Are poilice scanners useful?
#1
Are police scanners useful?
I've read articles about these scanners used to determine the presence of police or highway patrol units nearby. I wonder what's the deal with these things. Could they be used to supplement the radar detectors? I know that driving an EVO or similar car makes one a target for police... They often single you out of a pack of cars to ticket you. When travelling I like to be aware of any possible threat. Sometimes it's easy to get in a groove and travel a few miles per hour faster than the limit specially in a pack of cars or trucks, but there is no "safety in numbers" and if they target a group, the more "visible" car will be tagged...
Anyway, maybe one of these scanners might be a good thing to have in the car along with the radar detector, etc. Can anyone add some good info to this thread?
Thanks
Anyway, maybe one of these scanners might be a good thing to have in the car along with the radar detector, etc. Can anyone add some good info to this thread?
Thanks
#2
Evolving Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Down bai da Beach.
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ive heard from the porsche guys a uniden bearcat or something like that will let you know when they are in a few mile radius, as their radios also work as a repeater.
ive seen one modified that just had a light in the dash to let ya know when someone was broadcasting on that frequency.
ive seen one modified that just had a light in the dash to let ya know when someone was broadcasting on that frequency.
#3
#4
Evolved Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hendersonville, TN
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by tritech
ive heard from the porsche guys a uniden bearcat or something like that will let you know when they are in a few mile radius, as their radios also work as a repeater.
ive seen one modified that just had a light in the dash to let ya know when someone was broadcasting on that frequency.
ive seen one modified that just had a light in the dash to let ya know when someone was broadcasting on that frequency.
think that was the blue tooth one, they tested a wrx wagon. awsome system but proly cost an arm and a leg
#6
Evolved Member
iTrader: (33)
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I drove with a guy once that had a CB and it was pretty entertaining. For the first 20 mins I had no idea what they were talking about but once some of the codes were explained to me, I was like WOW - its like having eyes all over the place.
Just gat yarself a CB and tune into the Trucker World It will take you a while to learn the lingo but you will not only know that cops are around, but which direction, which mile marker they are at, about any road debris in your lane, traffic jams, pot holes, ice spots, etc.
If I did any highway traveling, I'd be getting one for sure.
Just gat yarself a CB and tune into the Trucker World It will take you a while to learn the lingo but you will not only know that cops are around, but which direction, which mile marker they are at, about any road debris in your lane, traffic jams, pot holes, ice spots, etc.
If I did any highway traveling, I'd be getting one for sure.
#7
Originally Posted by xtnct
I drove with a guy once that had a CB and it was pretty entertaining. For the first 20 mins I had no idea what they were talking about but once some of the codes were explained to me, I was like WOW - its like having eyes all over the place.
Just gat yarself a CB and tune into the Trucker World It will take you a while to learn the lingo but you will not only know that cops are around, but which direction, which mile marker they are at, about any road debris in your lane, traffic jams, pot holes, ice spots, etc.
If I did any highway traveling, I'd be getting one for sure.
Just gat yarself a CB and tune into the Trucker World It will take you a while to learn the lingo but you will not only know that cops are around, but which direction, which mile marker they are at, about any road debris in your lane, traffic jams, pot holes, ice spots, etc.
If I did any highway traveling, I'd be getting one for sure.
I understand that the scanners can alert you to the physical presence of the highway patrol or police cars in the vecinity even if they are not using the radar or the radio.... That would be a real plus.
Trending Topics
#8
Evolved Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: OH
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is so much chatter on scanners that they can become very annoying for anyone except a news desk worker at a TV station.
You would end up having to give 100% focus on listening to a scanner just for tidbits of useful info here and there.
Best would be a CB and a good radar detector.
Or....just drive the spped limit
You would end up having to give 100% focus on listening to a scanner just for tidbits of useful info here and there.
Best would be a CB and a good radar detector.
Or....just drive the spped limit
#9
Evolved Member
iTrader: (15)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
my buddy use to have a scanner and some times the'll call in their locations and such.................we mostly listen to it at night to here about all the stupid *** people getting caught for the dumbest ****.
#10
Originally Posted by dadriva
There is so much chatter on scanners that they can become very annoying for anyone except a news desk worker at a TV station.
You would end up having to give 100% focus on listening to a scanner just for tidbits of useful info here and there.
Best would be a CB and a good radar detector.
Or....just drive the spped limit
You would end up having to give 100% focus on listening to a scanner just for tidbits of useful info here and there.
Best would be a CB and a good radar detector.
Or....just drive the spped limit
#11
Evolved Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Brookfield Wisconsin
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a Bearcat and it is entertaining but it wont keep me from getting any tickets. It has an alarm feature when the CHP uses thier radio; there is a repeater that sets it off or something. Problem is most of the time it doesnt work too well. They are also hard to mount unless you get a handheld, I wouldnt bother. Also these scanners dont pick up all the bands anyway unless you want to spend a lot of money to modify one. Even then police usualy jump from one frequency to another. Just invest in a good radar detector like the Valentine.
#12
Evolved Member
Originally Posted by xtnct
Just gat yarself a CB and tune into the Trucker World
I have a handheld trunking scanner, (whatever that means) that I bought from a pawnshop for my one and only visit to a NASCAR event. The police switch around so much you have to constantly fiddle with the thing. So if you want to be like Leon from F&F, you are going to have to sit to the side and miss all the races and screw around with it as the cops sneak up on you anyway, or have a more sophisticated one with all the known police bands already programmed in.
It is mild entertainment listening to one at night hearing cops describe perps and that stereotypical lady dispatcher voice that they all seem to have.
Last edited by GPTourer; Feb 21, 2006 at 03:34 PM.
#13
Evolved Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In STL the scanners don't help at all. I just to volunteer at the FIre Dept and so I do have one, but it doesn't help to locate where police are. It'll lemme kno where some of the cops are but not all of them