How to Find the Right Radio Scanner
Radio scanners scan channels so you can listen to information or contact others, all of whom can be a few thousand miles away or as close as the next room. They work on a wider frequency than a standard AM/FM radio and can be useful for a number of applications, including transport and logistics, traffic control, and law enforcement. If you want a radio scanner, there are different styles and features to choose from and many brands as well. Uniden is a large manufacturer of wireless communication devices, and they have a selection of radio scanners to choose from for both personal and commercial use. For those looking for a handheld scanner with a minimum of 200 channels, there are different models available, including the BC75XLT, BC125AT, and BCD436HP.
What Features Do These Scanners Have?
Choosing the right Uniden scanner can be hard to do, as there are so many different styles. Some choices include the TrunkTracker, which comes with 25,000 channels, or the Bearcat, which works as a police scanner. Here are some of the features that these scanners offer:
- Alpha Tagging: This gives your messages a unique sender's name.
- Power: Scanners can power with an AC adapter, batteries, or USB cable.
- Close Call: A feature that is specific to this brand, it automatically tunes to signals from nearby transmitters.
- Size: Various sizes, including the compact Bearcat and larger TrunkTracker, are available.
- Channels: Radio scanners come with varying numbers of channels, from 200 up to 25,000 and beyond.
- Extras: Some models come with other accessories like headphones and magnetic scanner antenna.
How Can You Use Them?
Although these devices are for professional use, there are some who use them in their personal lives as well. These are some of the applications that you might use your handheld scanner for:
- Information: Those who use their scanners for personal methods might listen to traffic reports, get weather alerts, or crime updates.
- Traffic control: Airport and road traffic officials broadcast updates and plans through radio.
- Law enforcement: Police officers and others in law enforcement rely on scanners to communicate through CB radio.
- Logistics and transport: Truck drivers or delivery people often use a mobile scanner to keep up to date with orders.