Scanner School - Everything you wanted to know about the Scanner Radio Hobby

David Vine returns to the podcast this week to share alternative uses to Ham Radios. Not only can you use VHF and UHF Ham Radios to talk and monitor amateur radio frequencies, but you can use most of them to monitor outside the amateur radio band.  This means many ham radios can also be used as basic scanner radios. Frequencies that can be monitored will vary by make and model, but for the most pa...

Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. If you have a question you would like me to answer, please leave me a voicemail at 516-308-2885 or by visiting scannerschool.com/ask   Questions answered on this week's podcast Scott would like to know how to make his scanner scan faster Derek is looking for a scanner that has a display that is easy to see and will work well in his area. ========...

Scanners and Receivers are more cousins than brothers and sisters. Both receive frequencies, both can scan frequencies, and both do not transmit. However, each has their own strong points and weaknesses when it comes to tuning, range, and features. Found out if you should buy a receiver for your radio arsenal in this podcast episode.   ==================================== 🛒  Check out our new Mer...

Are you looking for a creative way to build a radio bond with your child? Have you tried to scan something they can relate to, such as their own school? When your child hears a teacher, faculty, or staff that they know and can recognize talking on the radio, it could spark an interest for scanning within them. Scanning your child's school can also be of interest during times where the school has e...

For many, you can't talk about scanning without mentioning Larry Van Horn. Larry has influenced many in the hobby when it comes to Military Monitoring.    He wrote for Monitoring Time Magazine for many years and continued to write for "The Spectrum Monitor" once MT ceased publication. Not only was Larry a wealth of information when it came to Military Monitoring, but his yearly airshow columns wer...

If you've ever wanted to create or build your own scanner accessories, 3D printing may be an exciting avenue to start exploring. Matt Neely has been bitten by the 3D Printing bug, and has already printed many scanner radio accessories for a fraction of what 'store bought' products would cost. Imagine printing your own replacement parts.  This includes belt clips, channel, squelch, and volume contr...

Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. If you have a question you would like me to answer, please leave me a voicemail at 516-308-2885 or by visiting https://www.scannerschool.com/ask Don't forget to join us on YouTube on the first Tuesday of every month for our live Q&A session.  https://www.scannerschool.com/youtube Questions answered on this week's podcast Joe would like help under...

Icom recently displayed their newest receiver at the 2023 Tokyo Hamfest. This is being called the successor to the IC-R30, but I completely disagree.  It lacks most of the features that made the IC-R30 great.  To call it a successor, based on the released specs, is an insult to the former model. The IC-R15 looks to be a neutered receiver and does not include the frequency ranges commonly found on...

300 Weekly Episodes!   12 Weeks shy of 6 years!   All I can say is WOW! Instead of spending a lot of time looking back at the last 300 episodes, let's talk about what the plans are for the next 6 years or 300 episodes of the podcast. Yes - the podcast will remain - but there is something new that is in the works that will make the podcast even better, and more enjoyable for you. Thank you all for...

Finally - after 20 years in my house I'm finally able to build my radio room the way I want it. I've had 2 temporary locations that always looked like a hodgepodge of radios, computers, and wires.  Frankly, each was an embarrassment in their own right. But - no matter how bad they looked in my opinion, they were functional. And that is the story here!   Whether you have a single radio on a desk, n...

Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. If you have a question you would like me to answer, please leave me a voicemail at 516-308-2885 or by visiting www.scannerschool.com/ask Don't forget to join us on YouTube on the first Tuesday of every month for our live Q&A session.   Click here to Subscribe! Questions answered on this week's podcast Rob would like to disable Zip Code scanning a...

Do you want to be known as your community's go to guy or gal for scanner radio help and programming? Luke Hartnett is known in his firehouse as being the point of contact for any radio issues other members may have.   And by word of mouth, he is quickly becoming known in his area for being a "Scanner Scholar". Hear how Luke built trust with those around him, networked with other radio users, and b...

