[ejk55]

Hello, I wanted to get a police scanner for my old man. I was wondering what was a good one to buy and where a good place to buy one. Are the handheld scanners better than a base/mobile one? Should I get one that is trunked? I am looking to spend around $200. Thanks for any help.

E

 

[Officer Dunngeon]

I bought one from Radio Shack for my father a while back for about $200. Thing worked great up unitl this year (bought it '98, I think). I know this because my father used it once, then it started to collect dust. I then took it from him so I could listen after I called the cops on my loser neighbors, LOL!

 

[mcdonagh]

Get the Bearcat 780XLT digital scanner. It is the best on the market. I think it may go for $600 or so, I forget. They just made the digital one that will be able to get APCO transmissions like the NH State Police that went all digital. It is also a trunked scanner that will get the any Motorola I or II 800MHz, 900MHz, trunked frequncies like the Mass State Police. You can probably find it on the web if you type in "Bearcat 780XLT digital police scanner". There are tons of dealers out there.

 

[Muggsy09]

Ya I agree Bearcats are the best.

 

[luap112]

It all really depends on what you are looking for. I have heard great things about the 780 XLT the old department I worked for had on in the P/S cruiser. If all your looking for is something to monitor local channels and not S/P or anyone on an 800 trunked than you might be able to go with maybe a 50 channel or less scanner it will cost a lot less.
But Bearcat is the best on the market.

 

[tomahawk]

The Uniden Bearcat 780XLT is awesome, 500 channels and text display, sells for around $300 these days. The 785D ($360ish) is similar but 1000 channels and has digital capabilities (you need a $300 card to get digital transmissions). Both are trunking capable and can be programmed with a computer or via the front keypad.

If you aren't looking for a super-duper one, get any of the Uniden Bearcat Trunktracker scanners. Durable and reasonably priced... check eBay too!

-Mike