When Did Police Radio Encryption Begin
Different states have different laws regarding police radio encryptions.
Back in the days, the police used to have analogue radios, and if you wanted to listen in, you had to go buy a radio that can tune into the frequency, that is how you can listen to police radio.
But now, they have changed the system from analogue to digital and you can tap into it with an app and an internet connection, you can tune in from anywhere around the world.
With ease of access to police radio transmissions, came problems that came from misinformation which spread rumors and also put officers lives at risk, hence the need for encryptions
However, some channels are left open as these are backups, tactical, car-to car use or for communicating with the general public.
Other Important Factors To Consider
I specifically do not name a specific model as the greatest police scanner for sale on the market right now. This is because everyone does not have the same need. Here are some other things that you should consider when youre planning to buy a scanner.
What is the Best Police Scanner?
You can scour online for digital police scanner reviews, and they will come up with different options. I cannot advise a single scanner because people have different needs and requirements. You have to look at your application and your budget before I can even begin to suggest any model.
Who Is This For?
Radio frequencies are typically used by government and civilian agencies for fast and reliable local communication. Police, fire, EMS, military, and aviation services are some of the most prominent radio users.
A scanner is used to monitor these frequencies to be updated in local events. This is especially true for journalists and investigators, as well as private security firms. These devices help a person or an organization increase their situational awareness by keeping track of radio transmissions.
Radio scanning is also a popular hobby and lets people communicate with different communities via wireless radio signal networks. The NOAA and some state governments also use these networks to transmit weather and other relevant warnings.
How Does It Work?
This technology has allowed people to monitor multiple channels at once, without the need for multiple radio devices.
Signal Format
Are Police Scanner Apps Legal
Before we begin, its worth mentioning that you should check the local laws in your area to make sure youre using police radio scanners online legally. In the United States, for example, some states have certain stipulations, like you cant listen to a police scanner while youre driving.
So before you download an app and start using it, make sure you know all the laws involved.
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A Great Way To Stay Informed And Up To Date
- University of Maryland
Erika Rawes has written for Digital Trends, USA Today, and Cheatsheet.com and has tested dozens of consumer technology products for multiple tech sites.
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The best police scanners are easy to set up and use, providing clear audio quality on a broad range of frequencies.
For most people, we think our best budget pick, the Uniden BC365CRS is the one you should just buy.
Police scanners let you stay on top of local events and ahead of the curve in several potentially dangerous situations. You can also use a police scanner to stay abreast of local news before it’s reported on television, you can get weather alerts and find out about an impending natural disaster, or you can tune into amateur radio channels. The best police scanners can also serve as an alternative to a standalone CB radio or radar detector, so read on to see your options.
Which Police Scanner Do You Recommend
If you read the various reviews on this website, you will find that there is one radio scanner that we consistently suggest. It is the Whistler TRX-2. Now, we know it is not cheap. Well, if you are new to the hobby. However, once we churn out the various features this radio scanner boasts, you will know you are set for life once you buy this.
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Whats The Best Scanner Equipped With The Zip Code Scan Feature
I recommend the Uniden Home Patrol- Simple Program Digital Scanner, which allows you to simply enter in your zip code and the device will automatically scan for local frequencies. This is a very beginner-friendly model that offers excellent range and clarity, easy setup, and plenty of other features that will help to keep you up to date with local events as they happen.
Best Analog: Uniden Bearcat Bc75xlt Handheld Scanner
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Has close call RF technology
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Simplistic design
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Weaker reception in some areas
Featuring the ability to connect to public safety, military aircraft, and racing scanner channels, Unidens BC75XLT is a terrific choice for analog scanner fans. The built-in search functionality is second-to-none, and it quickly identifies channels for police, fire, marine, air, weather, and more, which makes the BC75XLT a very much pickup-and-go analog scanner.
You can save 300 channels into the scanners memory or 30 channels total in 10 separate banks. This makes it easy to scan for current transmissions on each stored channel. Additionally, the inclusion of Close Call RF capture technology assists the BC75XLT in identifying and detecting nearby transmissions, even if they arent pre-programmed into a channel. Powered by two AA batteries, the BC75XLT is both lightweight and designed to fit in the hand. Overall, it has good reception as long as youre in a strong signal area.
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Aftermarket Parts And Accessories
Personally, I like being able to find aftermarket parts for my gear. Aftermarket accessories can be much cheaper than being trapped with a name brand and paying a premium. Thankfully, radio doesnt have as much of a problem with this as other fields, but its still a factor to consider.
