Talking of radio scanners...

[Apache]

This is a bargain! Very wide coverage, respected make, bargain price. And NO, its not mine.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AOR-AR2000-WID...3A1%7C294%3A50

Get in quick if you want one. It wont be there for long at that price.

[BUSHWHACKER]

What do they do, look for lost radios or scan them for drugs/weapons?

[Apache]

You chasing 20,000 posts Vince?

Someone was asking about buying a scanner a few weeks back. Cant remember who, but thats a good price for a nice bit of kit if they're around.

[BUSHWHACKER]

I know, but what they for?

[Apache]

Scanning, the radio waves.

At the mo, you have at your disposal 88MHz-108MHz generally, and there you can listen to any number of inane self important pricks playing 'pop' music.

A scanner will (generally) allow you to hear pretty much anything from CBs, through hand held radios as used by pretty much all utilities / security etc, to civil and military aircraft, army, coastguard, ships, emergency services, taxis, and data transmissions (which you can decode given the right software and a bit of effort). Yes, it's a geek / nerd's paradise.

I browsed eBay too long though I just bought one of these which means I can modify my one of these with a discriminator output for data decoding.

Do I qualify for 'nerd of the year'?

[MattF]

I browsed eBay too long though

I've just dug an Alinco out during my clearing out session. It's amazing what sh1te I have shoved in this workshop.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Can you still listen in on the police too?

I had one of those huge portable radios in the 70's that used to pick up loads of stuff including aircraft and police. AM MW FM SW etc.

[MattF]

Can you still listen in on the police too?

Nope.

[Apache]

No, they use a digital encrypted system called TETRA now.

I remember back in the 70s when EVERYONE, police, ambulance, fire, marine etc were all available on your general tranny radio. They're spread all over now.

Matt, would your Alinco be a DJ-X3? Had one of those but sold it a bit back. Couldn't get on with its wonky programming philosophy. Uniden, and Uniden clones (such as the GRE I just bought) I like. I like the text tagging you can program, so you know what you're listening to.

[MattF]

Matt, would your Alinco be a DJ-X3? Had one of those but sold it a bit back. Couldn't get on with its wonky programming philosophy. Uniden, and Uniden clones (such as the GRE I just bought) I like. I like the text tagging you can program, so you know what you're listening to.

They are indeed. I say they because I found a second one knocking about. Never used them myself. No idea why I've even got them, to be honest. I've never used a scanner in my life.

[KERRSURF]

"Matt, would your Alinco be a DJ-X3? Had one of those but sold it a bit back. Couldn't get on with its wonky programming philosophy. Uniden, and Uniden clones (such as the GRE I just bought) I like. I like the text tagging you can program, so you know what you're listening to."


Yes you can be "Nerd of the year"

[RodLeach]

They are indeed. I say they because I found a second one knocking about. Never used them myself. No idea why I've even got them, to be honest. I've never used my penis in all my life.

[Apache]

Should be worth £40+ each on eBay mate, assuming they're in decent nick. One wonders why you have two scanners you didn't know about though.

[joecuba]

Hmm I have been looking at scanners now for a while. Still not sure what I want, I want to get into it, but I dunno if an older unit is what I am looking for TBH. The later models are of course smaller and do things like CTCSS decoding which is something I'd find useful.

Also wondering about handheld vs DIN fixed in the truck.

Also wanting something like the Intek MT-5050 for UHF CB stuff

Then become an amateur radio geek (HAM)!

[KERRSURF]

Why would you want to listen in on conversations by people doing their jobs? sounds pretty boring to me.