Radio Scanner Buyers Guide
Prior to buying a radio scanner, our review team strongly recommends figuring out what exactly you want out of your device. Does your radio scanner need to be portable? Do you need digital or analog capabilities? These are just a couple of the questions that need to be answered for you to find a radio scanner that fulfills your needs.
Can I Get A Digital Police Radio Scanner For A Reasonable Price
A digital police radio scanner is supposed to be a lifelong companion. You will enjoy faster opening times, better quality, and a better view by paying more for your product. Likewise, a new digital police radio scanner costs between $$$ and $$$. You miss out on some luxury features, but its still a great deal.
Top 7 Best Police Scanners In 2022
Looking for the best police scanner?
Police scanners are a great way to keep tabs on emergency responders in your area. This allows you to get to incidents as quickly as possible and provide the best support for those who need it.
With the right police scanner, you can easily stay informed about whats going on in your area. This will help you be more effective when working security and ensure that everyone stays safe.
But, not all police scanners work well and some can even be downright dangerous. Thats why we set out to find the best models and bring you our comprehensive guide to the top 7 of the market today.
Check out our selection of the best police scanners and find the perfect one for your needs!
So lets get started!
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Digital Trunking System Compatibility
Modern digital trunking systems allow a large number of people to use a single channel at the same time. There are many different trunking technologies. If your digital police scanner isnt equipped to handle the specific trunking system that your local police force uses, youll miss out on most of their transmissions.
How We Chose The Best Police Scanners
As with most electrical devices, there are several core elements that appeal to every kind of user. Things like user-friendliness, high-quality construction and good value for money all rank somewhere near the top. Thats why we took each of these points into consideration when we were sourcing the best police scanner available online. In terms of complexity, weve also included a range of devices to ensure there are both scanners that appeal to newcomers to the hobby and more complicated models which are well suited to experienced hobbyists looking for greater control over their experience.
To help you choose the best police scanner for your individual needs, weve put together a SPY Guide to answer the key questions and show you some of the most popular available devices. Below youll find the best police scanners for everyone, from advanced users to first-time scanners.
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Best Vehicle: Uniden Bcd536hp
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Connects remotely to Uniden Siren App
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No programming required
Unidens BCD536HP scanner offers some of the easiest-to-program features available on a scanner. You just type in your zip code, and the scanner does the work for you. Theres even a Wi-Fi option that allows you to use the exclusive Uniden siren app on your smartphone or tablet to access the scanner from anywhere in the home or vehicle.
The LCD backlit keypad helps illuminate the unit, so you can see it in the dark and quickly access the controls. Included within the packaging are home and auto power cords, as well as a mounting bracket for inside the vehicle and a Wi-Fi dongle and telescoping antenna. Theres no battery power to worry about since this Uniden scanner runs entirely off the car battery . Additionally, the BCD536HP was one of the first Uniden scanners to incorporate the HomePatrol data, which allows the easy entering of a zip code and you’re ready to listen in.
Are Police Scanners Legal In Your State
First and foremost, you dont want to buy a police scanner if these tools arent legal for use in the state or county in which you live. In most states, its perfectly legal to own a police scanner. But theres a catch: You cant always operate that scanner legally.
In many states, you can own a scanner but you cannot carry it with you. That makes mobile police scanners, like smartphone police scanner apps or handheld scanners used while youre on the go, illegal. And in many states, its also illegal to install a scanner in your car. However, if you use your police scanner at home, youre perfectly fine.
And in certain states, like Florida, Indiana, and New York, its legal to use a mobile police scanner, but only if you have a license from the FCC or permission from local law enforcement.
How do you know where to draw the line? Well, its a good rule of thumb to keep your police scanner at home and not take it on the go with you. Essentially, most states rule that police scanners are illegal when theyre mobile and used in the commission of a crime. But if youre unsure what, exactly, is legal in your hometown, make sure to look at your state laws on scanners for total clarity.
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Uniden Bearcat Bc125at Handheld Scanner 500
- LISTEN IN AND STAY INFORMED, this sophisticated scanner has 500 alpha-tagged channels in a convenient compact design with loads of features. Close Call RF capture technology instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters and the Do Not Disturb Mode prevents Close Call checks during a transmission.
- LISTEN TO OVER 40,000 FREQUENCIES, you can listen to both civilian and military bands, including Non-Digital Police, Ambulance, Fire, Weather, Marine, Aircraft, Railroad, Civil Air, Amateur radio services, and Racing events.
- EXCELLENT HAND-HELD SCANNER . Some Police/Fire/Emergency/Public Safety Agencies in larger cities are switching over to DIGITAL Trunking systems. If you live in an area where Trunking or Digital Radio systems are used, you need to upgrade to a Uniden Digital model , such as models BCD436HP, BCD536HP, BCD996P2, BCD325P2, or HomePatrol-2.
- GET STARTED LISTENING RIGHT AWAY with convenient Pre-sets for the most popular searches. Frequencies are preset in ten separate Non -Digital Police/Fire/Emergency, Ham, Marine, Railroad, Civil Air, Military Air, CB Radio, FRS/GMRS/MURS, and Racing search bands. This makes it easy to find channels that interest you.
