handheld police scanners

Buying one today, but there are so many to choose from. I need one with decent range and pre programmed police/fire/ham radio channels. Any info would be appreciated:)
Yes, he does mean only the scanners, not radar detectors:)
If you can't think of many reasons to own 'such a thing', don't answer the question.

Cobra, Cleveland, or Radio Shake make about the best. Cobra has been around the longest of all.

2008-01-09 09:23:47 by Freethinker

Here is a basic introduction on how to use a handheld police scanner and the Canadian Trackside Guide to listen in on railway traffic and ...

what would make one most effective?
aS IN BRAND AND MODEL#

The poe poe 3000

2008-04-20 21:32:22 by Thomas R

Price: $79.99

Handheld scanner for monitoring police and fire signals, weather transmissions, ham radio bands, and more
Compact design fits comfortably in hand; easy-to-read backlit display, lockable keypad for saving settings
Runs on 2 AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries (these can be be recharged while in the scanner)
Easily locate specific calls with 6 preprogrammed service searches, including public safety, railroad, and marine
Comprehensive memory with 100 channels over 10 banks; Close Call RF technology identifies nearby signals

i have a handheld police scannner radio shack, cheap model. I am currently using 2 AA battries in it. my questions are.

1. would using a a/c adapter or a car adapter give it more power and would i be able to recieve more frequencies. I am not reciveing much right now.?

2. i upgraded to the 8oo mhz antenna. is this just for 800 mhz or will it help all frequencies.?

3. would a more expensive handheld scanner pick up more frequencies or radio traffice from police and fire. ?

4. would a trunking radio pick up more right out of the box.

thanks for any info anyone can give me. :-)

1. Using an AC adapter rather than batteries only saves batteries. It has no affect on the power of your scanner reception.

2. Any antenna is an antenna, but the more closely it's tuned to the frequency you want, the better it picks up. Reception will become weaker as frequency deviates further away, but you're talking about a very large deviation before it becomes noticeable to you. Your 800 MHz antenna is for a RANGE of frequencies centering around 800 MHz.

3. A more expensive scanner MAY pick up more frequencies for you. A scanner will pick up the frequencies for which is was designed to pick up. If it wasn't designed to pick up the frequencies that you're looking for, then nothing you do to it (short of complete re-engineering the design) will change it.

4. Not out of the box as proper installation, especially the antenna mounting will play a large part. And if it's not designed for the extra frequencies, then it's not going to pick them up, no matter how much you paid.

2008-04-15 08:14:29 by nuteddyboy

Price: $119.99

Easily locate specific calls with 6 preprogrammed service searches, including public safety, railroad, and marine
Handheld scanner for monitoring police and fire signals, weather transmissions, ham radio bands, and more
Runs on 2 AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries (these can be be recharged while in the scanner)
PC-programmable memory with 200 channels over 10 banks; Close Call RF technology identifies nearby signals
Compact design fits comfortably in hand; easy-to-read backlit display, lockable keypad for saving settings

Will a handheld CB radio work as a police scanner, and if so, how far will it pick up?

In a word, no.

A CB radio operates in the 27mhz band. Most police are operating in the 150 or 450mhz bands, a few in 800mhz and a few in the 30-40mhz bands.

It would be impractical to modify the CB for these frequencies, it would basically require a total redesign but I suppose you could maybe get it to go into the low 30mhz range but I doubt there would be much there.

Then there is another Huge obstacle. The CB operates using AM modulation, the police will be using FM modulation. Even if you could tune in the right frequency, you wouldnt be able to hear them.

Trade the CB for a scanner.

2009-04-14 14:22:25 by William

Well, I really want a Handheld Police Scanner but they are really Expensive so I was wondering if any ones knows where I can find a Handhel police Scanner Radio for Really cheap.Maybe something lie from $20-$40. Even if its used,old,or what ever as long as it works thats good so PLease let me know if you know of such a thing or if ur selling one!!

Make sure you know what you want to listen to and what frequencies they use.

Even if you buy a cheap one, you might be wasting your money if everything around you is on a digital 800 mhz trunked system (like my county) that requires a $500 scanner.

Anyway best deals are garage sales, close-outs (Radio Shack, wal-mart), and as mentioned, eBay.

2006-03-23 07:28:54 by christianrodriguez88