So, can we find upgrades for the Uniden BC125AT that will give us a better experience? Absolutely.
The main component you are going to be able to upgrade is the antenna. Other parts seem to be harder to find. But an antenna is the main thing this scanner needs anyway so it suits our purposes here.
AEcreative Wide-Band Scanner Antenna has a pretty good antenna upgrade for all of $25 that will drastically improve your reception. This is a standard upgrade I do anytime I pick up a handheld unit. Swapping the antenna with an improved model is one of the first changes I consider.
Q: Is It Legal To Own A Police Scanner
Whether your police scanner is legal or not can be a little tricky. Most states allow you to own a police scanner radio. However, it may be illegal to take that police scanner on the road. New York, Minnesota, Kentucky, Florida, and Indiana, for example, all make it illegal to use a mobile police scanner without a license from the FCC or permission from local law enforcement. Other states allow the use of mobile scanners but make it illegal to use them to aid in committing a crime.
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A Guide To Choosing The Right Radio Scanners
There are many models of these on the market, from the conventional ones that are to be placed in the car or home, and the laptops so you can take them wherever you want.
Knowing which the best radio scanner on the market is, can be a difficult task, there are many models in the commercial world and also different brands that manufacture them. These devices are easy to use and there are laptops, so it will allow you to take it practically wherever you want to give it the use you want.
When making a comparison of the radio scanners on the market, we can highlight some characteristics that you should analyze, such as the frequency in which they work, if it is portable or you require some type of connection to electricity, this is the main point that you must have determined to be able to choose your model.
Best For Low Prices: Whistler Ws1025 Analog Desktop Scanner
If what you want is a basic but reliable scanner for a very reasonable price, the Whistler WS1025 analog scanner fits the bill nicely. For around $100, this scanner can access emergency weather alerts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and frequencies used by storm spotter networks teams of volunteers that provide reports directly to the National Weather Service.
The Whistler WS1025 is an analog scanner, so your access to police, fire and medical emergencies departments may be limited . But if you live in a smaller town, and the signals youre interested in are analog, look no further.
The WS1025 has enough memory to store up to 200 channels. You can input frequencies manually or with a computer and categorize them into separate banks or lists based on signal type . You can also set a priority channel to be scanned every two seconds, even when youre searching for other available frequencies.
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Position The Antenna Well
While there is fancy tech on the market that will allow you to position your radio antenna to ensure the best audio quality when you are listening to your police radio scanner, you dont really need it. Just make sure you follow these rules:
- Position your radio antenna as high up as possible
- Make sure that there are no obstacles in the way.
- Make sure there are no electronics nearby that could influence the radio antenna
If you do this, then we can 100% guarantee that listening to your police radio scanner will be a much better experience. Yes. We know that police radio broadcasts tend to be pretty strong as it is, but surely you want to get the best audio quality when you are listening in on those broadcasts, right?
How Do You Listen To Encrypted Police Channels
As we have covered above, that in order to have access to encrypted police channels, you will need to have a radio thats programmed with the encryption key.
The encryption key is necessary to decrypt the transmission and allow you to listen in.
If you are one of those radio enthusiasts this can be a bummer. With all that said, you can still listen into to the fire service, Utility departments, air crafts and towers which can be interesting as well
So you cant listen to police encrypted radio unless your radio can de-encrypt it.
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Community Service Officer In West Fargo Becomes First To Promote To Position Of Sworn Police Officer
— A West Fargo Police Officer is the first in the department’s history to be promoted to the position from Community Service Officer.
“I got to meet a lot of other members of the department, and I got very familiar with the department and they got to get familiar with me, and I think that really helped me as I went through my training process and speed things along,” said Officer Tyler Todd.
Tyler Todd served part-time as a CSO while completing his degree at NDSU. Chief Denis Otterness says the goal of the CSO program is to help recruit and retain quality candidates to become sworn officers. Todd comes from a law enforcement family. His father Steve is Police Chief in Detroit Lakes.
“Once people get into the West Fargo Police Department I think they realize what a great city it is to work for. very supportive,” said Otterness.
Buying Guide For Best Police Scanners
During the CB radio craze of the 1970s, another electronic gadget also gained significant popularity: the police radio scanner.
Private citizens could now use a tabletop receiver with special tuning crystals to pick up local police, fire, and ambulance calls. Users could also eavesdrop on the chatter at air traffic control centres and emergency weather channels.
