On Tue, 1 Jun 2004 22:47:47 -0400, "Mike T." wrote:

Yeah, I guess a computer is a reasonable comparison - in terms of
flexibility.

If you prefer to read the news off your screen instead of listening to
it as it is happening on your scanner, yeah.

However, computer costs are not 'fixed' (ISP's, software, upgrades, etc) A
scanner is a self-contained radio that can listen to almost everything one
would need to hear. Operating costs are cheap and usually the *good* radios
retain some value over the years. So, IMO, a scanner is probably the
cheapest form of radio listening one can purchase. Even shortwaves have
limitations and they get pricy too.

The basic $9.00 Japanese clock radio that pulls in the local AM
stations would be the cheapest form of radio listening one can
purchase. Which, again, is fine if you want to listen to the news
hours after it happens.

73 DE John, KC2HMZ
Tonawanda, New York