack, you'll find a number of police radio scanners available. You can get started with one of these. See Radio Shack Scanners for starters. Look for one that you can attach an external antenna.

I would get a model that plugs into the AC wall outlet, so I wouldn't have to worry about charging or changing batteries. You can program a number of interesting ham frequencies: the nearest VHF and UHF repeaters on your island. Then, you can listen to the amount of conversation present, and get an idea of how strong the repeater signals are in your area. That'll determine how much radio and antenna to buy next. You'll also hear how conversations are made on the air, and that'll help you pass the Technician exam. [...]

Ron's page has lots of further useful advice for purchases later on as well. I'm just excerpting the first part because that's where I'm at right now; I have no equipment, and I'm facing my first purchase.

This sounds like good advice. I have no idea what kind of radio traffic I can receive where I live. A scanner will put me in touch with what is happening locally. I'm not sure at this point how much I'm going to get into Ham Radio, but I figure I can't go wrong starting with a scanner. If it helps me pass the Technician exam eventually, so much the better.

So the question is, what kind of scanner to buy? I have looked at Radio Shack on-line, and Amazon.com too. There are so many scanners to choose from. I thought these looked promising:

Uniden Bearcat BCT8 BearTracker Warning System with 800 MHz TrunkTracker III

Uniden BC898T 500 Channel Programmable Base Scanner with TrunkTracker III

UNIDEN BC-246T Compact Hand Held Scanner

Now these scanners are all in the $200 range, rather than the $100 range that Ron spoke of. As I read reviews posted from buyers, a lot of people complained about the cheaper scanners being older "outdated" models using inferior technology. These models were rated higher for satisfaction, but then more expensive stuff usually is. The TrunkTracker feature seems important, but how important is it? Would a cheaper scanner do? Or would I find myself saying "darn, if only I had been willing to spend a bit more..."? It would be nice to get a satisfactory purchase the first time.

I generally prefer radios with dials and knobs, rather than buttons. But it seems like everything has buttons nowadays. One reviewer warned against analog radios, saying they cannot pick up digital transmissions. Reading the customer reviews can make your head spin, especially when you don't understand all the jargon yet. I did find this one review for the Uniden Bearcat BCT8 amusing:

By Hilow "SurfDog" (San Francisco, CA USA)

This scanner has no problem keeping track of ALL radio traffic. I live in densely populated San Francisco near the entrance to the bay and right under the GG bridge. This little scanner gets it all. CHP, Bridge Patrol, Bridge Electricians, Bridge Shuttle bus. SFPD, SFFD, EMS. Yellow Cab, DPT, Harbor Pilots, Tugs, laundry delivery trucks, totally (too much information)TMI! In search mode I get signal from as far north as San Rafael (Marin County) as far east as Oakland as far south as Burlingame with the supplied telescopic antenna! For mobile applications ditch the supplied little wire antenna'n get a magnetic roof mount.

Bear Tracker works. Had it on the road 2day and it picks off Mobile Extenders left and right.

Programing is as easy as spending a few hours in search mode and entering the stations as you get them. The Trunk tracking feature rocks. In time you will be able to tell who is who. Dont want that Freq? Delete it easily.

A well designed and easy to use product. Crystal clear reception, intelligent layout and the pre-programmed freqs. are amazing.

Pricy perhapes, but worth it. I feel like I have been scanning for years and this is only my 4th day.

5 stars for delivering the goods, in spades. I am very happy.

TMI! LOL! Having lived in San Francisco for 23 years, it brought back memories. The atmosphere there always seemed so "busy". Is it any wonder, with all that radio traffic going through your brain, 24/7, in addition to all the commercial TV and radio stations as well?

When I visited South African in 1983 with Pat, there was a quietness there that seemed remarkable. At that time the South African government controlled commercial TV and radio stations, and there weren't many of them. In fact, the TV stations then only broadcast in the evening. I attributed much of the quietness to the dearth of broadcast frequencies in the air.

Many years later, when we moved here to rural Oregon, I experienced a very similar quietness like I had in South Africa.

We have one broadcast TV station within range of our house. The station is in the nearest big town. You need a special antenna to receive it, but it still comes in badly so we never watch it. In theory we have 18 commercial radio stations within range of our house, according to the internet. But in fact, we can receive only a handful of them. That may be good reason to spend a bit more to get a quality scanner, to make sure I can get the best reception. I may have to look into getting a decent antenna too.

I'm not sure how much radio traffic I can pick up here. We are close to the Oregon coast, and we often see Coast Guard helicopters flying by. There is a sizable airport in town too, so I'm sure there is Air and Marine radio traffic. And since there is an active Ham Radio club in town too, there has got to be a considerable amount of local activity for a scanner to pick up, I would think.

I've ordered a book, "Two-Way Radios & Scanners For Dummies", to see if I can get up to speed on what the different scanner features mean, and help me understand what I should look for in a scanner for my particular situation. I don't know if it's silly to buy a scanner for $200, when I could buy a transceiver for that or even less (and one with knobs too!). Perhaps it's a silly comparison to make; there are lots of variables to consider that I don't fully understand yet.

In the meantime, if anyone has some advice or would like to post about their own scanner purchasing experiences, please feel free to do so here.