- How can we help? Uniden Customer Support web site is designed to conveniently walk you through product setup and troubleshooting, Web site: https://uniden.com/pages/support-1 . Contact customer support at email: or phone: 1-800-297-1023.
What Is The Best Digital Police Scanner On The Market
The 7 Best Police Scanners of 2020
- Best Overall: Uniden BearTracker 885 at Amazon.
- Best Budget: Uniden BC365CRS at Amazon.
- Best Home: Uniden HomePatrol-2 at Amazon.
- Best Digital: Uniden BCD996P2 at Amazon.
- Best Analog: Uniden Bearcat BC75XLT Handheld Scanner at Amazon.
- Best Vehicle: Uniden BCD536HP at Amazon.
- Best Smartphone App:
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Uniden Bcd436hp Handheld Scanner Review
We consider the Uniden BCD436HP the best handheld police scanners because it is so user friendly. You wont need extensive technical knowledge to make this scanner work, and you can even use it straight out of the box. More extensive software programming is available but not required.
If youre interested in a scanner that is plug-and-play, just order the Uniden BCD436HP and put in your zip code for fast access to your local police scanner frequencies. Its a bit heavier than some competing scanners, but you can still take it anywhere that you go. The batteries should last up to eight hours.
Another impressive feature of this police scanner is the location-based scanning. It will take your current location and automatically scan for all frequencies in the area, saving you from manually searching or digging through a book of frequency listings.
You can also program your favorite frequencies into the scanner for tuning later. If youre interested in local weather reports, you can pick those up with this scanner as well. Overall, this is the best quality and value handheld police scanner.
Things we liked:
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The Best Police Scanner Of 2020 Whistler Trx
For an overall high-quality device that can keep track of miscellaneous frequencies, go for the Whistler TRX-1. This portable handheld scanner is the best all-around device, whether youre using it for personal purposes, inside a vehicle, or in public. It provides weather alerts, object-oriented capabilities, search modes, micro-SD compatibility, and more.
However, if its your first time using a scanner, take the Uniden Home Patrol 2 or the Whistler WS1040 as good alternatives. For other options not on this list, you may see our and Uniden SDS200.
Do you have any questions about buying leading police scanners?
Tell us in the comments below or explore more of our website.
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Q: What Is A Police Scanner
A police scanner is a type of radio that is optimized to pick up radio frequencies most used by law enforcement and other emergency services. As communication systems have evolved, so too have Police scanners, and you can now pick up models that are compatible with a range of systems and across multiple frequencies including analog and digital frequencies.
What To Look For When Buying A Police Scanner
If you want to stay updated on events happening around your vicinity, a desktop or mobile police scanner is a crucial tool for you. Since these scanners will bring you up-to-date and vital information, you must also have a reliable scanner that will work with the frequencies your areas emergency services utilize.
Scanner Formats
Different counties and government agencies use varying formats. There are currently four formats available Analog, Trunked, Phase 1 Digital, and Phase 2 Digital. You have to know which is being used. For example, if you purchase an analog scanner and the local government uses a Phase 1 Digital frequency, you wont detect their transmissions.
Try searching online on what format your local services are using even before choosing a scanner. But if you want to be sure, go for a scanner that can work with both analog and digital formats as almost everyone is upgrading to digital nowadays.
Portability
You also have to figure out where youre going to install your radio scanner. If youre going to place it at a fixed location, you can go for the police scanner for home use. But if youre always on the go, like a trucker, then a cop scanner for car and truck would make more sense.
Brand
Programming
Memory
Accessories
Price
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Best Digital Police Radio Scanner Reviews In 2022
37 product ratings – Uniden Police Scanner BCD325P2 Digital Radio Handheld Mobile Trunking Antenna. $424.95. Free shipping. 32 sold. Uniden Police Scanner Radio SR30C Handheld Mobile Portable Compact Bearcat. $119.00. Free shipping. VINTAGE UNIDEN BEARCAT SCANNER BC 560 XLT POLICE FIRE EMT – NO ACCESSORIES – C78. 1 – Bingfu VHF UHF Ham Radio Police Scanner Antenna – Best Cheap Option 2 – Comet Original BNC-W100RX – Best Mobile Scanner Antenna 3 – Tram 1411 Broad Band Discone/Scanner Base Antenna 4 – Fosa 30MHz-1200MHz Wideband Scanner Mobile Radio Antenna 5 – Procomm Scanner Radio Mini Magnet Mount Mobile Scanner Antenna – Best Indoor.
Digital Police Scanner Buyers Guide
Now that many states are switching to advanced digital radio systems, youre likely to need a digital scanner to pick up activity from your local police, fire and EMS stations. Even if your state is still using an older system that is easily intercepted by a cheaper analog scanner, you will likely have a more pleasant scanning experience if you invest in a higher quality digital scanner.
While it is legal to listen to a police scanner in your home according to federal law, some states and cities require users to secure a license. Its important to check your local ordinances online before you invest in a scanner.
