Scanner Monitoring

369 Views 11 Replies 2 Participants Last post by MIchael, Jan 4, 2011

Brad

Discussion Starter · Jan 1, 2011

I know a lot of people have scanners and have them programmed into the "hot" frequencies in your neighborhood/community. But, if you do not have one, or don't know if you have the correct frequencies programmed, there is a website that will help you out. But, the main reason for this post is to help anyone monitor a scanner in an emergency or when there is a high profile incident going on and you want to keep up on the action.

I am going to post a link to a website, RadioReference, that has tons of scanner info. The page the link will take you to is the live scanner page. Let's say there is an emergency going on and you would like to monitor, but have no scanner. On this page you click the state where the emergency is (Say you live in Georgia but have a child going to school in Wisconsin, you would click on Wisconsin.) Then, click on the county where the emergency is taking place. You will get a list of scanners to monitor. Click on the one that seems to cover the area of interest. You wouldn't want to monitor aircraft/railroads if there was a major fire or hostage situation. Click on a good link and just listen. Just like you were there. You can also monitor in your own area as well, providing there is a scanner owner that is uplinked to the site. This is a pretty handy source of information.

Live Police, Fire, EMS, Aircraft, and Rail Scanners on RadioReference.com

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Mark / Ohio

· #2 · Jan 1, 2011

That's also a way for those of us with analog scanners to listen to the new digital broadcasts.

So far only the state patrol post has switched to digital here. But I think it is only a matter of time before the police and sheriff make the change. (When they find the money to do it.)

I've held off getting a digital scanner in hopes the prices would come down some.

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Brad

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 1, 2011

I have a digital scanner, but the process of setting it up confuses me. But I still cannot get "Starcom" channels.

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Mark / Ohio

· #4 · Jan 1, 2011

I had a time of it getting trunking set up on my scanner to receive our local power companies. Fortunately I found a way (software) to program it from the computer which helped. I imagine doing the digital setup will be even worse.

I preferred the old days when they were on VHF Lo band single frequency. Also kind of like the old wired dial phones compared to digital radio and cell phones, the audio was better then too. You could hear everything that was going on in the background.

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· #5 · Jan 3, 2011

I had a old analog and all the local departments around here have gone digital. But there is a app for that on the iPhone and I have a iPhone 4. If you go to iTunes and search for Emergency Radio it comes right up and it was free when I got it. No more scanner for me.

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Brad

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 3, 2011

That is a great tip, Michael. Thanks!

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· #7 · Jan 4, 2011

Yep there is a "app for that"

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Mark / Ohio

· #8 · Jan 4, 2011

MIchael said:
I had a old analog and all the local departments around here have gone digital. But there is a app for that on the iPhone and I have a iPhone 4. If you go to iTunes and search for Emergency Radio it comes right up and it was free when I got it. No more scanner for me.

This might be a stupid question since I don't have an iPhone.

How does that affect your monthly bill running things like that? Do you have some sort of a flat rate or is it based on usage time?

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· #9 · Jan 4, 2011

Mark / Ohio said:
This might be a stupid question since I don't have an iPhone.
How does that affect your monthly bill running things like that? Do you have some sort of a flat rate or is it based on usage time?

The iPhone has 3 antennas, One is for data (phone use) one is for wifi and the 3rd one is for bluetooth connections.

I am "grandfathered" in on the old fixed rate for data at $30.00 per month. But I do not use the 3G network at home as the iPhone has a built in wifi antenna and I am on wifi at home when I listen to what is going on at home.

Since using my home wifi does not use any of my data plan it has no affect. I hope that this makes sense to you Mark.

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Mark / Ohio

· #10 · Jan 4, 2011

MIchael said:
I am "grandfathered" in on the old fixed rate for data at $30.00 per month. But I do not use the 3G network at home as the iPhone has a built in wifi antenna and I am on wifi at home when I listen to what is going on at home.

Since using my home wifi does not use any of my data plan it has no affect. I hope that this makes sense to you Mark.

Cool!!

I did not know they could link in with a home network like that. I have wireless from my AT&T DSL modem/router combo box for my two laptops. I have no data transfer limits on the DSL connection so that should work for me too.

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· #11 · Jan 4, 2011

Mark / Ohio said:
Cool!!

I did not know they could link in with a home network like that. I have wireless from my AT&T DSL modem/router combo box for my two laptops. I have no data transfer limits on the DSL connection so that should work for me too.

The other thing is I dock the iPhone onto its charger stand (which is connected to my computer) and after it sync's with iTunes, I can start the app and listen to what is happening and the phone charges up.

The iPhone is the cat meow. Also if you do not want the phone contract and you are satisfied with your current carrier for cell, you can get a iPod Touch and it is basically a iPhone with the phone part not installed and it has the same wifi antenna and it can also get the same scanner app for it...

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· #12 · Jan 4, 2011

Click the link for more information on the iPod Touch.

Apple - iPod touch - Video calls, HD video, Game Center, and more

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