So I'm wanting a scanner....

I've been wanting a scanner to keep up with what emergencies are going on in my town and surrounding towns when I'm on a drive and what not. My friend recently got one and I like it. Seems to be durable and it has great reviews. The sound quality on it is pretty good and everything. I'm wanting opinions on it and others if anyone recommends something else. I'm not planning on spending a lot on one. Also want a hand held one that can be hooked up to the cigarette lighter so I can listen to it when I drive. I would like to keep it under $150. Here is the one I'm considering: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3704415&numProdsPerPage=60

And if anyone has one they have set up in their truck, I would like to see it.

 

Visit www.radioreference.comfor all of your scanning needs. Everything you will ever need or any questions you may have can be answered there. There's also live scanner feeds that are available from your region.

Also try some of the scanner apps that are available for your android or iphone. They work great.

 

Thanks! And I prefer an actual scanner compared to an app. I've tried a few apps before. Just not as good as an actual scanner.

 

My buddy has the same one you posted. You can scan whatever channels you want as long as your in range and have the codes. I have an actual radio so I don't really have a need for a scanner lol

 

Lol. The only thing I worry about is that we have a camp way out of town, well BFE, and I just wonder if I can get signal out there. I can't even get cell signal out there. I'm guessing just a bigger antenna?

 

Or would I need something with digital? I don't really need a scanner while at our camp, but why not? Haha

 

Yes everyone, I'm a noob at this stuff and haven't really been around all of it. Lol

 

I would suggest digital if there are any agencies using digital in your normal area that you want to monitor . Only a few near me are digital and LAPD is one of them. If I feel like listening to LAPD ill go to the scan feeds at radioreference.com

 

I have the Uniden Bearcat BC346XT

Works great for my purposes
http://www.scannermaster.com/Uniden_Bearcat_BC346XT_Police_Scanner_p/10-501357.htm

 

Thanks for the opinions so far

 

And is there any way to mount these?

 

Help me find a mount for the radioshack one. I'm all herp derp with this!

 

I've looked into that. My friend said that almost all local stations use regular so I don't really need all of that.

 

You can also have an external antenna mounted on the truck with a BNC connection to hook up to the antenna port on the portables. I had a setup like that on my 83 yota and it worked very well. I don't use any of the scanners anymore either, I've got the 800 MHz radio if I want to hear anything. (Which I normally don't)

 

That's an idea

 

i had a Uniden Bearcat about 10 years ago, it was a pretty good scanner. I would think they still make them

 

Still do. Going with that or the radioshack one.

 

I have a pro-fit international mount with the T-Amps adapter and a adjustable cellphone mount that I bought from best buy with the "T" hole in the back. I'm not a fan but I tolerate it. The design was poor. My biggest concern was that there was no way of securing the nuts on the back of the plate because they fit into this hole and you can't fit a socket into the hole. I had to shove a flat-head into the hole next to the nut to tighten it, even then it's not as tight as I would like.

And it is really bouncy but I have it pushed against a Ram-Mount Floor Mount which minimizes the bouncing but is a lot of tedious work to get right

 

Spend the extra bucks and get a good mobile fixed mount or mag mount antenna. Also get the best antenna you can afford for the house or cabin, and mount it as high as you can get it.

To mount it in a vehicle, you might want to find a good spot and try velcro. If it doesn't work, you can just peel it off, or try a handheld GPS mount that fits a Garmin 60 or 70 series.