#Best handheld police scanner upgrade#
#Best handheld police scanner portable#

A solid purchase for users at any experience level. Our take: A good-quality, affordably priced 800 MHz scanner. What we dislike: It can be a little difficult to use if you’re new to scanners.īest bang for your buck: Uniden Base/Mobile Scanner It can function as a stationary or mobile unit. Automatically picks up nearby transmissions as well as area-specific weather alerts from NOAA.

What we like: Powerful, versatile handheld scanner can be programmed with favorite lists, quick keys, and it works on trunked systems.

#Best handheld police scanner portable#

Our take: High-end, portable police scanner with all the bells and whistles. Depending on how close you are to other agencies and the type of system your scanner uses, you might be able to pick up broadcasts from fire departments, emergency medical services, air traffic control, schools, hospitals, malls, stores, weather alerts, and more.īest of the best: Uniden HomePatrol Digital Handheld Scanner

These devices may be called “police” scanners, but they scan far more than just police communication channels. What can I listen to on a police scanner?Ī. However, in a few states, it isn’t legal to use a police scanner while driving. Yes, it’s legal to own a police scanner - and it’s legal to listen to what is being broadcast. Roughly $500 will get you a top-of-the-line police scanner.Ī. Adding more channel memory and other options also means a higher price tag. As you move up the scale to digital and digital scanners with trunk tracking, the price increases. That way, you can have a curated list that precisely fits your interests.Īnalog models are the most affordable, starting as low as $70 for a basic unit. The more advanced user will want features that make storing, avoiding, and searching specific channels easier. If this is the system your local agencies use, you’ll need a scanner with trunk-tracking capabilities.īeyond the above, everything else is bells and whistles. Trunk tracking: The third method, called trunk tracking, is like waiting in line for the next available cashier - you're never quite sure which line (or channel) you'll be directed toward.

#Best handheld police scanner upgrade#

Knowing which technology your local agencies employ will determine which type of scanner you should purchase.Īnalog: Smaller agencies may still be using analog, so an analog scanner might be okay for your needs.ĭigital: If you get more into it, you'll want to upgrade to a digital scanner because most digital scanners can pick up both analog and digital signals. There are three ways transmissions are broadcast: analog, digital, and trunk tracking. Here’s a look at some of the finer details.Ĭonsiderations when choosing police scanners

Alternatively, you can get a handheld scanner that you can carry with you, much like a walkie-talkie. Police scanners can be purchased for use in your home or in your vehicle. Then, when you start to feel more comfortable, you can progress to a deeper user experience.

But the truth is, it's quite easy to get started because the scanner knows what it's doing. If you're new to the world of police scanners, the learning curve may feel very steep. If you really want to know what's happening, a police scanner is your ticket to the inner circle. For some, that is absolutely fascinating. What happens on a police scanner is the essence of what is going on in our world.