Scanner advice

[SnailRFC]

Hi chaps


Have been thinking about investing in a scanner, so that this year when I go to park and view at Fairford I can listen to the planes arrive, the tower etc and then also take it to the airshow over the weekend, same will be for Kemble and when I'm in and around Reading in the summer to listen to the Heathrow traffic passing above when sat in the girlfriends garden.

So I'm looking for something at a reasonable price, say less than £100 but that's decent enough to use around a dozen times or so a year for both Military and commercial so I guess that's UHF and VHF frequency's required?

Any decent suggestions anybody?

[Wedgy]

I will be watching this thread for any advice given too. Been toying with the idea for a while as well

[Spitfire]

Both slightly over a £100 but I don't think you'd get much below that for what's needed.....

Maplin

Ebay

[Hihonyr8811]

Ok here's my limited knowledge

There are very few scaners for under £100 that will get you both civil and military.

Uniden do a great range.

Get one with added softwear support so you don't have to faff around for 6 months finding all the frequencies like I had to do, you can download them all from t'internet .

This is mine.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=99299

It is very good, except that I have over 500 frequencies stored and it takes forever to scan through them all which means I miss a lot of transmissions. But I wouldn't swap it for anything

When buying a scanner, you need to read which frequencies it picks up because some won't pick up the military frequencies (225 - 400 MHz range).
I made that mistake with my first scanner, which will only pick up the civil range (118 -136MHz).

Ok that's all I know

[Mayfly]

Well it's a lot more than I knew - I've being toying for while about getting a scanner. tho' 7 tears too late!!!!..........

Did I ever you about waiting at Coningsby for DT to come back in the Lanc - it should only have been a 45 minute trip, after 15 minutes everyone started to leave & I sat there thinking HAHA they don't realise he's back so soon......

Not a bit of it, they had scanners & heard he had gone tech & put down at Waddington

I didn't know of course but realised after 1.30hrs waiting by myself some wasn't quite right

[RLN]

Stood up again MF?

[Mayfly]

RLN you have no idea - it's the story of my life ..........

[Nickolas]

Uniden bearcat 3500 About £200 but you won't buy another one.

http://www.radioscan.co.uk/ubc3500xlt.html

[Sooty655]

Strange that Nickolas will give chapter and verse on the illegality of putting stickers on number plates (IA Merchandise 2010 thread in Sponsors Conference Room), and yet will recommend a scanner without mentioning that -

It is important to point out that whereas buying and using a scanner is perfectly legal, it is actually illegal to use it for listening to aircraft frequencies.

[Nickolas]

Strange that Nickolas will give chapter and verse on the illegality of putting stickers on number plates (IA Merchandise 2010 thread in Sponsors Conference Room), and yet will recommend a scanner without mentioning that -

It is important to point out that whereas buying and using a scanner is perfectly legal, it is actually illegal to use it for listening to aircraft frequencies.

I DO apologise to my learned colleague.

May I draw your attention to the following.................

Guidance on Receive-Only Radio Scanners

Introduction

This guidance sets out the legal position relating to the reception of radio transmissions by unauthorised persons or groups.
Radio scanners and general reception

A radio scanner is a radio receiver that can automatically tune, or scan, two or more discrete frequencies stopping when it finds a signal on one of them and then continuing scanning when that frequency goes silent. Generally, scanners cover the non-broadcast radio bands between 30 and 951 MHz using FM, although there are models that cover more of the radio spectrum and use other modulation types.
A license is not required to use a radio receiver or scanner as long as it is not capable of transmission. It is not illegal to sell, buy or own a scanner or any other receiver but it should only be used to listen to transmissions meant for general reception.
The services that can be listened to under the definition of general reception are:
licensed broadcasting stations;
amateur and citizens' band radio transmissions; and
weather and navigation transmissions
Radio scanners should not be used to listen to any other radio services, including illegal radio stations (pirates) (by virtue of the fact that they are not licensed radio stations).
Unauthorised reception

