Scanner, Cb, Options?

[Stilldrivin]

After multiple searches and reading lots of different threads not seeming to find what I was looking for I decided just to ask outright. I am interested in getting a scanner or maybe a CB. The scanner seems the better buy to me because I can get direct talk from the police so I want to go the scanner route. I live in UT and travel often down I-15 through Vegas and often up through the north part of Utah. I am looking for something that is worth the money and worth the time for install but debating on whether to get just a handheld or go with an install. I want something thats worth it, and from what I have read the handhelds aren't very good with reception or distance. So I guess what I am asking for is recomendations and pro's or con's of different products maybe with prices. Thanks guys.

[crazyVOLVOrob]

CB's are 100 times better than any police scanner as a counter measure....Cops hardly ever state their location on where they are unless they are at the scene of a call...Already pulled someone over

Especially for interstate driving where the trucks drive a CB is so much better

For the most part on every road trip I have been on I generally leave my scanner at home and bring my CB I have never really had any notable scanner saves but I have had multiple(so many i lost count) CB saves


And looking at your counter measure list your next thing should be either a CB or laser jammer

[Stilldrivin]

And looking at your counter measure list your next thing should be either a CB or laser jammer

I am looking into either but to be honest don't really know or understand the pro's and con's of each. The way I understand it, CB's no police and only drivers reporting, whereas scanner=police reporting. Am I wrong? Or am I right and I don't quite understand, thats a large possiblility as well. I have been reading on radioreference.com and trying to understand the difference. Also, do you know since I live in Utah, if I get a scanner should it be trunked? As well as what would be a good CB vs a good scanner?

Looking on Spark's I have found a couple CB's that look good
Midland 1001Z Miniature Mobile CB Radio
Uniden Pro-520XL Mobile CB Radio

Scanners:
Uniden BC 72XLT Handheld Scanner
Uniden BC-95 XLT 200 CH. Handheld Scanner

Any weight in on these models or different models appreciated.

Thanks.

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Scanners are more of: "unit 23 I need you to report to a 10-30 on elm street" ..."roger, reporting"

CB's "Southbound drivers at 175 you have a bear looking at you"
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Cops rarely (1 in 10,000 times) broadcast on the police scanner where they are

You have a much better chance of hearing about a possible speed trap from a CB.

And scanners you are looking at have a good possibility of not covering that you need to listen to as most radio systems are at least analog trunked it not digital trunked...For Utah specifically you need a minimum analog trunking scanner and for a good one that the Uniden 246t which is $214.
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I have a doctorate in stealth and I know and only use what works and I am strongly recommending you take a CB over a scanner.

I only use was works on my car and 99% of my road trips I have my V1, and CB radio MINIMUMLY. i hardly ever even use my scanner in my car any more cause it has not proven to be useful after using it for over 10,000miles on my interstate drives

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Buy a Uniden 520xl from Sparky's and pick up a Wilson Lil Wil on Ebay and you have now spent less than $100 and now have an unbeatable countermeasure for interstate driving

[Stealth Stalker]

x2 to what Rob says.

You cannot possibly have actually read more than two topics in this forum without having seen this discussion fully addressed. Rob's answer should be a sticky.

CB = The absolute best bang for the buck in highway countermeasures, rating above both an RD and a jammer. Not so much in the city.

Scanner = complete waste of money as a countermeasure unless you fully intend to devote FULL-TIME (every waking moment) to becoming a hardcore scanner enthusiast for a few years. That means no more listening to music or the CB, or conversation with your passengers ever. There is NOTHING said there that you will find or understand, that you can make any use out of as a countermeasure.

[Stilldrivin]

Scanner = complete waste of money as a countermeasure unless you fully intend to devote FULL-TIME (every waking moment) to becoming a hardcore scanner enthusiast for a few years. That means no more listening to music or the CB, or conversation with your passengers ever. There is NOTHING said there that you will find or understand, that you can make any use out of as a countermeasure.

This part about me not understand could apply to many subjects ha ha. Well if the CB is the best buy thats probably what I will use. I was thinking the scanner cause I do use Highways not a ton but when I do travel, obviously, I do. The only concern I have is the wiring of the cb, what needs to be wired and how difficult is it? Thanks

[Stealth Stalker]

This part about me not understand could apply to many subjects ha ha.

