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Posted by Ballpark Frank (71.210.90.70) on 20:20:00 04/30/2007
In Reply to: Digital Scanners are expensive...... posted by KE4YYD
Sandi,
It is hard to come by one of the handheld digital scanners for less than $500, unless you luck out and catch a sale. The larger problem is trying to find something to listen to in Yellowstone. The National Park Service and the Forest Service nearby are using primarily narrow band analog. The Resource Management/Visitor Protection rangers sometimes use digital technology, but their traffic is encrypted. Without the encryption key, it is impossible to intercept that traffic. I've gotten to the point that I rarely turn my scanner on anymore. The conventional analog scanners only provide audible, understandable traffic when they are in close proximity to the source of the transmission, and then you typically only hear one end of the conversation.
The Uniden (Bearcat) and Radio Shack scanners listed above are the only two that I am familiar with. I've had portable, mobile and base scanners from both companies over the years, and I've been satisfied with both companies.
Those scanners will probably work best in the urban areas with very busy digital trunking systems that are not encrypted.
Ballpark
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