The perfect handheld scanner
Mark Rosneck
gone to scanner stores. I even ventured into a Radio Shack. I've read
magazines. AND I STILL DON'T HAVE A CLUE HOW TO DECIDE ON AN HANDHELD
SCANNER. Please help me before I use the "how much can I afford method?"
and wind up with something less than optimum (i.e., a piece of junk).
In general, I'm looking for a monitor radio for use in a hot air
balloon. I generally use 2 meter ham for communications (Yes -- I'm
a ham -- KB0US -- and, yes I have at least one ham on the crew to
run the radio). I'd like to monitor other balloonists using GMRS,
CB, aircraft, VHF business band, and as a partial backup to the 2 meter
radio. The basic requirement is to be able to easily program frequencies.
I probably don't need to program more than 10 channels at any one time.
I also don't need to be able to "search" very often although it would
be nice to "search" for a signal and then store it for times when
someone says "I dunno what frequency we're using. I jus' press da
button."
I also believe that some VHF business radios have a tone encoding scheme.
I assume (although I don't know) that this is used to filter who
can trip the squelch. My guess is that it's sub-audible and it doesn't
affect my ability to monitor these. Can someone clarify/correct/amplify
on this?
What say ye?
Thanks,
Mark
Brett Miller - N7OLQ
>In general, I'm looking for a monitor radio for use in a hot air
>balloon. I generally use 2 meter ham for communications (Yes -- I'm
>a ham -- KB0US -- and, yes I have at least one ham on the crew to
>run the radio). I'd like to monitor other balloonists using GMRS,
>CB, aircraft, VHF business band, and as a partial backup to the 2 meter
>radio. The basic requirement is to be able to easily program frequencies.
>I probably don't need to program more than 10 channels at any one time.
>I also don't need to be able to "search" very often although it would
>be nice to "search" for a signal and then store it for times when
>someone says "I dunno what frequency we're using. I jus' press da
>button."
>I also believe that some VHF business radios have a tone encoding scheme.
>I assume (although I don't know) that this is used to filter who
>can trip the squelch. My guess is that it's sub-audible and it doesn't
>affect my ability to monitor these. Can someone clarify/correct/amplify
>on this?
I don't know if there is a scanner that exactly meets your needs, but you may
want to look at the Icom 2SRA. It is a 2m HT with a wideband scanner built
in. It has built in sub-audible tone decoding (but to answer your question,
you don't need this feature). It costs around $450, but it could take the
place of your HT, so you would only need one radio. There are not too many
scanners that cover the CB band, so if you eliminate that requirement, you
will have more options. Also CB doesn't come in too well with a little rubber
antenna on any scanner.
You may also want to check into Uniden's new SportCat scanner. It has some
unique features.
Brett Miller N7OLQ brett_...@ccm.hf.intel.com
Intel Corp.
American Fork, UT
Charles Leader
: In article <2rg8ue$7...@hpcan240.mentorg.com> mros...@wv.mentorg.com (Mark Rosneck) writes:
: >I also believe that some VHF business radios have a tone encoding scheme.
: >I assume (although I don't know) that this is used to filter who
: >can trip the squelch. My guess is that it's sub-audible and it doesn't
: >affect my ability to monitor these. Can someone clarify/correct/amplify
: >on this?
: Brett Miller N7OLQ brett_...@ccm.hf.intel.com
: Intel Corp.
: American Fork, UT
Yes most business and police use CTCSS. Another option depending on how
wideband reception you want is the Yaesu FT-530. It is a 2M 440
transceiver that also has fairly wideband receive. I also heard it
can be modified for even wider reception.
Charles (KD6DJG)