From: fraser@praha.jpl.nasa.gov (Scott Fraser)
Subject: Re: scanners
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 01:50:30 GMT

In article <1g8545INNpev@gaia.ucs.orst.edu> parkerg@osshe.edu (Greg Parker) writes:
>Ok, so I'm new to this group.
>Please forgive if this is a FAQ.
>What should I look for in buying a first time scanner.

You will here many things, I primarly looked for portability and
went the handheld route.  I bought a Uniden/Bearcat BC200xlt over 2 years
ago and am happy with it. (only exception being ocassional intermod which
is to be expected in the RF saturated area that I live in.

>What do I tell my wife as to why we should buy one?

I bought mine after both my wife and I were tired of hearing the Long Beach
(CA) police helicopter overhead and wondering just what was going on in our
back yard.  The week after getting it, the helicopter was overhead and I tuned
in just in time to hear a foot pursuit of an armed subject who was hopping 
backyard fences.  A little listening told me that he was 5 houses west and
going east!  I quickly made sure that the house was secure and got my 'bat'.
The subject was apprehended a few minutes later, 2 house west of me as he
hopped one fence too many literally into the waiting arms of the law.

The scanner has generally been a GREAT source of unfiltered information as
to what is happening in our neighborhood.  I have found that what you hear
happening and know what is going on is not what is reported in the press the
next day.  For what ever reason, sloppyness, desire to slant, etc the media
many times does not get it right.  Case(s) in point follow:

- We were in a Sizzler resturant when an armed robbery took place right behind
me.  (this was 2 blocks from the sheriff station).  The bad guy was left high
and dry when his buddies heard the sirens and took off.  The BG then left the
resturant, hopped the fence and did a number of stupid things until he finally
made it down the street, kicked in a window and took a 70+ year old couple
hostage.  A command post was setup on the steps of our church and the entire
family listened (from the safety of our car & home) for the 3 hours after the 
robbery as the events unfolded.  My wife and I read the report in the newspaper
two days later and looked at each other and wondered if it was a report on
the same incident.  They got enough right to know that it was the correct
incident (Sizzler robbed at 6:00pm Sunday)  but the rest was a bunch of junk.

- During our infamous riots this year, we watched the news saying Long Beach
is 'quiet'  nothing much happening there, while we were hearing gunshots,
and listening to reports of gunfire exchanges, looting, burning, etc over the
scanner and this was happening as close as 1/2 block away!  We spent the
remainder of the riot out of the area but listening as they burnt down
the asian owned liquor and video stores at the corner.  I could go on for 
pages of the things that I heard on the scanner.  One really errie event
(not really radio related) was when I came back into the area Saturday night
after all had calmed down, but curfew was still in effect.  I HAD to get 
something to eat.  Seeing that Long Beach was locked down, I took a chance 
and went to the next city to the east and hoped to find something
there.  Long Beach, remember is under curfew and like a virtual ghost town.
As I cross the border, I see people out for walks, as I enter
the business/mall district, Everyone is out shopping! Just like nothing is
happening just a few miles away.

- Last June, immediately after the landers earthquake, I turned the scanner on
and had epicenter and magnitude out of the LA Sheriff emergency center BEFORE
any of the media outlets!

- a few months ago, the wilmington refinery exploded (10 miles away) with a
force that was felt easily over a 50 mile radius.  I at first thought that
that new ultra secret air force jet had flown over but it was the explosion.
I grabbed the scanner, and in less than 90 seconds after the blast, I knew
what it was and that we were not in any danger.  My wife had thought that
a plane had crashed in the neighborhood as we are 1/2 mile north of the
Long Beach Airport. I then went outside and let ALL the neighbors know
what was going on.  Everyone relaxed and went inside to wait for the news
to start coverage, shaken but reassured.  Next thing that happened was that
our phones (all 4) started to ring off the hook with friends who know that
I have a scanner, wondering what the H.LL happened!  It seems that ALL of the
lines to the local PDs were jammed and we were a secondary outlet.  What fun.
 
>Can I hear cordless phone calls?

Yes and you will bore and tire quickly of these I suppose, unless you live in
an apartment complex and desire to get the lowdown on your neighbors. (shame 
on you :) )

>Are their modifications (although I would never do it 
>because it is illegal) so that scanners can pull
>in cell phones?

Yes, with the bc200xlt, its one or two resistors to remove, the info on how
to do this is posted all over the place if you so desire.  again, boring..
but there is something about having a radio that has been 'fixed' so you do
not have access to frequencies that irkes me.

>Thanks very much.
>
>
My pleasure, I hope that I didn't ramble on too much here, but as you can
see, I get a lot of use out of it.  Other side benefits of it have been
numerous also.  The entire family was treated to a personal tour of the 
sheriff station and were shown the sheriff helicopter after one
of the sergents found out that my youngest daughter is a big fan of the
SkyKnight Helicopter and one of the observers.  It was great fun!

Take care,  & good listening

Scott Fraser
fraser@praha.jpl.nasa.gov




Newsgroups: alt.radio.scanner