There are two criminal offences, under section 48 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006, relating to unauthorised reception.
Offence 1

It is an offence if a person "otherwise than under the authority of a designated person:
…. uses wireless telegraphy apparatus with intent to obtain information as to the contents, sender or addressee of any message whether sent by means of wireless telegraphy or not, of which neither the person using the apparatus nor a person on whose behalf he is acting is an intended recipient."
This means that it is illegal to listen to anything other than general reception transmissions unless you are either a licensed user of the frequencies in question or have been specifically authorised to do so by a designated person.
A designated person means:
the Secretary of State;
the Commissioners of Customs and Excise; or
any other person designated for the purpose by regulations made by the Secretary of State.
Offence 2

It is also an offence for someone, otherwise than under the authority of a designated person, to disclose any information as to the contents, sender or addressee of any message referred to in Offence 1. However, this does not apply where the disclosure is in the course of legal proceedings or for the purpose of any report of those proceedings. And, it does not apply where the information would have come to the person’s knowledge without the use of wireless telegraphy apparatus by him or by anyone else.
This means that it is also illegal to tell a third party what has been heard in a transmission a person has listened to illegally.
Other offences

With certain exceptions, it is also an offence under Section 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for a person:
"….. intentionally and without lawful authority to intercept, at any place in the United Kingdom, any communication in the course of its transmission by means of:
a public postal service;
a public telecommunication system."
It is similarly an offence to intercept any communication in the course of its transmission by means of a private telecommunication system.
These offences mean that it is illegal to listen to telephone calls, including mobile phone networks which are designated as forming part of the public telecommunications system.
Common questions answered

Question: Am I breaking the law by owning a scanner?
Answer: No, but you should not use one to listen to frequencies other than general reception transmissions.
Question: Can I get a licence to use a scanner?
Answer: No, there is no scanner licence. You do not need one for a scanner.
Question: Could I get authority to listen to emergency service transmissions, for example? I am interested and might be able to help.
Answer: No, authority is reserved for people acting under statutory authority. If you wish to listen in to messages, you should obtain the permission of the person sending them.
Question: Isn't it all right to listen as long as I don't pass on what I hear?
Answer: No, using radio equipment to listen in is an offence, regardless of whether the information is passed on.
Question: Isn't this all a bit heavy?
Answer: No. No-one likes their private or business conversations to be listened to. Parliament has passed these laws to protect the privacy of radio users.

For more information please contact:
Ofcom Contact Centre
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HA
Tel: 0300 123 3333
Fax: 0300 123 0811
Email: contact@ofcom.org.uk

I hope that this clears up any outstanding issues regarding my lack of public information.

Very few people that drive motor vehicles understand the rules. There are in excess of 30million vehicles registered in England and Wales.

The number of individuals that own radio scanners is considerably less. I would submit that as a result of this reduced ownership the individuals concerned would be made aware of the rules by the vendors.

Most motor retailers are blissfully ignorant regarding the legislation regarding tinted glass, obscured vision when driving a demonstrator around with most of the windscreen obscured by sales paraphernalia.

[Sooty655]

All fair points, but it would be interesting to know whether in percentage terms more scanners or more motor vehicles are deliberately used illegally.

Sadly, such data is not likely to be available.

[Nickolas]

All fair points, but it would be interesting to know whether in percentage terms more scanners or more motor vehicles are deliberately used illegally.

Sadly, such data is not likely to be available.

There are no prosecutions for scanner use
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/ ... nt/pstats/

but there are thousands for illegal vehicle use.

Hope that this is useful.

As a personal thought they don't take your scanners away when you enter an airshow site. E.g. Waddo.

[Landyman]

Uniden bearcat 3500 About £200 but you won't buy another one.

http://www.radioscan.co.uk/ubc3500xlt.html

Just to back up St. Nick............The Uniden is probably the best regarded at the price.

Landyman.

[SnailRFC]

Thanks everyone, some good choices there, certainly plenty to think about before it gets to show season.

