I'm pretty sure it's illegal in the UK, I don't get the point...
They are ILLEGAL to own in the UK for a start let alone use, despite what your other answers say. If you are caught with one you would be dealt with under the Anti Terrorist Laws and dealt with severely by the courts.
The site the OP linked is a good one. Unless you are in deep canyons you should not have any trouble hearing your local emergency and law enforcement calls because they are usually relayed through repeater towers. Car-to-car radio traffic is sometime on direct and their signals won't reach as far.
Some agencies have gone to trunked digital radio systems that are basically impossible to listen to, but most law enforcement, fire and EMS broadcast on frequencies almost all scanners will pick-up.
Despite internet rumor, it is NOT illegal to listen to a police scanner. In a very few states you need a permit or license. You can't use a police scanner to aid in any criminal activity, to listen to cellular or cordless phones, pick up encrypted or scrambles signals, or for personal gain. It's also illegal in most places to "relay any information you here on a scanner to another person", but I don't have the foggiest idea how that would hold up in court for 2 seconds. The media is allowed to report on scanner traffic and every person in the U.S. has the same basic right as the media guaranteed by the constitution.
http://www.police-scanner.info/scanning/police-scanner-laws.htm
You will probably need to program your scanner with several frequencies for each agency you are listening to. Large agencies can have several dispatch freqs, many tactical and other frequencies that are used in special situations or dedicated to a particular use. Program them all in for each local, county and state agency you have in your area. Don't forget your local hospital, airport, and municipal agencies.
Now that you have a bank of scanners frequencies programmed, write it down so you know what agency is on each channel. You will set your scanner to scan the channels at its fastest setting and it will stop when there is traffic on that channel. If one channel you don't like is monopolizing your scan then hit the lockout button.
You'll soon learn which are the busy freqs, dispatch channels usually, for your local area. Find yourself a list of the penal codes, 10-codes or whatever codes that agency uses so you know what they are talking about.
If you still can't receive anything then a trip to the local radio shack is in order. Ask who the staff scanner nut is and he or she will probably tell you more than you ever wanted to know about what's going on over the scanner in your town.
Meh makes sense to me. :thumbsup:
A lot of times police switch to cell phones or other secure connections when talking about important things.
That's true, but they shouldn't have to.
This thread is not a discussion on whether listening to police scanners is right or wrong. It also is not a discussion on whether the police should broadcast their stuff. This is a discussion on how to use a police scanner.
You see that "New Thread button"? Go click it.
Actually this thread is about whether or not members listen to police scanners, and as I don't my response was "I'm pretty sure it's illegal in the UK, I don't get the point..."
You then decided to take issue with the fact that it is illegal in the UK by saying "Wow that sucks." which specifically makes the argument that you think people should have the right to listen to police broadcasts, which lead to my response disagreeing with you. The diversion from the OP was started by you, not me.
Meh makes sense to me. :thumbsup:
The thread title was calling in people who listen to scanners to assist me in setting mine up. Reread the OP.
meh.
where i live a police scanner is something needed for safety. i live in a farming area. we don't have sirens to warn us if there is a tornado and half the time the tv stations go out.
The police out on patrol notify if they see a potential tornado and give the area of it. so if its near me i head for cover.
a weather radio helps (my scanner was a weather station and police scanner) but its not perfect or always accurate.
though it is also fun to hear who gets stoped and such heh.
oddly a few years ago some kids were playing near the school with guns. they locked down the school and called the cops. i heard on the scanner and told a few poeple. the School didn't notify parents about it until a few brought it up at a school event.
Is this a new record for neckbeard fucking up a thread?
You do realize that most of us aren't in Britain? We left and then kicked your ass for a reason.No, I'm not really interested in discussing the morality or legality of police scanners, I just wanted to say my bit and leave, issues were raised.