Police Scanners?

[nvracer]

1st, is it illegal to listen to a police scanner in Washington?

2nd if not could someone explain the different kinds/how they work. I think it would be cool to be able to listen to all the crazy stuff that goes on. I want to get one of those handheld ones that you can just hit scan and wait till the police come on.

thanks

[4x4dodge]

No, it's not illegal, well at least in AZ it isn't. Unfortunately all the police around my area have gone to digital radio systems. The analog scanners I have will not pick up those frequencies. I even used to be able to pick up cell phone calls before all the cells went digital. And yes, that was illegal

[rusty nail]

I don't think you will be able to understand what is going on, unless you know the police lingo. It is nothing but letters, numbers, and acronyms.

[4x4dodge]

It really wasn't that hard to get a basic idea of what was going on. One of the most interesting ones I heard was a high speed chase, but most of them were just domestic disputes. You could listen for hours and not hear anything very interesting. Friday and Saturday nights had the most action.

I had a code book too, it was like this:

http://www.radiolabs.com/police-codes.html

[nvracer]

yeah I've seen those code list, I'm sure i could get the general idea. What kinds are there and what works the best? I read somewhere that I need one that can pick up a signal then follow it to other channels or something like that????

[4x4dodge]

There are many different levles of scanners. This is the one I have. I just sold a couple of them on Ebay not too long ago. It's a good scanner.

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/861

[drewfromden]

That lingo link is cool.

[nvracer]

could someone explain basically what the different types are, if I just want to be able to hear whats going on the local cop channels what do I need? I'm looking for a little handheld one.

[4x4dodge]

I havn't been in it for quite a while, so I won't be able to help you much. Once the police went to digital radios I got out of the whole scanner thing. RCs now take up my free time

[Super Z]

No I wouldn't do that.

[redck1979]

a friend of mine has this one from Radio Shack...he got it for christmas a few years ago...well anyway it works mint for listening in on all the police channels...but it is nice to know an officer so he can tell you the specific frequencies they use...thats what we did...ahd one of our "cop" friends give us the info to program in...but it's fun to listen too...you'll here just @ anything on it...work very good as well if anyone is into going to races...ONLY THING...DO NOT drive around w/one in your car, it is highly ILLEGAL to have one on your person while driving in most states!!!...if you take it anywhere w/you its best to put it in the trunk of your car w/it off or batteries out of it just to be safe...

[4x4dodge]

ONLY THING...DO NOT drive around w/one in your car, it is highly ILLEGAL to have one on your person while driving in most states!!!...if you take it anywhere w/you its best to put it in the trunk of your car w/it off or batteries out of it just to be safe...

I used to do that all the time. I even had a magnetic antenna that went on the roof of the truck. Maybe less stuff is illegal here in AZ I also have a 50 foot pole with an antenna at the top in my backyard. It's nice not having a homeowners association.

[Heyitsme]

most the cops went to digital, you need one with digital trunking, the prices of those I think start around 400 and up im guessing.