CB Radio v. Police Scanner

GoldieGoldie97 · 11-07-2005, 05:51 AM

so..

i want to hear the cops talk about me way before my radar detector goes off.

1) are they illegal?
2) is a cb radio just to hear truckers?
3) where would i go about getting one?

-goldie

Sleeper SL2 · 11-07-2005, 05:56 AM

Scanners are illegal in some states. Check your local laws or whatever.
I dont think u can pick up cops signals with a cb radio. But you can hear and talk to the truckers to see where cops are posted on higways and stuff so u dont get tickets.
And you should be able to get a scanner or cb radio at a truck stop or Radio Shack type place. And there is a wide range of features and prices for both scanners and cb radios, so do some research before buying one.

Hope this helps

Danno · 11-07-2005, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeper SL2

I dont think u can pick up cops signals with a cb radio.

LOL, what do you think cops talk over then?

Yes cops use CB's, buy a CB radio from Radio Shack or somewhere of the like. Have fun with the big dorky ass antenna

SILENTBOB SL2 · 11-07-2005, 07:40 PM

I don't believe you are using the same frequency range. The only thing even remotely close to the cops on your CB is your emergency channel on 9 I believe.

Danno · 11-07-2005, 07:45 PM

Used to work when I was younger.. things change?

Coldsolderjoint · 11-07-2005, 08:26 PM

I would venture to doubt that most cops dont use CB's for their every day communications. I know the nj state police dispatch centers monitor cb channel 9 for emergency calls from motorists (or so they say).. but they use an 800 mhz trunked radio system designed specifically for them. CB's run in the 27 mhz range

I dont know what PD's in other states/ areas of the country to use.

But I'll put $100 down that cops in goldie's area DO NOT use CB's for catching speeders and runing papers/etc

Im also a licensed amatuer radio operator

Coldsolderjoint · 11-07-2005, 08:29 PM

and if you were to buy a cb from radio shack, your wasting your money.

The best radio for an application like goldie's is a cobra 19 or a uniden 510/520.

match that with a little will antenna properly tuned with an SWR meter and that will be a very good combination.

additionally, for about $120 retail you could make it a real winning system.. but that issue will be left to PM's / AIM :-X

SILENTBOB SL2 · 11-08-2005, 02:44 AM

Sorry folks, Smokey and the Bandit days are over

my99sl1 · 11-08-2005, 01:59 PM

its only illegal if your caught

lando · 11-08-2005, 03:05 PM

Most police are in the 800 band now, however my PD is still in the old days of 100-200, our neighbors are actually digital 800, that means even a 800 scanner wont pick them up unless you have a digital scanner, and can decrypt their signal.

Go to Radioshack and pick up their 800mhz portable scanner, but ask them to check on the local PDs frequency (they should also sell a book with that)

You should also know that most PDs have MDCs that work over a sepereate frequency, these computers can run your cars info without them going over the air. These can also be used to send and receive messages with dispatch and other squads. We use them all the time because people have scanners, so you won't know what hit ya till it has.