burton@fortune.UUCP (06/23/84)
#N:fortune:5000002:000:984
fortune!burton Jun 22 12:55:00 1984
<for the one-eyed, one-eared, flying purple people-eater>
I'm a guest to this group, since my interest in scanner radios is to
add to my railroad hobby activity - train spotting and the like.
For my use, the ideal unit would be portable, programmable, *rugged*,
and also useable in a car or home, using external speakers if necessary.
Mega-band reception isn't necessary, since the RRs operate on only a
few bands, such as 160 MHz. Other concerns are signal clarity and range,
and rechargeable battery option.
Are there any situations in which use of scanners is illegal, either handheld
or in a car or home?
Please advise by mail to me below. Sorry if this sounds a bit naive.
I will post the results to net.railroad, and to this group, if requested.
Thanks in advance.
Philip Burton 101 Twin Dolphin Drive-MS 133
Fortune Systems Redwood City, CA 94065 (415) 595-8444 x 526
- - -
{ihnp4 [ucbvax | decvax!decwrl]!amd70 harpo hpda }!fortune!burtonparnass@ihuxf.UUCP (Bob Parnass, AJ9S) (06/23/84)
x
As your questions have been asked by several readers, I
shall take the liberty of posting a reply in a followup
article.
Since you want a programmable, rather than crystal control-
led, portable scanner, you currently have 3 choices:
1. Radio Shack PRO30: 16 channels, list price about $300,
batteries and AC adapter/charger optional. Watch for
a sale. Widest frequency coverage, also includes com-
mercial aircraft band. Plastic case. Internal
speaker is rather weak, but the audio stage has suffi-
cient power to drive an external speaker to high
volume levels. (I own this unit and am very satisfied
with it.)
2. Bearcat 100: Early models had extremely high failure
rate. Keyboard design allowed key to recess too far,
and be "lost" underneath the front panel. Problems in
physical design caused intermittant battery contact,
thus resetting microprocessor controller. This prob-
lem was corrected in later models, which may be recog-
nized by the BNC antenna connector, and appear to be
more reliable. Usually discounted to $289, but may be
found as low as $239. Includes leather case, bat-
teries, charger/adapter. No priority channel.
Several Bearcat 100 owners in this area are trying to
selling their units and replacing them with PRO30s.
3. Regency HX1000A: 30 channels, with built-in digital
clock. Discounts at $180 - $220, including leather
case, battery, charger/adapter. Very new, too early
for any evaluation. Could be the most rugged of the
three programmable, portable scanners.
Carrying the scanner in a decent leather case goes a long
way towards protecting the radio. Since Radio Shack offers
no case for the PRO30, I use a husky case made for a
Motorola walkie talkie, purchased from a 2-way radio shop.
If you are content to listen to 6 - 8 channels or less, you
could buy a crystal controlled portable scanner, which may
be a bit more rugged, and a good deal smaller than a pro-
grammable one.
Some states have enacted restrictions on the mobile use of
scanners. It is against the law in New Jersey for John/Jane
Doe to have a radio in the car capable of intercepting pol-
ice signals, without written permission of the chief of pol-
ice in the town in which the vehicle is being driven. This
law also precludes one from using a portable scanner while
in a vehicle, and is enforced religiously in some New Jersey
towns. A friend was stopped by the Police in Norwood
because he had a 19" whip antenna on his Chevy.
Indiana has a similar law, but exempts licensed amateur
radio operators (hams).
--
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Bob Parnass, AT&T Bell Laboratories - ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass - (312)979-5414