Potential buyers should learn which type of digital transmission their local agencies use before investing in an advanced digital model. An analog or analog-trunking police scanner cannot translate digital broadcasts.ĭigital transmitters fall into two camps: Phase One and Phase Two. While many digital police scanners can receive analog and trunked frequencies, the reverse is definitely not true. The most advanced radio communication systems use digital signals for both transmitting and receiving information. The ultimate upgrade is a digital receiver, but digital broadcasts are still limited to larger agencies that have made the switch from analog to digital. When choosing a police radio scanner, you must decide what type of radio broadcasts you want to receive: analog, trunking, or digital. Some desktop units include an internal antenna, but others require a booster or external antenna for maximum performance. Owners have the option of locking on a particular channel for specific information or locking out channels that are either inactive or continuously on. When a channel becomes active, the scan stops until the broadcast is over. A desktop scanner sits on a flat surface and runs an electronic scan through all of the local channels selected by the user. Desktop scannersĭesktop scanners, also known as base scanners, are perhaps the most popular choice among amateurs.

Neighbourhood crime watch volunteers and those who travel alone at night may find a handheld scanner quite beneficial. Handheld scanners generally offer a smaller range of channels than other model types, but they easily pick up local police and fire broadcasts. Many handheld scanners are the size and weight of a military walkie-talkie, not a compact smartphone. A handheld scanner addresses this issue, although the word “handheld” does not necessarily mean “easily portable” in this case. Perhaps you want access to a radio scanner while walking through your neighbourhood or hiking in a remote location.

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