2024 Scanner Radio Buyers Guide

Who remember the days when you could listen in on your neighbors cordless phone conversations them was some great days ❤

I have to say you are very dedicated to helping people understand the scanning hobby, thank you for that

Child of the 80/90s growing up with CD Radios. Our antenna reached 70 miles on a good day. Amazing memories! Now I carry Uniden BC125at and looking to upgrade to Digital P25 Phase 2 Scanners. Thanks so much for the amazing video breaking it down "Barney Style" for us Special ED Heads!!

I have stopped buying any scanning radios since all law enforcement in my area (the main reason you buy such a radio in the first place) have encrypted. The only things you can hear are some vague fire dispatching and other non-law enforcement activities such as ham radio which, as a ham myself, has become less and less useful and interesting. In fact, I sold the SDS radios I had since they don't provide useful information anymore, so the effort at maintaining constantly-changing programming is no longer justified. I have also noticed local TV newscasts have a lot less local coverage of incidents involving law enforcement since they cannot hear L/E dispatches any longer. So, unless some tight-lipped L/E PIO feels generous and reveals something to the media, or someone sees something and calls the media, most never hear about it which L/E is perfectly happy with. The old school days of a TV news desk piled high with scanner radios is long past!

Hi Phil, you out did yourself with this video! There is so much to take in I for one will have to watch it a few times!! Thank You have a Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

I found this channel while searching for something else. Wow I am glad to be here what a great channel.

Phil, awesome job on this video! So informative. Thanks

nicely done, am still figuring out if/when to by next scanner, dealing with simulcast system in central Ohio. Keep up the good work.

I am in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Thanks in advance for your help.

I agree. Been into radio over 5 decades. The way I see how all those frequencies are encrypted, there’s always air traffic control to tune into, which justifies not selling any of my receivers.

Have had my Home Patrol II for about four years, I've found it the most versatile scanner I've owned since getting into the hobby in the early 70's. I update the database weekly, takes only two-three minutes at the most. Wish the audio were a little louder (solved that problem by using an auxiliary power speaker). And for what the radio costs, the upgrade should be available without the additional charge. For that single reason, I've opted to forgo it.

In the 1980s I had a Bearcat 210 scanner, loved it! It came in handy at times when I worked for Herndon Ambulance Co. in Orlando. Also, living only 30 miles from the Kennedy Space center at that time, I could even pick up the Space Shuttle crew to ground chatter before and during liftoff! Now I live and retired in Dover, N.H. and would like to get a scanner, mainly for Fire and EMS. What's confusing me at this time is the truncking thing, how can I find out if police, fire and EMS in my area use truncking and what freqs?

I would like to thank you for this video. I had been out of the scanning hobby for some time. I recently became active in the hobby again and discovered my Pro-94 was no longer usrful in the area i live, much had moved to P25. I ended up getting a BCD325P2 and am back in business for everything i want to hear. Thanks again for this informative video!

Excellent video and advice, like to see more like this

Wow! How do you only have 10,700 subscribers? You should have 10x that many. You have a new sub my friend. I’ll be watching all your videos over the next few weeks. I’ve been scanning since the early 90’s.

great video Phil, very helpful! I am in Pennsylvania on the Blair county - Centre county line (house in Centre and mailbox at the end of the lane in Blair). thanks

I just went to scanner college and it's interesting..Bronx,NY here..I had a friend whose father had a full rig with the huge antenna on top of the house...

SCANNER SCHOOL 🏫 HAVE A MARRY CHRISTMAS 🎄 AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 😊 😀 ☺️

I'm in Nashville TN, Davidson county. great video

Well Ron, I'm really out of practice in dxing. Its been along time since I even made a video. I'm glad to see you still enjoying the hobby. 73s Brian