scanners

[traingeek087]

I need some infromation on scanners. You know the kind you buy for listening to rr crews. Got any web sites? prices, reccomendations, opinions, ETC.... Gracias....... .

[tree68]

Scanners are like computers - get the biggest one you can afford.... They run from under $100 to over $500. My two pocket scanners ran about $125 - $170 a couple of years ago.

Radio Shack ain't all bad - I got my two pocket scanners from them, the second one I bought because I travel to places that have trunked radio. You can also find Bearcat scanners at some big-box stores. I have a Bearcat at the house. All work fine.

There are many websites that sell scanners, and I'm not prepared to recommend any one over another, so I won't. Caveat Emptor, and I'm sure others will have recommendations.

Part of the answer to your question depends on what you want to listen to. If you want to listen at home, get a "base" scanner - it plugs into the wall, so you don't have to worry about batteries. An outside antenna is a must, especially if you aren't real near the tracks, or have a lot of RR's to listen to.

If you will be going on the road, a mobile scanner is a consideration, but it stays in your car, a problem if you are going to a publicly accessible spot to watch trains, but you won't be near your car (ie a station platform). Pocket scanners are the most mobile, for obvious reasons.

As for the channels - there are plenty of websites with that information, as well. If you get a scanner with at least 100 channels, you could think about programming in all of the current AAR channels, in channel order.

Finally a word of warning on mobile scanning - it's illegal in some states (NY, MI, IN for sure), and there could be local restrictions (KY no police frequencies). Research and beware.

All of the caveats about railfanning that we've been discussing lately still apply.

[athelney]

I've had scanners from Radio Shack , good but tend to miss some frequencies ,not sensitive enough . I personally use a Bearcat - am happy with performance, sound etc. I use handheld as there easier to use , less restrictions as mentioned above. I also have an Icom RC1 . nice unit but too complicated to use on the road. ie changing or entering new frequecies. I also use an external antenna for serious fanning trips . I have a magnetic mount for the top of the car , the antena is tuned to the railroad frquency band 160.000 -161000. Thats my 2 cents. I guess the rest is up to you -- happy scanning

[traingeek087]

Well if you've seen the add in trains magazine, the cheapest one is 190 with shipping. That's over my range, but I could scrounge it up in three weeks. My dad has a scanner for the car, never been used. He has a antenna that came with it, so I would just hook up that antenna for the car into my portable scanner.

[Anonymous]

WARNING........A SCANNER RADIO IS A "MUST" WHEN RAILFANNING.,NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.....take my word for it! Because you'll be doing this all day long wishing that you did have a scanner.......[banghead]./BNSFfan.

[Anonymous]

If you wanna get a quick fix for listening to the radio freq's chcek out this site
http://www.railroadradio.net/index.php

I listen to the Vancouver, BC stream all the time, it's great for just sitting back and listening, and it's free!

I still haven't gotten around to getting my own scanner it's a simple matter of dollars and cents. [:(]

[athelney]

It pays to get your own scanner , not only for your enjoyment out in the field, but also to help others. Example , last Friday was out linesiding in Mission BC . CN 2733 east-- mtys approaches to go over river bridge , bunches up too fast & breaks a knuckle as a result goes into emergency . Consequently as it's 10700 ft long, blocks 3 crossings, 2 minor but 1 of importance. From the info from my scanner I was able to advise some frusrated motorists of the problem ( average Joe does not get railway operations) & also suggest alternate routes, thereby reducing local problems whilst our CN fellows dealt with the problem. Also knowing where trains are also saves you time and helps you act safely at trackside.

[Jordan6]

About a year or so ago, my parents surprised me with a Radioshack PRO-95 scanner. I'll tell you that I absolutly love it. There's an unlimited number of things you can scan with it. You have the ability to program up to 1000 channels in the 10 storage banks provided. Aircraft, police/fire, ham radio, marine, CB, and the NWS frequencies are already programmed into there own little "banks". I haven't figure it out yet, but this scanner is equipped with the ability to use dual trunking[?] . Hope this gives you an idea of what to get.

[kschmidt]

Just a suggestion for an antenna. I found out about Smiley Antenna's. They sell tuned Antennas. They are available with the popular BNC connectors and are the "Rubber Duck". I recently order one tuned for 160 mhz. I haven' t gotten it yet, but at $16.00 it is a pretty good deal. Here is the link - www.htantennas.com

Keith

[Anonymous]

Ya every once an awhile I do the same thing every time a westbound UP train stalls on the blair hill.BNSFfan.

[adrianspeeder]

You cant go wrong with bearcat, they know there stuff. I love mine.
I also liked when you used to be able to listen to older portable phones. hehe

Adrianspeeder

[athelney]

Reason I first got a scanner ,
was sitting at a bridge south of Blue River BC (CN line) , great location for photo's! Sat for 2 hrs -- no trains ( this is the main line )
Decided to travel farther north in search of motive power , only to find the track up 2 miles from where I was sat !! Now with a scanner I tune into MOW channel to figure out where not to go !! Pays to have a trackside guide as well to figure out the talking scanner locations as well as location names if you are not familiar with the area.
The scanner goes with any time I'm trackside.

[Noah Hofrichter]

I have a scanner from radio shack that to me works just fine. I have it programed ot the two WSOR frequencies as well as the police and fire channels, and I keep it on most of the day. To me the scanner is invaluable. The train comes around 8:30pm around here and so they don't blow the whistle real loud out of common curtiousy. I would have never known many of the trains were there if not for hearing the usually "cut" "air" "3 cars" "2 cars'' ect. over the scanner.

Noah