Scanner Questions

[Shane Adams]

When chasing I now use WXWORX. Before this I used to sit out in the plains with a weather radio and a map. However, I have chased with others that have been much more into amateur radio. Anyhow, I’ve been playing with the idea of getting a scanner. I was wondering how helpful you think it might be? Also what would be a good scanner for starting off, or would you recommend doing something else with the money?

If you have a scanner you don't need a HAM radio, IMO. Scanners are probably the most under-valued chasing tool, because they're a low-end item and most active chasers these days have money for higher-end toys like HAM gear and all the software, which obviously make a scanner obsolete. If you're chasing on a budget (and by that I mean you have little money period, not just "money for chasing") then I'd definitely recommend a scanner. I've had mine for 11 years and it's all I've ever used. I hear everything the HAM guys do, without having to sink hundreds into HAM gear. And I'm on the same storms as everyone else with a ton of gizmos, for a fraction of the dough.

 

[rdale]

The advantage of ham radio over a scanner (I use both) is that the ham radio allows you to talk to other spotters / chasers... You can yell into a scanner as loud as you want - and they still won't hear you

 

[David Drummond]

I will also add that every ham radio I have ever had the scanning/receiving quality of it was much better than every scanner I have every owned, and I have had some nice ones.

Scanners are a good tool and have a place in chasing.

I have used my ham from everything from talking to other chasers to dialing in a local repeater at the end of a chase day and finding out where the best place to eat in that down is that is still open from a local ham. I have participated in some SKYWARN nets, others I have learned it's best to stay off of. I don't generally chat on the "chaser frequency" during bigger days, just because things get confusing on there, and there are a few people using those frequencies without a license. Or at the very least not ever using their call signs, which is a huge no no.

My chase partner recently got a Radio Shack Pro433 that I liked so much I was going to upgrade the one in my chase vehicle, so he bought it for me for xmas! I can't wait to get that thing installed. It's sitting here on my desk getting used right now. Very nice scanner!

 

[Jesse Risley]

There is one caveat in considering the sole use of a ham radio to meet your scanning needs. While I will agree that some ham rigs have better sensitivity than some scanners on the public safety bands, many ham rigs lack the performance and convenience of a scanner.

1. Ham rigs often scan much slower than even the cheapest scanners.
2. Ham rigs do not follow trunked radio systems, nor do they monitor APCO 25 digital systems that are in use or soon to be in use by many public safety agencies.
3. Some ham rigs have limited received capabilities outside of the ham bands. Most mono-band ham rigs will not receive outside of a 30-40 MHz spectrum surrounding the ham band that the radio is designed to operate on (i.e. a 2 meter VHF ham rig will often not receive UHF frequencies). There are even older ham rigs on the marked that do not receive outside of the ham bands, at least without any modifications.

 

[Jonathan Williams]

There are many pros and cons to scanning I believe. Here is the scanner I have: http://www.greamerica.com/PSR-500.html It is the PSR-500 and I love it. Its great. It's probably the best scanner out there. I have a friend that works at a local news station and that is his job to listen to the scanner and he told me to get the PSR-500. I live in Kentucky so that makes it even worst. The law stinks here. I had to get a Amateur Radio License to use it in my car when I'm out. The motto in Kentucky with scanners is "Use it and Lose it". Obviously though if you have a license it doesn't matter. The bad thing about it is that you must have frequencies programmed in. If you are jumping from town to town it can be hard to use (depending on the system specifications). You typically have to have it preprogrammed unless they are using a very old analog system. The reason the scanner is so expensive is because its Digital and that is a new technology that uses the spectrum better. If you have any questions about scanning or frequencies feel free to shoot me a message I would be more than happy to help. It really helps though when I have the scanner on (Plus WX-Warnings always interrupt when I am listening stating which warning is coming out).

 

[Phil Kurimski]

Wow that is a good chunk of change! I use my HAM radio as a scanner as well. I had a radio shack scanner and my HAM radio side by side and my HAM was much clearer in getting the NWR broadcast. On another note despite having my radio last year and scanning the 2m and 70cm I did not find anyone else really chatting and the times I CQed I got crickets in response. It is fun to listen in to the local HAM bands in my area so I do not regret getting the license.

 

[John Erwin]

Yeah it can be pretty hit and miss with a Ham radio; I find I have the best success making sure the call frequency(s) are monitored and scan the repeater freqs either with the radio or a scanner. If you're in an area where something is going on generally a repeater will start to light up pretty good.

 

[Francisco Aguirre]

i own two scanners a radios-hack pro 433 good points very wideband air band is very sensitive and clear , very good for uhf monitoring , and one of the nicest features is the programable scan ranges i usually keep this config ham radio 144 to 149 , rural police 1XX to 1XX (note this is for a law in my country that forbids to give frequencies about the police or other armed forces) , fire dispatchs and onemi (National emergency office Like U.S. FEMA ) 150 to 156 , airband 118 to 136 , and the TV broadcast frequencies . the only weak points of the radioshack pro 433 is deaf in the ham band and the original speaker is very bad ,go buy a quality amplified speaker if you want to listen it good in the highway , also i keep handy a Pro 82 manufacture by Gre for radioshack , the pro 433 is from uniden uniden makes good scanners but very deaf , the little analog pro 82 handheld have the twice sensitivity of the pro 433 , i can hear Noaa apt satellites just with the original stock antenna , and make apt in the car with a quarter wave magmount nice images . very basic scanner but good audio and nice sensitivity . also when im spotting i carry my dualband a alinco DJ-v5 that i bought used the last year for 75 us dollars in local hamfest , i also have a nice sensitivity and 200 ch to store everything also has 800 mhz so i can hear trunking so i can monitor the local municipal peace officers .