Police Scanner FAQ


Scanners are really hard to program huh?

The fast answer is, no. However with a little practice you'll be scanning in no time. There's a big hint to getting you listening, READ THE OWNERS MANUAL! There are a lot of magazines on scanning as well. You don't need to be a electronics expert to program a scanner.


I just bought a scanner, how do I get frequencies?

There's a lot of ways to get frequencies. First you can just manually go through the frequencies and write down the things you hear on a paper and program them in later. This can be a lot of fun, since you can hear what's really near you! There are places on the internet such as www.radioreference.com and www.cityfreq.com There are magazines sold at local stores as well like Popular Communications.


How do I know what type of system my local departments are on, analog, trunked, or digital?

Its 100% legal to call your local department and ask them. Often they are very glad to tell you. Police frequencies are public domain. Meaning they aren't top secret.


I want to listen to cell phones can I?

Its illegal since 1994.


What are the most popular police scanners you sell?

The Uniden BC246T, handheld. The Uniden BCT8 and 898T for bases. Plus the new Uniden models that came out are very popular. The reason these are popular is they all have trunking. A lot of major cites, states, and even small towns have started to use trunking systems. Trunked systems just allow many users to use the same system together at one time. Making it great for towns, and places that need to all keep in communication.


Can you tell me the difference between the Uniden BCT8 and 898T?

Sure, the Uniden BCT8 is great equipment for people getting started. You can use it as a base, or even mount it in a car if you'd like. It has all US states preprogrammed for major departments and is easy to operate. While the 898T is a scanner that more advanced users choose, or ones that really want to learn a lot about scanning.


On a police scanner, do all you hear is the police?

The police are a tiny part of what is heard on scanners. They really just have the nick name police scanners. Airplanes, taxis, businesses, trains, buses, and more can be heard. Ships at sea, military, and others can be listened to. Scanners are very popular at Air Shows, so you can hear the pilots as they zoom across the sky. Space craft, ham radio communications, security guards, and most everything that broadcasts can be heard.


Can a scanner help my family during natural disaster, or emergency?

Yes, keeping in touch with the world around you will allow you to make better choices as to what you should do in the event of a situation. Scanners can pick up weather broadcasts in event of bad weather. You can pick up vital communications in the event of emergency. In the uncertain world around us we should be interested in what's taking place.


Should I buy a Handheld or Base Scanner?

Handhelds are best if your out and about. Base scanners are best to leave in one spot.