#Best handheld police scanner upgrade

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. Note: Phase II scanners are backwards compatible and support Phase I.What happens on a police scanner is the essence of what is going on in our world. The list is meant to give you an idea of what is available that you may see, both new and old. Just to get you started, the list below is everything that should be able to monitor the system.

This system is a P25 Phase I (digital) trunked radio system, which will require a Phase I digital scanner to monitor. It looks like a large number of police agencies are on Kansas City Metro - Metropolitan Area Regional Radio System (MARRS) Trunking System. If this is the case, then the baseline is very high and ultimately you will need to be looking at something that has the bells and whistles included. Now I believe you are interested in monitoring Clay County, Missouri. Even then, there are different 'flavors' of digital that public safety can be using which will define what the baseline scanner is. Since you haven't mentioned it, another new thing in public safety is digital mode radios. Some agencies are holding onto analog systems which older gear can still monitor while a number of other agencies are joining regional or state trunking systems. It really depends on where you live, there's not really an common acceptable answer for what someone should get.