Police Scanners

[Vein]

Does anybody have any methods of obtaining police scanners they'd care to share. They are obviously very useful to the Scams & Crime section of the website, but I don't know where to start.


Actually I do...my acquaintances dad illegally has one in his house...


But maybe there are other methods that don't require b&e, or ones for people who don't have my opportunity.

[RoundElephant]

I was just looking into that and it looks like they are relatively cheap/easy to get (<$150). Just google it.

[RoundElephant]

Once you have the scanner here is a very educational list of the codes the LE use: h**p://radiolabs.com/police-codes.html

[hamster]

I was just looking into that and it looks like they are relatively cheap/easy to get (<$150). Just google it.

Pretty sure unless it is a UNIDEN, (300 bucks hand held, 400 bucks digital in dash), you are going to get nothing with it. Because police use digital trunking, and there is no standard trunking method between systems (aka kenwood not compatible with motorolla) etc. Even with use of UNIDENs, you are still trying to trunk more then 1 frequency at the same time, you are going to get massive cross talk during peak communications.

[crazy white guy]

Its still good for picking up key words if you know who will be looking for you. Say you are doing a B&E and you hear "break and enter." and it sounds like its in your area, your running.

[auto493398]

Pretty sure unless it is a UNIDEN, (300 bucks hand held, 400 bucks digital in dash), you are going to get nothing with it.
Small price to pay for your freedom IMHO, your gonna pay a hell of a lot more than that before the courts are done with you if you get caught.

Its still good for picking up key words if you know who will be looking for you. Say you are doing a B&E and you hear "break and enter." and it sounds like its in your area, your running.
You need to learn the codes that they use in your area, they will have a specific code for B&E, they will also list off the address or general area, as soon as you hear the code and address, book it on out.

[auto493398]

Does anybody have any methods of obtaining police scanners they'd care to share. They are obviously very useful to the Scams & Crime section of the website, but I don't know where to start.
Ebay has truckloads of them.... just type in police scanner



Actually I do...my acquaintances dad illegally has one in his house...
Police scanners arent illegal anyway....
http://www.police-scanner.info/scanning/police-scanner-laws.htm


On a side note, scanners will pick up handheld phones, great for listening to your neighbors conversations and finding out when they are going on vacation and their house will be ripe for the picking :naughty:

[Th0r]

I was just looking into that and it looks like they are relatively cheap/easy to get (<$150). Just google it.

Purchasing them would mean they would show up, if you were interfering with a Police Scanner and the Cops wanted your identity...

It'd be better to steal one.

[hamster]

On a side note, scanners will pick up handheld phones, great for listening to your neighbors conversations and finding out when they are going on vacation and their house will be ripe for the picking :naughty:
unless you do SERIOUS modification to your scanner, you are not going to pick up any cellular data. On the other note, stealing 2 or 3 hand held unidens from B3ST BUY would be your best option, that way you can keep track of 3 or more frequencies, and keep them organized.

Purchasing them would mean they would show up, if you were interfering with a Police Scanner and the Cops wanted your identity...

Scanners are receivers, no one knows you have them, now if you are going to get a trunked CB radio, and start jamming up their channels with whatever, they may get a bit pissed off

[RoundElephant]

They can't pick up most(all digital) cell phone signals no matter how much u mod it. he is probably talking about hand held house phones.

[crazy white guy]

He means the wireless 900mhz phones

[lcnostra]

Seriously guys? Police scanners are LEGAL to own. They are only illegal if you use them to commit a crime (which nobody here does) or in some states, they are illegal to use in the car.

And what is this bullshit about spending a ton of money? You can pick up a brand new 1000-channel trunking scanner at Radio Shack for around $150. Yes, this will pick up trunked frequencies that large organizations like the State Police and FBI use. If you're going to be using it to listen to town police, you have nothing to worry about anyway. Most still use straight up analog that you could pick up with a 20 year-old scanner from your basement. Handhelds are cheap enough for trunking models, even cheaper if you don't need it. Google the frequencies, put them in, and listen.

Listen to your scanner for a while and familiarize yourself with the codes. This site is particularly useful, but codes vary from area to area. So does formality; some cops don't even really use them.

http://www.pimall.com/nais/n.radio.code.html

Oh, and listening to cops on the scanner is a good way to find out how intelligent/experienced they are. I had mine on and there was a call in my town. Dispatch told him to report to an address and he asked for directions! :surprised

[RoundElephant]

You just repeated most everything I just said in prior posts.

[hamster]

They can't pick up most(all digital) cell phone signals no matter how much u mod it.
untrue scanners with gsm cards are capable of picking up cellphone talk, as noted at defcon in 2005



And what is this bullshit about spending a ton of money? You can pick up a brand new 1000-channel trunking scanner at Radio Shack for around $150. Yes, this will pick up trunked frequencies that large organizations like the State Police and FBI use.


you must live in a small area, you are not going to get shit with that pos, maybe bits and pieces. A good scanner is way over 300 bucks. Not a shitty ass radio shack Motorola. Why? As i stated above different trunking standards.

[RoundElephant]

untrue scanners with gsm cards are capable of picking up cellphone talk, as noted at defcon in 2005

\

Your ignorant so I'm going to have to educate you:
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CELL PHONES THAT USE ANALOG SIGNALS.

[hamster]

Your ignorant so I'm going to have to educate you:
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CELL PHONES THAT USE ANALOG SIGNALS.

GSM is is both digital call signal and voice data, why are you saying analog?

