Hi folks!

I've been using an old Radio Shack handheld scanner for ten or so
years and I'd like to replace it. I live near an Airforce Fighter
base and I'd like to be able to hear the chatter.

Honestly, I am not sure which frequencies this new scanner should have
and what I've read about them, unfortunately, confuses me (and I'm not
afraid to admit it).

I've looked at the "BC" handhelds and they seem to be a quality item.
Which should I choose?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated!

Terry

I'd suggest, you sit down and think of all the stuff you might like to
listen to, make a list. Bear in mind
that trunking systems are now common place, and digital is being mandated by
the FCC in the years to come.
Alot of military bases have gone to trunking in the 400 mhz band ( so make
sure what you get will have this
feature along with military air, and civilian air frequencies).

Each scanner made has its good and bad points, Uniden makes good scanners
and so does Radio Shack,
I've had both and find things I like and dislike about both. After you
determine, WHAT you want to receive,
go to each one's site and read about the scanners and see which ones fit
your needs, make a list. Then
a little more research, reading product reviews, from various sites should
narrow down the list. Price,
depending what you want to spend can reduce the list even more.

One point I'd like to stress here, is that there will be a Band
Restructioning in the 800 mhz band, some time
in the next couple years, SO..... make sure the radio you select can be
firmware upgradable to what ever
they decide upon. Computer control / programming is also a 'must' since the
radio systems are becoming
more complex and programming by hand can be a very confusing and tedious job
even for the best of us.
The programing cable and software should be figured into the price if they
are not included with the radio.

I know you were looking for a more direct answer like ' buy this scanner
model XXXXX' but, with things
changing as fast as they are, and not knowing EXACTLY what you intend to do
with it ( which could, change
as your listening interests change) its hard to give a direct answer.


wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi folks!

I've been using an old Radio Shack handheld scanner for ten or so
years and I'd like to replace it. I live near an Airforce Fighter
base and I'd like to be able to hear the chatter.

Honestly, I am not sure which frequencies this new scanner should have
and what I've read about them, unfortunately, confuses me (and I'm not
afraid to admit it).

I've looked at the "BC" handhelds and they seem to be a quality item.
Which should I choose?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated!

Terry

Thanks for the reply!

I understand I will need trunking. That's certainly understandable as
is computer programmable. I don't believe I will need anything REAL
fancy as this is a very small town. The airbase is Mountain Home AFB
and I guess I was really wondering which frequency bands to look for.

most scanners have pretty much the same coverage 30-50 mhz, 144 -170 mhz,
420 - 512 mhz, 800 - 999 mhz
these are pretty standard.

check here for more information as to specific frequencies, look around at
the trunking area and aircraft / military
area Mil-Air is located in the roughly 200 -388 mhz band ( quite large )
make sure the scanner you look at / for
has this band included.

http://www.radioreference.com/module...me=RR&ctid=547




"Crank" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks for the reply!

I understand I will need trunking. That's certainly understandable as
is computer programmable. I don't believe I will need anything REAL
fancy as this is a very small town. The airbase is Mountain Home AFB
and I guess I was really wondering which frequency bands to look for.

Thank you!

On Mar 22, 6:21 am, "Crank" wrote:
Thank you!

Hmmm. When a scanner lists frequencies like "25-54, 108-174, 216-225,
400-512, 806-956, 1240-1300 MHz Coverage" does that mean it will not
receive frequencies in the 250-388mhz range? The range I'm looking
for?

It seems most handhelds have this particular gap.

Thats why your 'LIST' will shrink.

usually only the higher end scanners, have 'full coverage" ( all legal
frequencies).

Uniden BR330T
# .1MHz - 1.3GHz Coverage* - *Excluding Cellular

# TrunkTracker III - EDACS, MOTOROLA, E.F. JOHNSON

# 2500 Dynamically Allocated Channels

But no digital.


"Crank" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Mar 22, 6:21 am, "Crank" wrote:
Thank you!

Hmmm. When a scanner lists frequencies like "25-54, 108-174, 216-225,
400-512, 806-956, 1240-1300 MHz Coverage" does that mean it will not
receive frequencies in the 250-388mhz range? The range I'm looking
for?

It seems most handhelds have this particular gap.

On Mar 22, 10:05 am, "labtech1" wrote:
Thats why your 'LIST' will shrink.

usually only the higher end scanners, have 'full coverage" ( all legal
frequencies).

Uniden BR330T
# .1MHz - 1.3GHz Coverage* - *Excluding Cellular

# TrunkTracker III - EDACS, MOTOROLA, E.F. JOHNSON

# 2500 Dynamically Allocated Channels

But no digital.

"Crank" wrote in message

ups.com...



On Mar 22, 6:21 am, "Crank" wrote:
Thank you!

Hmmm. When a scanner lists frequencies like "25-54, 108-174, 216-225,
400-512, 806-956, 1240-1300 MHz Coverage" does that mean it will not
receive frequencies in the 250-388mhz range? The range I'm looking
for?

It seems most handhelds have this particular gap.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

EXACTLY what I needed!!

Thanks much!