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So I actually made a post about this and a few people actually got interested and asked how I got one. The police scanner I got is an IOS app called 5-0 Scanner. It tunes in on your local police, fire, and ems. I can verify it works also its FREE that's the best part. You already carry your phone wherever you go why not have a police scanner and be 1 step ahead? Just have one of your buds have a headphone in listening at all times right when you hear anything related to abandoned or people trespassing get out. Once again it's called 5-0 Scanner! Have fun evading police
-Indiana Urban Explorer |
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That's actually MUCH more useful than I thought it would be. I thought it was a separate radio, which would naturally raise suspicion. But it it's an app, that's far, far better. I don't believe the police can search your phone without a warrant unless you either consent to a search, or if they arrest you. That makes this quite discreet, and could be handy for keeping an eye on local response times.
"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there. |
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Simply not practical. Who wants to listen to police calls when exploring? Worse you aren't as aware of sounds around you which are far more relevant... like the sound of a car or people approaching. Of all my encounters with LEOs the only time it might have helped... it wouldn't have. Pay more attention to what -you- are doing not the whole bloody police force. Not to mention the FBI/DHS which you'll never hear on a scanner. ♤Falls and structural failures are the biggest hazards you face♤
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. |
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Posted by blackhawk Simply not practical. Who wants to listen to police calls when exploring? Worse you aren't as aware of sounds around you which are far more relevant... like the sound of a car or people approaching. Of all my encounters with LEOs the only time it might have helped... it wouldn't have. Pay more attention to what -you- are doing not the whole bloody police force. Not to mention the FBI/DHS which you'll never hear on a scanner. ♤Falls and structural failures are the biggest hazards you face♤
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I mean, our generation is based on multitasking.
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Posted by DonPictures
I mean, our generation is based on multitasking.
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You mean on constantly being distracted? That explains a lot.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. |
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Posted by DonPictures I mean, our generation is based on multitasking.
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Like blackhawk said: distractions. There is no such thing as true multitasking, my friend almost got really hurt "multitasking"
If there is something I want to do then Ill do it and if there is something I don't want to do than I wont do it. That's the Dandy way baby. |
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Posted by Juxobe
Like blackhawk said: distractions. There is no such thing as true multitasking, my friend almost got really hurt "multitasking"
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^truth^ I almost took the last step into oblivion in a Atlas F site on a cut off staircase because I was looking around. Ending up on the second to last step with my feet dangling in air. Only a hand on the rail and fast reflexes saved me. Distractions kill.
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. |
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Posted by Juxobe There is no such thing as true multitasking, my friend almost got really hurt "multitasking"
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Like Juxobe said Blackhawk said.. Even the best concert pianists are only ever doing one set task. Adding more elements to focus attention on, and more sensory input to cloud your brain is a recipe for disaster. If you're only focused on listening you might forget to watch. "Multitasking" sounds good on paper, but fails in execution because it's so easy to get hung up on one thing. A backpack full of gear can never supplement your own intuition, wisdom and reflexes.
Edit: Clarity
[last edit 2/7/2018 5:27 PM by Hoover - edited 1 times]
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Back in the day I used to enjoy listening to a scanner. When Pepcon blew up here in Vegas many years ago, it was scary listening to the fire fighters try to find a hydrant where they could get access to water. Lots of hydrants, but not many of them actually attached to the water system. Before you run out and buy a scanner, make certain that law enforcement hasn't scrambled their communications in your area. Here in Vegas police communications are trunked and scrambled, so even if you get a scanner that can deal with trunking, you wouldn't be able to listen to the comms. Abby Normal
"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan |
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Can’t wait for people to go out and buy a radio only to have it get bricked
http://www.flickr....rescueme1060/sets/ |
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It's so fun to hear how the people at the local BART train are doing lol. Hard to follow without context though.
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I know this thread is super old, but oh, well. I use my scanner app somewhat frequently (I go through spurts). Sometimes I just like to hear what's happening locally or wherever because I'm bored, or sometimes it just occurs to me to pull it out when there's obviously some commotion going on nearby. I don't use it when I'm exploring (that would just make me feel silly), but this tool definitely comes in handy as a storm spotter. I would argue that it is one of the more valuable tools that I rely on during storm season - amateur HAM repeater channels and weather nets during an approaching storm are among my most utilized stations. I have a dream that someday I will actually read the book I have on HAM radio and learn enough to pass the certification test. Someday...
I wandered till the stars went dim. |
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I use the apps on my phone plus my fire radio every single day
http://www.flickr....rescueme1060/sets/ |
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Great idea man! I'm gonna try that on my next outing.
Flickr |
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As others have stated, listening to a police scanner app thingy while actively exploring can potentially be a bad idea. However, it might not be too terrible an idea to listen to it right before starting an explore to get a feel for how busy the police might be in the target area. It might even be an okay idea to pull it out and take a 2 minute listen while resting during an explore, say on the roof of a given structure or something, or when you're about to exit the premises.
Just my thoughts.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. - Leonardo da Vinci |
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No offense, but some of the people on this site aren't too tightly wrapped. There are ways to do things, and ways not to. If you need something to constantly keep an eye out for getting caught, then it's probably not a place you personally should be in to begin with. While I agree with no being distracted if you really want to use an app then this is what I suggest (Use this information at your own risk, I am not responsible for your actions and what you choose to do). The app would be just like driving a car while listening to the radio. You only need to listen to specific key words/wording/phrases. Training yourself to only pick up on certain key wording in sentences is perfectly valid. This will cause you to only pay attention to that specific aspect when it gets mentioned in a call. In which case you can explore wile listening because you will be able to auto focus on the exploring while instantly stopping what you're doing and listen when key words/wording/phrases are mentioned. If you're going to use an app like this then it will require some work, such as learning the name of the area/zone/section, the address and surrounding area, code words law enforcement uses for those areas, renamed structures.. etc you get the idea.. Example if your exploring a place called "Knots palace" but the original name was "Plaster & pick" and you hear on the scanner check out a possible intrusion at "Plaster & Pick" you would know they're headed your way otherwise you wouldn't even tune in to the app if Kings Lane" was mentioned
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^^ you just named the exact reasons why people would use a scanner, so i'm confused.
http://www.flickr....rescueme1060/sets/ |
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Posted by RescueMe1060 ^^ you just named the exact reasons why people would use a scanner, so i'm confused.
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How is that confusing? The use of a scanner, and a scanner being distracting have nothing to do with each other. Being distracted by a scanner regardless of the use, is a pointless hazard as many have pointed out in this thread.
I'm starting to wonder about the level of reading comprehension for many people on this forum.
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[last edit 4/9/2020 1:14 PM by Joel - edited 6 times]
Flickr: http://www.flickr....61765601@N04/sets/ |
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This works great if your local police still use an antiquated analog emergency band. However, lots of departments (including the one near me) are switching to encrypted digital signals. Whether or not that's an impending supreme court case on freedom of information, who knows.
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