Digital Police Scanners

[eocoolj]

Hi all, I used to be a frequent poster on this and the older Kim du Toit forum, but I've gotten more into cars and less into guns the past couple years, so my posting level has dropped off significantly.

Anyways, I am on tonight to ask about digital police scanners, and I figured you guys would be a good group to ask about them. My mom's birthday is in a month, and I am considering getting one for her. She used to really enjoy listening to the old analog scanner whenever there was action going down around town, but a couple years ago all the towns in the area went digital, so the analog scanner went silent.

I know very little about these things, but before I take a trip down to radio shack, I want to hear what you guys have to say about them. Probably looking for a tabletop model. I dont need something with all the bells and whistles that mom will never use, just one that will work well, and easy to use after I set it up for her. Any models you can recommend?

I appreciate any advice you can give.

[randy]

Check out http://www.radioreference.com/ for wealth of information on frequencies, programming, etc.

The first thing you need to find out if the systems she is interested in listening to are encrypted. If so, then no scanner you can legally buy are likely to be of any use.

Some digital systems encrypt everything. Some only LE, or sensitive LE talkgroups. YMMV depending on what the locals want to do.

As far as brands, Bearcat is pretty much a standard for the scanner freaks I know.