What kind of portable police/emergency response scanner?

[sapper77]

I'm looking at getting a portable scanner for relatively cheap (under $100). I don't mind getting it off of FleaBay and was wondring what brands/models people have had and liked. I don't mind getting an older one either-it certainly doesn't have to be new if it saves me some money and works good.

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[Sgt Nambu]

Hey Sapper, I an not even suggesting this for tactical usage but are you aware that police and fire scanner app's are available free for smart phones. They are surprisingly well done, you can set them for any metropolitan area inc Portland, Mult Co. Clark Co etc. NYPD and Chicago were eye openers!

 

[GadgetGeek]

Make sure any scanner you get does trunking (motorola type II I believe) if you want to listen to the local stuff. I used to have a uniden handheld (don't recall model #) but it suited its purpose quite well. I too picked it up off the 'bay for less than 100 shipped. I used to live in a small town and would listen to the fire department. Got back to Portland and lost interest in scanning.

I tried one of the iphone apps back in the day (original Iphone days) and was amused by it at best. I'll have to try it again now. Thanks for the heads up Sarge!!!

 

[AMProducts]

there are relatively few scanners out there in the price range that will understand the wide variety of protocols. Some of the more common ones... motorola smartzone, P25, etc.

What you might want to do is spend some time over on the radioreference forums and find out what kind of scanners they use over there. They have a better idea than most.

 

[nwdrifter]

50 radio on your smart phone

 

[benja455]

50 radio on your smart phone

+ 1

Works great.

 

[Decker]

I use Scanner Radio app.

 

[ATCclears]

+1 for "5-0 Radio Police Scanner".

Peter

 

[nwwoodsman]

You can also listen to this while you're online

RadioReference.com - Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

 

[cuchulain]

i have some scanners older ones but affordable, they are the desk top kind not your handheld.. i think they are bearcats ... just contact me ... i am in vancouver, wa

 

[sapper77]

You can also listen to this while you're online

RadioReference.com - Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

I downloaded this a few days ago and have been listening to it ever since. Thank for the link it works great!

 

[inb4]

I recommend an Icom IC-R6. Both Universal Radio & HamRadio Outlet sell them for about $180.

 

[Toxic6]

I have a ratshack pro97 that seems to work ok. I still haven't figured out how to program trunks but around here it really doesn't matter LOL.

If you travel through metro areas check pawn shops.....in areas that use hybrid and digital systems you can find normal scanners on the cheap a lot of times. if you need a digital scanner good luck on your price range of a bill.