[lcnostra]

You just repeated most everything I just said in prior posts.

I actually added about four to five things that you didn't mention....this is a board for sharing information anyway. No need to be snobby about throwing around ideas and knowledge.

[RoundElephant]

I actually added about four to five things that you didn't mention....this is a board for sharing information anyway. No need to be snobby about throwing around ideas and knowledge.

I was trying to make the point that one should read the thread before he posts.

[Vein]

So, how would mailing cash to the location of an online scanner website and asking it to be sent to a drop location work? I'm not 18 yet...

[hamster]

Your ignorant so I'm going to have to educate you:
THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CELL PHONES THAT USE ANALOG SIGNALS.


I was trying to make the point that one should read the thread before he posts.
same thing can be applied to you little buddy

So, how would mailing cash to the location of an online scanner website and asking it to be sent to a drop location work? I'm not 18 yet...
Try your local radio club, a lot of old guys with radios and scanners, they will help you out and make sure you get a good product

[Vein]

Would there be such a radio club in a city of about 12,000?

[hamster]

Would there be such a radio club in a city of about 12,000?

Google around and see brother, maybe you will need to do a little bit of driving. Even joining some HAM radio forums will help, they always have a buy/sell section, pm me we can talk about maybe me selling you one

[Vein]

Google around and see brother, maybe you will need to do a little bit of driving. Even joining some HAM radio forums will help, they always have a buy/sell section, pm me we can talk about maybe me selling you one

Were you the russian guy trying to sell people sensor tag removers for $200?

[hamster]

Were you the russian guy trying to sell people sensor tag removers for $200?

not my type of business brother

[lcnostra]

I was trying to make the point that one should read the thread before he posts.

I did read the thread. Then I reinforced and clarified on the misconception of scanners being illegal. The only thing I repeated that you had spoken about was the price range. Again, this was to clarify, as I couldn't believe people were throwing out numbers like 300-400 dollars.

Since nobody else on this thread mentioned they own a scanner (and I do), I figured I would do the productive thing and share some knowledge. Knowledge is more useful than trying to enforce forum rules that have not been violated and internet banter, no?

Now, so this is not a wasted post, here's an idea. If you are like me and can't stand listening to that bullshit they call FM radio, why not use your existing car antenna to get better reception on your scanner? A few weeks ago I went to Radio Shack and picked up a BNC to car antenna adapter for about three bucks. All I did was pull the existing antenna from the dash, slap on the connector, and connect the BNC end to my scanner. Pretty good rig for under 5 bucks.

[Vein]

Well...I used something called google, and to my success I found out where my local area amature radio club holds its meetings.

Monthly membership meetings..................Second Sunday of each month - 7:30 PM
.................................................. ...................----------- Depot in ------- Park on -------- St.
.................................................. ...................off -------- Trail between ---- and ------- Roads

Score :wiggle:

So do you think these people will offer me any oportunities to buy a decent scanner?

[lcnostra]

Why do you need a decent opportunity? Why not just go to Radio Shack?

[Pimpin4Life30]

I signed up to this site http://www.hamradioforum.net/index.phpas Hamlover234.

[RoundElephant]

I did read the thread. Then I reinforced and clarified on the misconception of scanners being illegal. The only thing I repeated that you had spoken about was the price range. Again, this was to clarify, as I couldn't believe people were throwing out numbers like 300-400 dollars.

You also repeated the codes that the police use.

[Pimpin4Life30]

Cross that out that site sucks dick!

[hamster]

Why do you need a decent opportunity? Why not just go to Radio Shack?
so you can get information on how to spend your money wisely, not to buy a generic Motorola
plus if you attend enough and make friends, hell they would even let you borrow one for a couple operations for free

[lcnostra]

You also repeated the codes that the police use.

Whatever man, I'm really not here to fight about right and wrong. This is a site for sharing information, not acting like a little kid.


@Hamster:

Using the term "generic Motorola" leads me to believe that you don't really know what you're talking about. First of all, Motorola does not make police scanners. They make the actual radios that the police use, as well as the trunked radio systems that repeat the signal and distribute it. Simply put, thousands of law enforcement agencies around the WORLD use Motorola systems and products. They are the most reputable name in radios and radio network systems (i.e. my state police use a Motorola II trunked system).

There really are no "generic" police scanners. Most of the companies that make them are pretty good, including the Radio Shack ones. As I have already said, they can even support trunking and 1000 channel programming. My advice to you is to first do some research on how these radio frequencies work, including trunking (it can be a bit difficult to grasp at first). Check out the wikipedia entry on trunked systems here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trunking

you'll probably want to explore even deeper than that. Sorry if I came off as harsh, as I wasn't trying to criticize you....I just wanted to clear some things up. You seem eager to learn about radio (which is really quite fascinating). Making that connection with the radio people was a good first step. You will probably meet some interesting people who REALLY know their shit and who will teach you a lot. Keep on researching and good luck.

[hamster]

what I said was get a Uniden, from the very start, because its the most compatible with most trunking systems, some even have support for digital cards. I have Uniden, and know people with radio shacks, GREs, AORs, etc. My opinion, go buy Uniden, if cannot buy, steal, barrow etc.

Looking around a bit I was able to find some Bearcats for about 200 that will support modern trunking that you will need. So lcnostra, I somewhat agree with you now, but the Bearcat Br330 is still a hefty 300, which is what you would need operating crime to pick up the proper talk you need nearly 100%