Radio scanning dying?

General scanning discussion forum. Talk about anything to do with scanners, equipment, VHF/UHF reception and the art of catching those illusive signals!
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stanogs68
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by stanogs68 »

TeamFabulous wrote: 21 Oct 2018, 09:34 Yes a dying hobby unless you enjoy listening to control towers, taxi stations or bouncers on a Saturday night!!
Oh..ps. Anybody want to buy a scanner.!?
what scanner have you got ,if its a whistler i might be interested :D
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TeamFabulous
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by TeamFabulous »

I was jesting, I have a few old Realistic scanners but even though the hobby isn't good I still enjoy a good scan!
Thanks anyway for the inquiry..
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stanogs68
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by stanogs68 »

TeamFabulous wrote: 21 Oct 2018, 18:24 I was jesting, I have a few old Realistic scanners but even though the hobby isn't good I still enjoy a good scan!
Thanks anyway for the inquiry..
i was joking myself :D happy scanning :thumbup:
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apache100
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by apache100 »

Just come across this thread whilst looking for ID for some DMR shopwatch frequencies.

I'm around 6 miles from Worcester (UK) and 25 miles from Birmingham, and with home-made stacked UHF Yagi, single VHF Yagi, a £10 preamp up the mast for each, and a couple of RTL-SDR sticks I am currently able to hear 166 stations between 141 MHz and 461 MHz. This is split roughly 50/50 between analogue voice and unencrypted DMR (DSD+ decoder)

So... I too, when just using my lowly Bearcat 9000XLT on a discone figured no-one was using radios anymore. Then someone gave me a cheap dongle and re-ignited my interest.

There is loads going on out there! I am currently listening to an unidentified shopwatch on 455.775 (DMR) and waiting for NOAA 19 to pop up in 20 minutes. I may then switch to KGACARS and map some air traffic. To those who are becoming disillusioned, don't be! Embrace the 'new' technology, get more metal in the air (as always!) and hear / see more than you ever have before!
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Gemini4
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by Gemini4 »

Are the prices going to start falling for DMR scanners ?
bozzy
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by bozzy »

Certainly not dying, just needs a bit more effort to find and decipher signals.

Basic lazy "Scanning" will not find much.
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by Allan666 »

I had my first Radio Scanner about 1980 time which was crystal controlled. Then a Jil SX 2000 ( I think that's what it was called) then Tandy ones then Realistic 2004 of which I have 3.Over the years most Ham equipment that I have bought has scanning facility's as many are widbanded. I have enjoyed more listening than actually Transmitting. but of late I don't even bother switching something on as not much to listen to which is of interest to me, However I am thinking of buying a scanner that can receive digital but don't know which one to go for.
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by pete_uk »

I do enjoy POCSAG/FLEX pager decoding. I would like a scanner with a discriminator tap so as not to tie my FT857. Quite a few ambulance trusts and fire services on there.
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bragi
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by bragi »

I agree with what mostly been said here at one time all you had to do was set a scanner to scan and then save all the channels it picked up now you have to really work at finding interesting stuff also of course digital and with it easy encryption of broadcasts so yes is less but you can try the cheap dongle thing or get some cheap digital gear or of course more expensive scanners that can receive digital none encrypted broadcasts
I use a bit of old and new stuff and also have couple of scanners that can get SW as well as a dedicated SW receiver so if you look in right places there is still a lot to enjoy
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Gemini4
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by Gemini4 »

I think it's the end of what we once knew as scanning the airwaves..it will just be Taxi's, although I fear they will go Tetra..and the aviation left to hear..At my end in Derbyshire..if you are living away from the city or cities it hard to pick things up and my scanner bypasses most frequencies now just to leave the aviation side..I've even given up talking on 2mtrs because no one answers..as trying to listen to shortwave that seems to be going the same way sadly :cry:
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by pete_uk »

Taxi's wont go TETRA, to expensive unless they get second hand Airwave kit. DMR/DPMR or the like, maybe
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by Gemini4 »

:thumbup: to that then.
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by alphard »

I returned to scanning hobby after 5 years doing other hobbies. It is a lot quieter than before. But AIR and 2m amateur bands has some activities.

I couldn't hear anything where I used pick up Taxi signals.
I could hear Marine band activities too due to being near the harbor, but yes, I would say it is only about 50% of band activities than 5 years ago.

CB band is totally dead. Glad that I didn't buy any cb radios.
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by alphard »

This morning, AIR band is quite busy with good signals. I connected to better antenna, and my new scanner is WS1065, works great.
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Re: Radio scanning dying?

Post by Admiral »

Most budget sized taxi/minicab firms have migrated to mobile phones. The customers have an app to book a taxi, and the drivers/controllers have a seperate app to manage their logistics.

Most firms went incognito a long time ago when cowboys used a cheap scanner to intercept dispatch traffic and steal their fare.
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