Scanner ?

zonEEE

Hi all, just been reading a few forums and i would like to have a go at using a scanner or what ever i need to listen to the gards etc. So What type of one would I need for listing to the gards etc? The cheapest one possible one as well. Sorry I'm sure this question has been asked hundreds of times.

Thanks in advance.

barnicles

For The Gards you will need a digital one.

Ask watty or another user about it as im not entirely sure except abut digital

gerryk

barnicles wrote: »

For The Gards you will need a digital one.

Not yet you don't, and if you consider the success levels and timescales involved in previous garda related projects, it'll be some time before they have tetra implemented.

watty

It's illegal to deliberately listen to Garda and more so to communicate content.
The Garda have no obligation to use the new Tetra system, which is supposed to be encrypted.

They use Mobile phones a lot now.

Best to stick to TV sound, Radio, air traffic, marine, Amateur Radio, Weather Satellites. etc. Even the Air & marine is a little grey, though the Volmet (Airport weather reports) and especially Coastguard Weather should be OK as these are broadcasts.

Avoid taxies, emergency services, Garda, Army. Especially with all the post 911 "war on terror" nonsense.

SPECIFICALLY

Under the 1926 Wireless Telegraphy Act of Ireland and its subsequent ammendments it is illegal to listen to any transmission not directly addressed to you or meant for general reception.

ChapOfDRyans

I would recommend a usc230 very good 1 of the best i used not sure will it fit into your budget though,You get what you pay for.

humaxf1

watty wrote: »

Even the Air & marine is a little grey, though the Volmet (Airport weather reports) and especially Coastguard Weather should be OK.

What's the point in having a VHF marine set then if it's "a little grey", never mind a scanner. TBH, the amount of people out there who have marine VHF, who don't have a marine telegraphy licence and as a result haven't a clue about basic two-way communications never mind an emergency situation is a joke! Before anyone jumps on the bandwagon, yes I do have a licence!!!


If the gardai were so worried about people earwigging or handbagging them, do you not think they would have got their ass in gear sooner for digital to be implemented.

watty

The Garda use mobile phones now for anything important.

There's really no issue with listening to marine or airband. In UK they are more draconian. There it's illegal to use a scanner to listen to PMR446 band!


Always a difference in this country between technical legality and enforcement much wider than in some other Countries. Radio enforcement in Italy is more lax (10kW CB or Amateur anyone?)

pixbyjohn

It is not illegal to listen to the Garda transmissions at all. IT IS ILLEGAL TO PASS ON THE INFORMATION TO A THIRD PARTY UNLESS IT IS TO THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS.

Lenguy

So if I just want to pick up ATC, marine, 2 way radio, and maybe emergency services would anyone recommend a particular digital model. I have an old transister type, but I'd prefer to be able to pre-programme the station, rather than all that tunning.
Also, can anyone recommend the best place to get one. Probably online for wider selection. Not sure what that guy on the north quay (Dublin city) has available. Thanks..

watty

What's your budget?
Do you have a PC with PCI slots or a laptop?
Have you an outdoor roof mounted Discone with low loss RG213 feed cable?

Do you want to program memories on the radio or via PC?

Lenguy

No Watty, looking for a simple handheld unit. Was hoping I could get something for €120-€150.

ChapOfDRyans

For that price you could get a ubc72xlt which does the job as a scanner.

i would also buy a wideband discone which about 30-50 euro

experimenter

strongr wrote: »

So What type of one would I need for listing to the gards etc? .

Thanks in advance.

Now why would you want to do a stupid thing like that. It's ilegal!:mad:

Bored-Stupid

ChapOfDRyans wrote: »

For that price you could get a ubc72xlt which does the job as a scanner.

i would also buy a wideband discone which about 30-50 euro

Hi,

I have a UBC72XLT, but what is a wideband discone?

Can someone please tell me what, in your opinion, is the best value scanner which has the widest band frequency with the fewest gaps in between.
I dont mind if its a handheld or a base or the ease of use as I like getting to grips with things. My budget is €300

Thanks in advance!

watty

Yaesu VR500:
no gaps 100kHz to 1300MHz.
NBFM, WBFM (FM), AM, Narrow AM, SSB (USB/LSB), CW on all frequencies.

However the UBC72XLT being Wider, poorer filter on FM, actually works better for 137MHz Weather Satellite reception.

(I have both).

So keep the UB72XLT.

A typical discone is vertical polarised, omni directional and works well from 27MHz to 1300MHz. It will work even from 100kHz to 2.4MHz though poorly.

A decent one will be fine for transmitting on 50MHz to 440MHz, just possibly on 26.5MHz/29MHz/1.2Ghz also.

Discone (don't buy this and especially not a "royal discone")
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=29609&doy=26m11&C=SO&U=strat15
There is a better model of ScanKing. This one is too flimsey.
Aluminium is better than Stainless steel.

It needs to be above any obstructions. On top of a TV aerial pole will do.
You need RG213 cable unless it is a short run of cable (<5m) to the radio, then RG58 will do.

