Police/Fire/EMS scanners

TexasTimCat

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Jan 1, 2003
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Anyone have experience with emergency responder radio scanners?

I am looking to get a base unit and would appreciate recommendations.

TIA!

T.
 

UK till Death

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Dec 21, 2012
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FYI There are smartphone apps that will let you listen to almost any broadcasting fire/police department.
 

drawing_dead

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Nov 21, 2005
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not sure, but i think the stuff you would like to listen to are digitally scrambled or simply not available
 

TexasTimCat

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yeah - i have done that research - many departments - especially in rural areas like where i live are still on analog FM signals; and of the ones that have went digital P25 1 or 2 they are not encrypted. The ones that are tend to be larger metros with channels set aside for homicide, gang, drug details, etc.
 

drawing_dead

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i will bet that there are ways to reprogram them to receive all of it.
have you looked at the handheld Ham radios that are re-programmable?
 

TexasTimCat

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i will bet that there are ways to reprogram them to receive all of it.
have you looked at the handheld Ham radios that are re-programmable?
I have not but doubt you could break the encryption without some expensive gear. Not really what I am looking to accomplish regardless.

I live in a rural area and have a number of friends in law enforcement and working as first responders.

I am interested in Ham radio as a way to follow events around the world without depending on mainstream media.

But two different use cases.