Police Scanner

[computert3ch]

I am looking to buy a police scanner does any one know where I could get one at?

[SKNL2]

Radio Shack.

[OnCrime]

Radio Shack has a good selection or try the internet. If you are looking for one to listen in Charlotte, make sure you get one with a lot of channels- not the 100 channel scanner.

[SKNL2]

You will need a "trunkable" scanner. RadioShack has several "triple trunking" scanners at varying price levels.

[Capt Radio]

Uniden also makes good trunking scanners. They are my preference but I have had Radio Shack also. The key thing, as mentioned above, is be sure it is trunking. The web site of www.radioreference.com has very good information on it. Go to the Forums and then North Carolina for the radio data you must enter.

[Guest]

For a portable scanner I recommend the Uniden BC246T for around $225.00 on the internet. Once programmed you actually see which division of the CMPD is responding, same for EMS and MCFD. It is also programmable through your computer with additional software from Butel called the ARC246. Radioreference.com keeps updated talk group ids and frequencies and for a small quartly fee ($7-8) your scanner will link to their site through the ARC246 software and you will have the latest Charlotte info. It also has a function called "Close Call" that you can activate if you are near some action. It will pick up the frequencie of the nearby police/fire or medic radios so you can hear what they are syaing.

[OnCrime]

I have a Radio Shack handheld triple-trunking scanner that I love! Its the Pro-97 model.
OC

[jebemt]

Here is a link to a cool site. If you do not have a scanner yet, you can use this site to hear what is going on. It has a 15 to 20 second delay from the actual broadcast.

metro-uhf.org/cmpdring.html

Copy/paste and it should work

[scruff mcgruff]

Just curious what the LE perspective is on police scanners as it relates to crime.
1. Would it be possible for a criminal to use a scanner to facilitate the commision of a crime or are there certain encrypted frequencies or channels unavailable to all but LE?
2. Have you ever seen a case where a criminal was able to gain an advantage as a result of a police scanner?

[pacino2367]

"Just curious what the LE perspective is on police scanners as it relates to crime.
1. Would it be possible for a criminal to use a scanner to facilitate the commision of a crime or are there certain encrypted frequencies or channels unavailable to all but LE?
2. Have you ever seen a case where a criminal was able to gain an advantage as a result of a police scanner?"

They use scanners frequently on break-ins. On other occasions, when a scanner cannot be afforded, they simply initiate "test runs" to check and estimate police arrival times.

[pacino2367]

Due to a recent question in regards to the use of scanners in vehicles, the city ordinance language is as follows (misdemeanor with mandatory appearance):

(equip)(operate inside the city) a motor vehicle with a high frequency police radio (transmitter)(receiving set). Sec.15-52.

Have fun with the scanner, it's interesting to listen to the radio traffic. Simply, just be mindful that the city establishes a threshold on where not to operate them. I speculate the purpose of the ordinance is for call-chasers who may interfere with a request for police service.

[saf]

There are federal exemptions for licensed amateur radio operators that preempt local ordinances. Many ham radio's have extended receive coverage that include frequencies used by public service. So while they may be considered "a high frequency police radio receiver" they are legal. Also scanners aren't just for listening to police. They are also used to monitor multiple ham radio frequencies as part of a ham radio station.

The language used in Charlotte's ordinance is obviously old. "High Frequency" goes back to when public safety first began moving to vhf 40 years ago. Also "equip" is subject to interpretation since these days some scanners are small enough to stay in a coat pocket as opposed to a radio that is installed in a vehicle using vehicle power and an antenna mounted on the vehicle.

I do think the intention of the ordinance is understandable. The worst thing anyone can do is intentionally go to the scene of an incident in progress.

[karz10]

Pacino: So, what does that mean, you can't have a scanner, say a portable one, while in your vehicle? It's a crime? Or just if you use it while committing another crime, it's an additional charge? What about what I'm about to type below...?

Jebemt: Thanks for the link. That's interesting. I loaded it on my pc, if it's only a short delay, that is pretty cool. This begs another question, regarding pacino's pasted text above, what if someone has a portable computer or pda, and is listening to a scanner somewhere in a vehicle? I just loaded it into my pda, and can access it via my pda/cell phone, which is pretty cool.

Karz

[scanner fan]

What happened to the online cmpd scanner? I can't get it anymore.

jebemt said:

Here is a link to a cool site. If you do not have a scanner yet, you can use this site to hear what is going on. It has a 15 to 20 second delay from the actual broadcast.

metro-uhf.org/cmpdring.html

Copy/paste and it should work

[slappy]

Amature radios operate in the 150mhz range if i remember correctly. Most hospital is 155.340. the ems is the ' med channels" 462.195 is "med 9" the primary dispatch channel. in Meck county radios operate on an 800mhz trunked system. that includes Police Medic and Fire.