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Best Digital: Uniden Bcd996p2
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Some features require paid upgrades
There arent that many brands in the police scanner game , but Uniden is a major player in the world of scanners. Meant as a one-stop-shop for analog scanning and digital transmissions, the Uniden BCD99P2 is one of the better scanners out there. Whatever your needs, the BCD99P2 most likely has you covered, even if it does so in a fairly large package.
The BCD99P2 is capable of location-based scanning, and it can detect nearby radio transmissions. The TrunkTracker V scanner also offers continuous band coverage spanning 25 MHz to 1.3 GHz. Factor in 25,000 different dynamically allocated channels, and youll have enough options to cover all your local systems, recalled via the intuitive internal memory of the unit. It all comes in a compact 11 x 3.75 x 8.5-inch unit with a bright display and easy-to-navigate controls.
Our Police Scanner Buying Guide
If youve ever watched out your window as emergency vehicles sped to a home down the street, you know the value of having a police scanner. These devices let you listen in on local police transmissions, helping you stay aware of whats going on nearby. This can help you monitor your area for crime so that you can keep your own home safe.
Choosing a police scanner means finding a device that can help you get the best reception possible. With the right scanner, youll get the widest range of options when youre listening. The wrong scanner will have you frustrated as you struggle to find a transmission. Look for a scanner that offers a broad frequency range and a large number of channels. Some scanners also offer both analog and digital frequencies, which can be a plus.
Some of the best police scanners use something called Close Call RF Capture technology, which helps you tune in to nearby transmissions. Since many consumers investing in police scanners are interested primarily in nearby happenings, this feature comes in handy. Location scanning is another feature that can help you access the transmissions in your immediate area. When a scanner has location scanning built in, it searches for transmissions nearby rather than forcing you to manually input them. This is especially valuable if you plan to use your scanner in more than one place.
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Uniden Bcd436hp Homepatrol Series Handheld Police Scanner
Unidens BCD436HP is the most advanced scanner radio ever made. It features a high-performance 1,800-channel scanner with trunk tracking, GPS and location-based scanning, 800 MHz compatibility and more.
With HomePatrols exclusive CloseCall RF Capture feature, you can instantly tune to signals from nearby transmitters without manually programming them into your scanner.
The customizable Color Display lets you select backgrounds. It allows you to monitor all of the talk groups on a system as well as receive system status information and emergency alerts.
Trunktracker V is also compatible with Motorola, EDACS and LTR systems when used with optional accessories. It includes an audio announcement feature that automatically announces the System Name, Site Number , Zone Number and System ID.
It is a full featured digital scanner that operates on the X Band frequency range. Its compact design and ease of use make it ideal for home or office, as well as for field use. The BCD436HP features a user-friendly interface with large icons and simple to operate controls.
Newer scanning technology allows this scanner to store thousands of channels and locations in its dynamic memory bank.
Best Radio Scanners Reviewed And Rated In 2022
Whistler WS1065 Desktop Digital Scanner Factory Refurbished 90 Day Warranty. $208.99. $299.99 | 30% OFF. Whistler TRX-2 Digital Scanner Radio Mobile Desktop Trunking APCO Phase I & II. $495.99. $629.95 | 21% OFF. Whistler WS1065 Digital Base Desktop Mobile Scanner UHF/VHF Police Fire Skywarn. $260.99. Police Scanner $89.88 $99.99 Uniden Bearcat 300-Channel Handheld Scanner with Antenna 178 $79.78 500CH CLOCK/FM RAD SCANR 129 $79.87 Whistler Scanner Handheld Radio 5 2 days $92.10 $104.55 Whistler WS1025 Analog Desktop Radio Scanner 65 $106.00 Uniden BC125AT 500-Alpha Tagged Channel Hand-Held Scanner 5 2 days $87.99.
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Q: Batteries How Long To Charge And How Long Do They Last
Well, hold on Cowboy, thats technically two questions. Well allow it this time, but dont get carried away. Charge time is going to be similar to any handheld device and will increase as the mAh rating goes up. It also depends on the effectiveness of the charger i.e. how many amps it can push out. The length of battery life is another consideration that differs depending on the batteries ability and how it is being used. Some of the models above have 1500 mAh batteries, which are only really going to give a few hours of continuous use. On the other hand, some models pack in 2200mAh batteries that could be good for 12, 16 or even 18 hours of use, especially if the scanner is set to a low power mode.
Best Smartphone App: Smartest Apps 5
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No equipment necessary
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It actually works
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In-app purchasing
While the focus of scanners is almost always concentrated on the utilitarian design of the handheld and car-ready hardware, theres a new and most formidable entry in the market. The 5-0 Radio Police Scanner app, which has millions of downloads. Users can listen to feeds in the background, including police/EMS/fire and military codes, as well as both aircraft and train feeds.
Theres even international coverage where available, so the scanner app can detect your location and determine relevant feeds youll want to follow. Currently free in both the Apple Store and Google Play, theres also a pro option that offers 50,000 more feeds.
The BearTracker 885s included GPS, CB radio, and noise-canceling microphone make it an excellent choice for truckers or anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. For an inexpensive handheld option, the Uniden Bearcat BC365CRS is a good model to check out. If you want to try out scanning, test out the free 5-0 Radio Police Scannerapp.
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