Mobile Scanner Options

[BMThiker]

I remember my granddad had a big countertop unit that he would use to monitor local (ie, small town) PD, FD and EMT channels. My dad had one is his company car in the days before radar detectors. Never really had much interest in it as a child, but wondered if anyone else listens these days.

Here's my review of a scanner option for your iPhone/iPad:

I've been using a free iOS app called Scanner Radio Deluxe
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scanner-radio-deluxe/id498405045?mt=8

One thing I like about it is the ability to find "hotspots" pretty quickly by pulling up their Top 50 channels. It also uses GPS/WiFi to find channels near you. You can bookmark your favorite channels with a click of the star icon on a channel you are monitoring and even pull up a local map of the city that's broadcasting. Not bad for a free app with unobtrusive ads in the lower part of screen.

As you might expect, Baltimore is pretty high on this list right now.

 

[Mrtwooooo]

I've always kinda wondered how these radio transmissions make it to the internet like that since the iphone app isn't really listening to radio waves.

 

[abruzzi]

pretty simple. Someone somewhere, and a radio tuned to a particular channel. That is plugged into a sound card and the computer streams audio coming out of the radio. There may also be small purpose built devices to do this, but a $40 raspberry Pi has everything needed (except the radio)

 

[Elbert]

expensive, but uniden offers some scanners that can scan on location via gps input or zip code input.
http://www.bearcatwarehouse.com/phase-2-digital-scanners.aspx

But if the system is encrypted...then its over for scanning (at present)... I'm referring to scanning mobile or mobile from your vehicle.

Probably one of the best sites for the new digital age https://www.radioreference.com/

Since a lot of locations are going to digital trunked systems and then encryption...scanning has taken a steep nose dive. The next game changer is if the encryption standards/protocols get hacked.