Hello. I have long wanted to purchase a scanner and I have a few questions. I am curious if one scanner is capable of receiving both radio and marine transmissions, or do I need to purchase one for each hobby? What model/make would you recommend as a good entry-level product? Also, can you recommend any REPUTABLE on-line sellers? Thanks in advance.
Martin
Dampfmann wrote: Hello. I have long wanted to purchase a scanner and I have a few questions. I am curious if one scanner is capable of receiving both radio and marine transmissions, or do I need to purchase one for each hobby? What model/make would you recommend as a good entry-level product? Also, can you recommend any REPUTABLE on-line sellers? Thanks in advance.Martin
I have a Radio Shack Pro-64 and it is programmable to receive all sorts of broadcasts, including marine frequencies although I don't use it for anything but railroad and police channels...enjoy your new scanner whatever one you buy.
I have had good luck with both Ham Radio Outlet (HRO) and Amature Electronic Supply (AES)
The online catalogs can be a bit difficult to just browse for information...
They will send you hard copy catalogs to browse at your convience, then you can web-order. SOmetimes, they have reps at larger ham fests....
Virtually all scanners on the market today are capable of a wide range of frequencies. The newest trend is to include digital, but you don't need that for marine and railroad. Trunked radio is also big in public safety, but again not necessary for tracks and water.
That said, the marine channels are in the 156-157 Mhz range, railroads are in the 160-161 Mhz range, so if your chosen scanner will receive those ranges, you're golden. After that it's all about the features and what other frequencies you may want to monitor.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
....I've had my Radio Shack scanner {Pro-51}, now for years...Actually my 2nd R S unit and this one, a 200 channel programable unit will accept the freq. you mention.
It also has, just for convienience, preprogramed....Air....Marine....Fire and Police segments you can just punch in and let it scan to check on any action. I consider it an acceptable unit. Probably newer ones are even better.....I believe scanners, {programable 200 channel}, are less costly now than they were some years ago.
Quentin
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
There is an interesting book about railroad radio which will help you to understand railroad radio communication, and its title is "Railroad Radio", and the author is Vincent Reh. The book has two chapters about scanners including what to buy, and getting the most out of your scanner. It is published by Byron Hill Publishing company in Grand Island, VT.
I use a ICOM IC-T90, which is a ham radio (that means that you have to have a FCC licence to own one) and it has never let me down. It has a 500 channel MR. For the car, we have a Radio Shack PRO-2096. It has a gazillion channels, a fast scan mode, and it can recieve the digital frequencies in the 800mhz band that police and fire departments use. A normal scanner can't recieve them.
Phil
Hmmm...never read a law that says you have to have a license to OWN a radio, just to transmit with one...in fact, I know lots of hams who have given or loaned hand held radios to folks who are working on their license, so they can monitor local nets and traffic, to stay motivated...with the appropriate admonitions to not transmit with the radio until they are properly licensed.
JSGreen wrote: Hmmm...never read a law that says you have to have a license to OWN a radio, just to transmit with one...in fact, I know lots of hams who have given or loaned hand held radios to folks who are working on their license, so they can monitor local nets and traffic, to stay motivated...with the appropriate admonitions to not transmit with the radio until they are properly licensed
Hmmm...never read a law that says you have to have a license to OWN a radio, just to transmit with one...in fact, I know lots of hams who have given or loaned hand held radios to folks who are working on their license, so they can monitor local nets and traffic, to stay motivated...with the appropriate admonitions to not transmit with the radio until they are properly licensed
Depending on the circumstances, an individual doesn't even need a license to transmit. That usually involves operating under someone else's license (as we do in the fire service and on the railroads - I doubt you'll find many railroaders with an FCC license).
I've got a little Bearcat 16 channel in the truck, a RS Pro-94 for trunking, and a RS Pro-71 for everything else, plust another Bearcat 16 channel "base" scanner at the house. Plus a 32 channel set up for working on the railroad and some local fire and EMS. We won't even talk about the new trunked system I administer at work...
Yep - I'm a radio geek...
I have been scanning since 1976. It is the only way to travel. Don't leave home without it.
I do listen to police and fire and can pick up the traffic reports as they come down from the traffic airplane. Life is good!
Get an inexpensive Radio Shack model and HAVE FUN!!!
I have a Radio Shack 50 channel programmable that has been going for 14 years, and a 10 channel hand held that has been in use for 20. My "road" scanner is a Radio Shack 200 channel, the only problem with that is the programming function no longer works, but I programmed all 96 AAR channels into it some time ago...
If I may sidetrack this a little. I have a Radio Shack Pro-83. It works fine except, I get every emergency call there is and at times it blocks railroad transmissions. I know it's supposedly capable of handling only one channel at a time. I can admit I'm not a genius at using this but I find the intructions a tad vague. I emailed Radio Shack and they only added to my confusion. I tried one way but it never picks up anything even when I know a train is approaching in the same area where it picks them up when scanning for everything. If anyone has mastered this I would appreciate any help.
Thanks
TimChgo9 wrote: My "road" scanner is a Radio Shack 200 channel, the only problem with that is the programming function no longer works, but I programmed all 96 AAR channels into it some time ago...
My "road" scanner is a Radio Shack 200 channel, the only problem with that is the programming function no longer works, but I programmed all 96 AAR channels into it some time ago...
I've been using a Radio Shack PRO-94 for a few years now. I'm happy with it, but it does pick up "other signals" on occasion.
I also use that external magnet-mount antenna from RailCom on my car.
Overall, I'm happy with the combination...
Now, if I can just find out where CSX have moved some of those detector frequencies between Avon, IN and Terre Haute, IN...
FYI:
Some states have laws that prohibit the use of scanners in various situations.
http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/
zardoz wrote:FYI:Some states have laws that prohibit the use of scanners in various situations.http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/
Indiana (where I live) is one of them.
Two years ago in Plainfield, Indiana, I got a DWI. I'd been out train-watching and drinking beer. I had my scanner in the car (along with an external antenna on the car) when I got stopped.
Just before the cops took me to jail, they asked me about the scanner. I told them I was train-watching and only had CSX railroad frequencies stored - no police frequencies. Either they believed me or they checked, because I wasn't ticketed or fined because of the scanner.
My Dad bailed me out of jail and when we went to pick up my car, the scanner was still there.
BTW, I only drink Pepsi out at the tracks now...
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.