I'm glad you say that, because it reminds me to clarify. I am not saying that it's over your head, or implying that you're too dense to get it. I'm just saying that to really understand how to operate scanners, and how to understand what is being said on them, and how that applies to you, is a very complicated pursuit that takes a LOT of time and a LOT of devotion to figure out. You can't just stick one in your car and turn it on, then expect to get anything out of it. You won't. You won't even know who you're hearing, what they are saying, or what that means, until you have spent tonnes of time studying it. You are going to have to make it a serious, full-time hobby of it's own in order to get the slightest benefit out of it. Like Rob said, in ten-thousand hours of listening, he's never gotten any countermeasure benefit out of it. Even the overrated Alex Roy clip is misunderstood by those who know nothing about scanning. It didn't give him any benefit at all in that scenario. I have yet to meet a countermeasurist who wants to devote the kind of time or effort it takes just to learn to use the scanner competently. And even if they do, as Rob has, it does nothing to add to your countermeasures. It just costs you over $500 dollars and a lot of clutter on your car, and noise you will not listen to for very long, for nada.

[radar retard]

Is the "Cobra 75 WX ST" a good small cb? Or is there somethign else I should be looking at? I wanted it to pick up everything from the crisp "F's" to the low "U's".


Cobra Electronics Corporation - Cobra 75 WX ST - CB radio - 40-channel - black (75 WX ST)

[alpinestars_2002795]

CB's are 100 times better than any police scanner as a counter measure....Cops hardly ever state their location on where they are unless they are at the scene of a call...Already pulled someone over

I totally agree with this part, although I have had my fair share of Scanner saves while mobile where I knew a cop was running the freeway roughly 22 miles before I even got to that stretch and what do you know IO 35.5 off axis at 500ft. Although due to my BCD996t I was the last one laughing LOL.

The Cb is nice and all, and does help more frequently than a scanner alone yes. Although the cb has become tiresome lately, all the base stations are really drownding out the much needed bear reports on ch19. Because of all these welfare stations that should be on a different ch or buy a telephone truckers are either turning off their cb's and turning up the Satellite radio, or just ignoring bear report requests. Then ofcourse you have the common day female, or guy that is afraid of affecting their image with an antenna on their ride?? That doesn't help the issue, when nobody has a cb antenna but yourself.

<<<<------ is wondering where the 70's went when cb antenna's where the rage and if you didn't have one you weren't "In" lol? I mean come on the "General lee" Smokey from smokey and the bandit always ran one? And that car rocked!



I guess to each their own.

Lately I have been finding myself though turning off the cb due to "Lack" of help? Then i resort to my scanners a/d and my detector navalert/laser jammers. As cb bear reports are getting more and more worthless by the day. Not to mention that, but "LEO'S AROUND HERE HAVE CB'S IN THEIR CRUISERS! AND ALL THEY DO IS SET YOU UP! ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT ON I-75! ." Which can make for a very heart pounding experience when you hear ya your good, then 5 min later wack 35.5ghz off axis at 500ft. Then you just look up and go that sneaky No good you know the rest .


Best scanners out there?
Retail Price:
BCD996t (Very nice base mobile Dig analog combo) 400-500
BCD396t (Very Nice Handheld Dig ANalog combo) 400-500
GRE PSR-500 ( Nice handheld Dig analog combo) 400-500
GRE PSR-600 (Nice base mobile Dig ANalog Combo) 400-500

BCT-8 170-200
BCT-8 (VERY CLEAR SOUNDING ANALOG FOR THE $)
BCT-15 (Also a very nice Scanner for just a little more than the
BCT-8 but also Gps receiver add on capable just as the BCD996t is as well.) BCT-15 200-230


It is highly recommended that you start of with persay a BCT-8 it is very easy to use, and program so easy as Geico says a caveman could do it! It will also get your feet wet in the scanner market and teach you alot about how to use a scanner, and how RF works. Then if your still interested I "THEN" suggest in moving on with a higher end model in conjunction like a BCD996t or PSR-600 maybe?


AlPiNe~

[fire65]

Why not just get both? The CB can be set up for 100 dollars or less including a good antenna.
Then a good digital scanner will cost you 500 and up if you have to go digital. You will have to do a little research on what is used in your area to help you decide what type of scanner you need.
I live in SW Okla., am a firefighter, so am used to radio chatter but it can drive some people crazy to have scanner and CB. Also where I live the OHP runs on and open band so I hear locations of their stops, like 4 miles north of town, so I know areas they are working in.
I think the CB is more help on the highway than a scanner.