Modern digital police scanners no longer require tuning crystals to pick up these remote conversations. Today, you can use a police scanner to listen in on thousands of different channels, any of which could be broadcasting action at any time.
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Best Digital: Uniden Bcd996p2
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Some features require paid upgrades
There arent that many brands in the police scanner game , but Uniden is a major player in the world of scanners. Meant as a one-stop-shop for analog scanning and digital transmissions, the Uniden BCD99P2 is one of the better scanners out there. Whatever your needs, the BCD99P2 most likely has you covered, even if it does so in a fairly large package.
The BCD99P2 is capable of location-based scanning, and it can detect nearby radio transmissions. The TrunkTracker V scanner also offers continuous band coverage spanning 25 MHz to 1.3 GHz. Factor in 25,000 different dynamically allocated channels, and youll have enough options to cover all your local systems, recalled via the intuitive internal memory of the unit. It all comes in a compact 11 x 3.75 x 8.5-inch unit with a bright display and easy-to-navigate controls.
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Programmability Of The Uniden Bc125at
Typically, any radio out there will be able to be programmed both manually and via software. I cant vouch for programming my Uniden BC125AT via software though I have always relied on programming them manually instead.
When it comes to inputting massive quantities of frequencies programming via software is the fastest way to input data. Programming manually is a good skillset though for when youre out in the field away from a computer.
If youre looking for tips on how to manually program your Uniden BC125AT, check out the video below. He does a pretty good job. The manual included with the box does a fairly good job of explaining what you need to know, but personally Ive always found videos serve me better.
I took about three hours of a lazy Sunday afternoon programming in all my local police, fire, EMS, jail, and school bus frequencies, as well as all my local ham radio repeaters. The process wasnt difficult just tedious.
Figure 3: The keypad. Pretty straightforward as far as radios go.
The one thing that doesnt seem to be explained anywhere in the manual, though, is how to change from one memory bank to the next throughout the programming process. It took me a bit of fiddling to figure that one out.
Figure 4: If programming manually, youre going to be using this top knob A LOT.
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Update Your Channel List
Not a lot of people know this , but most police forces will change the radio frequencies that they use several times per year. This means that out of the box, your police scanner may not be able to find any channels in the local area.
Not to worry. Most decent police scanners nowadays will have an SD card built into them that will allow you to up the channel list. Your radio manufacturer will likely have software that allows you to do this.
If your radio scanner doesnt have an updateable channel list, then there is still no need to panic. You can use a site like RadioReference.com to find the current frequencies for your local area. You will just have to manually program them in, which shouldnt be too difficult.
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Best Police Scanner Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
- Steep learning curve
- Doesnt include a manual
If youre searching for a police scanner that can kind of do it all, the Uniden BearTracker Scanner is the full-size device you need. This impressively versatile scanner has an almost endless features list, and its highly capable. With 9,000 channels and an advanced dynamic memory system, youll be able to easily store as many channels as youd like to tune in regularly. Extra-helpful features, like close-call RF capture technology, location-based scanning, and Trunk Tracker III technology can help you find all of the frequencies youre looking for. Plus, when connected to a compatible GPS receiver, this scanner can automatically select systems based on where you are. And there are even state-by-state preprogrammed channels so you can find local police, DOT, and highway patrol frequencies wherever you might be.
When you unbox this police scanner, note that you wont find a user manual. Youll be left to your own devices, and that can make setup, and programming, challenging. Because there are so many different features on the scanner, users say that theres a bit of a steep learning curve to master and understand all that it can do.
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Vehicle Mount For Mobile Use
Thanks to the mounting bracket, you caneasily use the scanner in your vehicle and take it with you on the road. Justconnect the mobile antenna and youll get a clear reception without anytransmission interruptions.
In addition, the Uniden BC355N comes withthree power options , so you can use it just about anywhere.
How Is The Uniden Brand
Uniden an alright brand. Theyre well-known within the world of scanners and radio equipment. That name recognition has to do a lot with how affordable their scanners are. If somebody is looking to get into the world of radio, Uniden provides a low-cost means of doing so.
Here is my big issue with Uniden: that affordability seemingly comes at the expense of durability. Uniden scanners just arent built as tough as some other companies out there. My local radio store operator confirmed this for me. He says that Uniden products are consistently being brought to his shop needing repairs.
While the radio store guy specifically talked about CB radios, I would imagine that fragility can be applied across the brand board
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