Anlineradio scanners

Radio Scanners are Not Illegal

Virtually all you will hear on its frequencies is legal. There are no legal restrictions if scanners are used at home. What is illegal is utilizing the info heard on the scanner to commit a crime or use it for financial gain. There may also be a few restrictions in using them while in a vehicle; it depends on the state. But deciding to
buy a radio scanner is legal.

The following is a list of what you can expect from a radio scanner. Not all devices have these features, so remember that as you shop for a scanner.

Base vs. Handheld Scanners

The base or mobile scanners are for use on base stations or a vehicle. The sound is louder and quality is better than handhelds. The keypads and displays are also larger. They also come with a power supply.

In terms of performance, the mobile scanners are better than handhelds. They have greater coverage and less susceptible to interference. However, handheld scanners are more convenient and can be carried by an individual.

If you don't plan to bring the scanner with you, buy a radio scanner of the mobile variety. If you want something you can take while traveling, the handheld is the better option.

Number of Channels Available

This determines how many systems you can tune in to. A scanner with limited channels means you have to reprogram it whenever you want to check out another agency. If you just listen to the sheriff's department, 20 channels will be sufficient.

But if you live in the city or metropolitan area, you'll need more channels. In these places each city will have their own department, each with 5 to 10 frequencies. This doesn't even count in the state and county police.

If you want to listen to civil / military aircraft, fire department, etc. you'll need to buy a radio scanner that can accommodate 200 to 1000 frequencies.

Using Banks

On scanners with plenty of channels, the user can organize them into banks. The banks are used to cluster channels that share a common topic. That is, you can put all law enforcement frequencies on bank 1, fire/medical on bank 2, aircraft on bank 3 and so on.

Search Mode

A scanner with a search mode option allows the user to look for systems on unknown channels or frequencies. Unpublished frequencies include those of NASA, the FBI and many more. The search option on scanners is often customizable. The search speed will vary per scanner though.