See www.wsplc.com under listening

Also Type Discone into search
They have a full discone W-32DD Watson Double Discone 25-2000MHz
gives nearly 3dB more gain. Technically a "full discone" i.e. a upside down one on top is called a bicubic aerial. I have a large one that uses metal guy wires insulated with bottem end and 4 x 8ft man-pack whips for top of a Military system. It works down to 7Mhz but only up to 50MHz

As well as basic scanners which tend to only do AM on Air band and and FM on 25Mhz to 1300MHz or so see
http://www.wsplc.com/acatalog/Communication_receivers.html

Modern Communication receivers give better performance, coverage between 100kHz and 30MHz (not usually on scanners) and no holes in bands and all modes on all bands, not just AM/FM.

The VR500 is the smallest communications receiver with a keypad. Avoid radio without full keypad to enter frequency,

Bored-Stupid

Thanks very much for that,

What is a discone in general?

Ive heard talk about HF receivers and that they are great but dear? Any good value ones about? So the following is no good then going on what you say about lack of keypad....

http://cgi.ebay.ie/ALINCO-DJX3E-HANDHELD-SCANNER-8-33-Khz-AIR-STEPS_W0QQitemZ380083591481QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ConsumerElectronics_SpecialistRadioEquipment_SM?hash=item380083591481&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1300%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308

Thanks again for your help

watty

Yes. The Alinco is a pain. Poor value.


A discone is a wide band aerial. Not great gain, but omni-directional thus good for satellites without tracking. Much better gain than a Halo though.

The coax inner connects to a disc on the top which can be solid or 4 to 10 rods on a smaller disc making a disc shape.

The coax must go up the inside of a tube (length critical) that is insulated from the mast, but the bottom of tube clamped to mast. The coax outer and a solid cone or small cone and 4 to 10 rods in cone shape is connected to top of tube and coax outer screen.

The length of the cone rods limits the lower frequency. The upper frequency is more complex but related to cone / disc spacing and disc size.

If you have a balun on the coax you can have an inverted cone on the top instead of disc. That is a "full" discone or more properly a Bi-cubical aerial.

Discones with a single spike on top, so called "royal" discones don't work well.

The only other aerial that is as wide band is the Log Periodic and it is very large and directional if covering 27Mhz to 1.3GHz! However it can almost compete with a Yagi for Gain.

barnicles

watty wrote: »

Yes. The Alinco is a pain. Poor value.


A discone is a wide band aerial. Not great gain, but omni-directional thus good for satellites without tracking. Much better gain than a Halo though.

The coax inner connects to a disc on the top which can be solid or 4 to 10 rods on a smaller disc making a disc shape.

The coax must go up the inside of a tube (length critical) that is insulated from the mast, but the bottom of tube clamped to mast. The coax outer and a solid cone or small cone and 4 to 10 rods in cone shape is connected to top of tube and coax outer screen.

The length of the cone rods limits the lower frequency. The upper frequency is more complex but related to cone / disc spacing and disc size.

If you have a balun on the coax you can have an inverted cone on the top instead of disc. That is a "full" discone or more properly a Bi-cubical aerial.

Discones with a single spike on top, so called "royal" discones don't work well.

The only other aerial that is as wide band is the Log Periodic and it is very large and directional if covering 27Mhz to 1300GHz! However it can almost compete with a Yagi for Gain.

Surely it couldn't cover 1.3Thz ! :P

watty

Obviously I meant 1.3GHz or 1300MHz

watty

watty wrote: »

It's illegal to deliberately listen to Garda and more so to communicate content.
The Garda have no obligation to use the new Tetra system, which is supposed to be encrypted.

They use Mobile phones a lot now.

Best to stick to TV sound, Radio, air traffic, marine, Amateur Radio, Weather Satellites. etc. Even the Air & marine is a little grey, though the Volmet (Airport weather reports) and especially Coastguard Weather should be OK.

Avoid taxies, emergency services, Garda, Army. Especially with all the post 911 "war on terror" nonsense.

No-one "needs" to listen to Garda, unless up to no good.

barnicles

watty wrote: »

Obviously I meant 1.3GHz or 1300MHz

I know. I was just pointing out the mistake!:)

trellheim

Is there a good handheld + antenna combination scanner.

interested in

Best to stick to TV sound, Radio, air traffic, marine, Amateur Radio, Weather Satellites. etc. Even the Air & marine is a little grey, though the Volmet (Airport weather reports) and especially Coastguard Weather should be OK.

any is there a shop in Dublin that'll do a deal, what kind of bucks are we talking ?

Do you need to program the scanner or are they hopping ?

watty

unless you live in a lighthouse, round tower or hilltop you need a separate aerial.

Online is up to 50% cheaper than Dublin shops.

The better the scanner, the more likely you need to program specific channels.

Lenguy

watty wrote: »

unless you live in a lighthouse, round tower or hilltop you need a separate aerial.

Online is up to 50% cheaper than Dublin shops.

The better the scanner, the more likely you need to program specific channels.

Thanks Watty, you've lost me with all that tech talk, but basically if I want to pick up ATC and maybe emergency services (nothing sinister involved), you would recommend the UBC72XLT?? Don't think I'll bother with any discone - I just want to be able to pull up along side the airport and listen in. Thanks..

watty

It will do that.
The one I have like that works OK
And does weather maps vian PC and discone