[SnailRFC]

Uniden bearcat 3500 About £200 but you won't buy another one.

http://www.radioscan.co.uk/ubc3500xlt.html

Just to back up St. Nick............The Uniden is probably the best regarded at the price.

Landyman.

Do you have to buy the software that comes with this one?

[Prometheus]

Uniden bearcat 3500 About £200 but you won't buy another one.

http://www.radioscan.co.uk/ubc3500xlt.html

Just to back up St. Nick............The Uniden is probably the best regarded at the price.

Landyman.

Do you have to buy the software that comes with this one?

There is free software available called BcTool which allows you to upload/download frequencies to and from the 3500. It does more but I'll let you check the following link and read for yourself.
http://www.bctool.org/

I use it myself and I'm more than happy with it.

[SnailRFC]

Ok, I need to make a decision today or tomorrow to take delivery of a scanner before Fairford arrivals next Thursday. I'm tempted to go with Hihonyr8811's recommendation, although this is quite a big bulky thing, that might have to stay at home if out on walks etc, whereas something a bit smaller could easily fit in my bag and be less intrusive.

Still not overly keen on paying out £200 on something I probably won't use too often, but happy to stray up to and around £130-£150 max really if anyone has any last minute recommndations?

[Xplumberlives]

Save your money and stand next to someone with a scanner!

[Mayfly]

I suppose it's a trained ear - but I can't understand what's said anyway - and at big shows there's always someone near by who has one....

[SnailRFC]

Save your money and stand next to someone with a scanner!

I did that last year on the Thursday afternoon, sat next to an older couple and then cluny must have turned up as it pissed down and we all retreated to our cars.

[Spitfire]

Keep your eye on this one ..... Its the one you are interested in - 3 days left - no bids

Ebay - PSR 295

He says he'll accept a 'sensible' Buy It Now offer too - you never know you luck - offer him £90

[Hihonyr8811]

Ok, I need to make a decision today or tomorrow to take delivery of a scanner before Fairford arrivals next Thursday. I'm tempted to go with Hihonyr8811's recommendation, although this is quite a big bulky thing, that might have to stay at home if out on walks etc, whereas something a bit smaller could easily fit in my bag and be less intrusive.

Still not overly keen on paying out £200 on something I probably won't use too often, but happy to stray up to and around £130-£150 max really if anyone has any last minute recommndations?

It's not that big and bulky
Fits in my pocket and pretty much goes everywhere with me.
It doesn't weigh a lot either, unless I'm just really strong
It also has the belt thing on the back and it easily slips over my jeans pocket if I havn't got my coat on.
And I found that if you have one of those folding chair things that have the net drinks holder, it's the perfect size for the scanner.

[SnailRFC]

Cheers. Although have found a place online that does them brand new for £125 and will deliver to me this week if I order today/tomorrow as rung them up and spoke with them at lunchtime.

Edit - I quite like this one as well though: http://www.radios-uk.com/alinco_djx30.htm and has a decent review at ukmidlandscanners.....

[Stigish]

Icom IC series scanners are also very popular and are about the size of a childs walkie-talkie. The IC-R2 is great, but is no longer made. The IC-R5/6 are also very good. They retail around £200, but there are some bargains around.

Or the Uniden equivalent, the Bearcat UBC-92XLT
http://www.rocketradio.co.uk/uniden-bea ... -610-p.asp

I'm still undecided myself, but it'll have to wait until I get a job .

[SnailRFC]

Icom IC series scanners are also very popular and are about the size of a childs walkie-talkie. The IC-R2 is great, but is no longer made. The IC-R5/6 are also very good. They retail around £200, but there are some bargains around.

Or the Uniden equivalent, the Bearcat UBC-92XLT
http://www.rocketradio.co.uk/uniden-bea ... -610-p.asp

I'm still undecided myself, but it'll have to wait until I get a job .

Doesn't look like that one has the Military frequencies available. Think I'm set on the 295 now, so will be ordering tonight.

EDIT - PURCHASED. Radios-uk.com had it the cheapest at £118.50 + £6.50 postage.