Finally - not one, but TWO new scanners from Uniden. Should we be excited about these two new radios, or should we pass on them? That all depends on your location and your needs. See, these scanners break the mold and give us something we've never seen before A scanner radio, with no trunking, no P25, but supports DMR and NXDN. Who is this radio for? The answers are in this week's podcast.   =====...

Looking to level-up your portable scanner radios? Today's podcast covers 10 must have accessories every user needs. A shortlist of what we cover (with affiliate links): Easier To Read Manuals https://www.scannermaster.com/SearchResults.asp? Cat=500&Click=6262 Aftermarket Antennas http://www.scannermaster.com/SearchResults.asp? Cat=27&Click=6262 Protective Cases http://www.scannermaster.com/SearchR...

Scanner radios, with some small exceptions, come in two form factors.  Handheld for portable use, or desktop/mobile for single location installations. Which type of scanner is right for your needs?  If you are looking for your first or next scanner and can't decide between a handheld or desktop scanner, I have 5 reasons why you should consider a portable radio. ====================================...

Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. If you have a question you would like me to answer, please leave me a voicemail at 516-308-2885 or by visiting www.scannerschool.com/ask Don't forget to join us on YouTube on the first Tuesday of every month for our live Q&A session.   Click here to Subscribe! Questions answered on this week's podcast Rob would like to disable Zip Code scanning a...

Like it or not, digital is here to stay. Why are more agencies and licenses digital instead of analog? Should you upgrade right now or do you wait? And no... it always doesn't have to do with encryption. And this does not mean it's the end of the scanner radio hobby.  Not by a long shot! ==================================== 🛒  Check out our new Merch! ==================================== Squelchy...

Be part of the action! Hear breaking news reports directly from an eye in the sky. Receive your traffic updates every minute or two instead of when the local FM Radio Station wants to cycle the traffic reports every 10 minutes. Monitoring Traffic and News helicopters is usually something you can monitor with an analog only scanner.   But as is the case in some locations, what you can and cannot li...

Patients who run out of patience. Missing kids, life saving alerts, and routine messages. Hospitals can be exciting to monitor!   You never know what might come next. And as many of you know, I had a short stay in a hospital a few months ago.   Finding those frequencies and talk groups were not as easy as looking at Radio Reference.   The hospital I was staying at was not in the database.  This po...

Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. If you have a question you would like me to answer, please leave me a voicemail at 516-308-2885 or by visiting www.scannerschool.com/ask Don't forget to join us on YouTube on the first Tuesday of every month for our live Q&A session.   Click here to Subscribe! Questions answered on this week's podcast Bill wants to know about the placement of a t...

🏖️ Grab your sunscreen and flip flops! It is time for a change of scenery for both you and your scanner. There are so many options when it comes to scanning during the summer season. Lifeguards, marine, aviation, parks, campgrounds, and more!   🔔 This podcast is full of what you should be monitoring this summer.   ==================================== 🛒  Check out our new Merch! =================...

This coming weekend, the 4th Saturday of June, Field Day.  An annual test of emergency preparedness in the amateur radio community and a contest to see how many other stations you can make contact with in 24 hours. Tom Dean, KC2SJM, joins us today to speak about how much fun he is having on amateur radio, without the need to advance beyond the technician class license. Tom speaks all over the word...

I want to welcome a great radio friend, David Vine back to the podcast this week. David has a wealth of information when it comes to the radio hobby and has many presentations that he's prepared for multiple radio groups. David returns this week to share a presentation about how frequencies are distributed and organized here in the United States, and across the world. Frequency Allocation is impor...

I want to take a second away from the scanner radio hobby to talk about my battle with Prostate Cancer. I'd like to share my story as a warning. If you are one who skips yearly physicals, I hope this persuades you into going. Why?  Because it was a simple blood test at a physical that uncovered my Stage 3 Cancer. I had no symptoms.  There were no flashing lights or red flags.   And only a doctor's...