Radio Scanner. Anyone know?

[cumbriasteve]

Bit of a long shot but someone may know the answers....

A very good friend's big birthday is coming up, he has lost mobility a lot due to illness and spends his days on the PC, TV etc.

I was thinking of buying him a frequency scanner, I had one years ago and listened to planes, fishing boats and the emergency services amongst others , so thought he would get some benefit from it to help pass the time.

The problem is in those days it was analouge and I believe it is all digital today, can you still pick up transmissions and if so what?

 

[brightspark]

Bit of a long shot but someone may know the answers....

A very good friend's big birthday is coming up, he has lost mobility a lot due to illness and spends his days on the PC, TV etc.

I was thinking of buying him a frequency scanner, I had one years ago and listened to planes, fishing boats and the emergency services amongst others , so thought he would get some benefit from it to help pass the time.

The problem is in those days it was analouge and I believe it is all digital today, can you still pick up transmissions and if so what?

u can no. longer pick up mobile phones and only one sided conversations with the police . u can still get aircraft and ships on them ive got a 300 channel one thats just sat there for the last 3 years it picks up the electricity board and works radios as well

 

[Rubber Duck]

If you are going down that route why not help him to get an Amatuer radio licence?
The foundation licence is easy enough to get and allows use of all the bands HF/VHF and UHF.

RD
(M3MUF)

 

[PTvor]

Scanners are not the fun they used to be. Too much is digital/encrypted, you have to pay quite a lot to get one that's any good. Rather like welders in that respect. He may turn out not to be interested.

I agree with Rubber Duck. Steer him to the amateur radio world. There are lots of disabled people in amateur radio.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Thanks folks, It's what I suspected, never thought of the radio world...sounds a great idea that, I will approach him with the idea tomorrow.

Cheers

 

[Robotstar5]

Here's a couple of links to look at, RSGB for amateur radio and Radioscan for scanners.

 

[SC_BK]

You won't get much on a scanner now unfortunatly. I used to listen in on the police and fire, but it's all digital encrypted now

Maybe a CB radio would be better?

 

[brightspark]

You won't get much on a scanner now unfortunatly. I used to listen in on the police and fire, but it's all digital encrypted now

Maybe a CB radio would be better?

the good old days of a 300 channel am cb and a 200watt burner are well gone just a 40 channel fm set with a load of muppets on now

 

[gavuk]

the good old days of a 300 channel am cb and a 200watt burner are well gone just a 40 channel fm set with a load of muppets on now

Not strictly true ,got 80 channels inc the euro mid block fm,although there's a lot of multibands still in use ,it seems a lot swapped to ham radio,run power and talk on channel 19......no real change

 

[chriskelland]

Been out of touch for a long time, but Amateur Radio is a good way to go. 2metre and 70 cms repeaters used to be worthwhile listening to. Wonder what they are like now?

Idiot question - what is an M3 call?

Chris G0JEK/G6LRY.

 

[bobh]

M3 is foundation licence callsign.

if he goes for the foundation licence not only 2m & 70cm theres also IRLP (internet radio linking project) which brilliant if theres a node you can get too.

Bob
M3RPC

 

[chriskelland]

Thanks, should get out more!!