post by HornetWrath | | Re: Police Scanner <Reply # 20 on 8/14/2020 2:25 AM >
Any information you can get is better than nothing in the event you trigger a silent alarm. I understand the concern with "multitasking" but if that'll keep you from getting a trespassing fine then its worth it. It's not rocket science to keep a bluetooth ear piece in for additional information while keeping another ear free. Jesus christ some of you are stubbornly locked into an old world
post by BIGfartguy | | Re: Police Scanner <Reply # 21 on 9/23/2020 7:35 AM >
I feel like half the replies here didn't even acknowledge the OPs post, just read the title and reacted to that. They talk about how police scanners are 'distracting' when you're exploring, which is a totally valid point in it of itself. However, OP said
Posted by Marked Just have one of your buds have a headphone in listening
Which makes the 'distracting' argument totally relevant.
OP i thank you for the info. I am definitely going to download a police scanner app now (there are a million different ones on IOS, both paid and free).
post by SaskStalker | | Re: Police Scanner <Reply # 23 on 1/20/2023 10:31 PM >
I would prefer the use of an external scanner/radio to an app, if I were to use one at all, for two reasons:
1. I'm not going to have my phone pinging cell towers while I'm out exploring, and actively tracking and logging my location. I'll give someone I trust my location in case I don't come back, or go out in pairs for safety, but I'm leaving my phone elsewhere or at least switching to airplane mode. 2. Most (but not all) modern police chatter is digital and encrypted specifically to prevent exactly this. This means that a cheap analog FM-only scanner from Amazon will likely not pick up what they're saying. If you're lucky enough to be able to receive whatever digital protocol they use, you still wouldn't be able to decrypt it. At best, you would pick up noise when they are talking but have no idea what they are saying. You may get lucky in a rural town or county with a poorly funded constabulary still using unencrypted FM, but the chances of that are slim next to none. Contact your local ham radio club, or search the area on Radio Reference. They'll know.
Sorry to resurrect an old thread yet again, but this seems to be a semi-common occurrence so I'm assuming it isn't against rules.
| 
| 