Radio scanners are a great way to stay up to date on the latest news and events. They can provide access to a variety of broadcasts including police, fire, and even aviation frequencies.
With the right scanner, you can stay informed on breaking news, traffic updates, and weather forecasts.
With so many options available, it can be difficult to choose the best radio scanner for your needs. In this article, we will review the most popular radio scanners and their features to help you make the best decision for your needs.
We will look at the range, frequency, and other features such as noise reduction, digital audio processing, and automatic channel scanning.
Our goal is to provide you with an unbiased analysis of the best radio scanners available on the market today, so you can make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
Uniden BC365CRS 500 Channel Scanner
The Uniden BC365CRS 500 Channel Scanner is an ideal all-in-one product for staying informed and up to date on the latest news and events.
With 500 channels to choose from, users have the ability to stay connected to their favorite local broadcast, police/fire/emergency, weather reports, marine, aircraft, amateur radio, railroad, and other bands.
The BC365CRS features an attractive design that is perfect for home use. The LCD backlit display makes it easy to read at night and the buttons are laid out conveniently for ease of use. Additionally, the scanner comes with a built-in FM radio and alarm clock.
The FM radio can save up to 30 FM stations in preset memories, so users can instantly tune in to their favorite radio station. The alarm clock allows users to set the scanner to wake them up to scanning, a weather channel, or their favorite FM station.
Furthermore, the BC365CRS includes a priority with do-not-disturb feature that stores important frequencies into priority channels.
When scanning, these channels are checked every 2 seconds, allowing users to catch important activity on these channels quickly.
For added convenience, the scanner also comes with presets for the most popular searches, making it easy to find the channels that interest you.
Overall, the Uniden BC365CRS 500 Channel Scanner is a great tool for staying informed and up to date on the latest news and events.
With 500 channels to choose from, a built-in FM radio and alarm clock, and a priority with do-not-disturb feature, users have all the features they need to stay connected.
The attractive design and LCD back-lit display make this scanner a great addition to any home, and the convenient presets make it easy to find channels of interest.
Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Handheld Scanner
The Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Handheld Scanner is an impressive, compact scanner with a wealth of features.
The device is capable of listening to over 40,000 frequencies across civilian and military bands, allowing users to stay informed of their surroundings.
The 500 alpha-tagged channels provide an efficient way to search and organize content, while the Do Not Disturb Mode prevents scanning during a transmission.
The BC125AT is light and portable, making it the perfect choice for on the go monitoring. The orange backlight display is easy to read in all light conditions and the pre-sets for the most popular searches makes it easy for beginners to get started.
The scanner can be used for Non-Digital Police, Ambulance, Fire, Weather, Marine, Aircraft, Railroad, Civil Air, Amateur radio services and Racing events.
The user friendly design makes it easy to set up and use the scanner. The 500 Channels can be divided into 10 storage banks for easy organization and the Alpha Tagging feature allows users to assign names to their frequencies.
The Close Call RF capture technology instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters, providing users with up to date information.
The BC125AT is a great choice for users looking for a reliable and powerful scanner. The device is perfect for those who want to stay informed on their surroundings and be able to listen to a variety of frequencies.
The lightweight and portable design makes it easy to take on the go, while the user friendly interface makes it easy to set up and use.
For customers looking for assistance, Uniden offers an excellent customer support web site which is designed to walk users through product setup and troubleshooting. The website provides helpful information and they can also be contacted via email or phone for further assistance.
Overall, the Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Handheld Scanner is a great choice for users looking for a reliable scanner. With 500 alpha-tagged channels, Do Not Disturb Mode and Close Call RF capture technology, users can stay informed and listen to a variety of frequencies.
The lightweight and portable design makes it easy to take on the go and the user friendly interface makes it easy to set up and use.
With excellent customer support, users can be sure they will get the help they need when they need it.
Uniden BC355N 800 MHz 300-Channel Base/Mobile Scanner
The Uniden BC355N 800 MHz 300-Channel Base/Mobile Scanner is an ideal scanner for anyone looking to get started in the scanning world. This entry-level scanner offers users a wide range of features and is easy to use.
The Uniden BC355N is capable of picking up analog signals, including 6 service banks for monitoring Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, Marine, Air, Weather, and CB frequencies. It also features “Close Call RF Capture Technology,” which instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters.
This search makes it easy to find active frequencies and stay on top of local happenings and emergencies in your area.
The BC355N also includes a backlit display, making it easier to read in low light conditions, along with an AC adapter, DC power cable, and an automotive power outlet plug, giving users more options for supplying power at home or in their car.
The frequency range for the aircraft band is AM mode 8.33 STEP (kHz) at 108.0000, 136.9916 (lower and upper).
The BC355N has a maximum scan speed of 100 channels per second and it can store up to 300 frequencies that are scanned along with the preset frequencies.
This allows users to add newly activated local frequencies for any service category for quick access, making it easier to find the frequencies they want to hear.
Overall, the Uniden BC355N is an excellent entry-level scanner for anyone looking to get started in the scanning world. It offers users a wide range of features, including “Close Call RF Capture Technology” and the ability to store up to 300 frequencies.
It’s also easy to use and is backed with an AC adapter, DC power cable, and an automotive power outlet plug.
However, it is important to note that this model is not suitable for trunking or digital radio system monitoring, so if you live in an area where trunking or digital radio systems are used, you’ll need to upgrade to a Uniden Digital model such as the BCD996P2, BCD436HP, BCD536HP, BCD325P2, or HomePatrol-2.
Whistler WS1065 Desktop Digital Scanner
The Whistler WS1065 Desktop Digital Scanner is a powerful and user friendly scanning device. It is packed with features that make it an ideal choice for anyone looking for a reliable and efficient scanning solution.
The scanner offers menu driven programming with context sensitive help, making it easy for users to quickly set up and use the scanner.
It also has a scan list feature that enables users to conveniently arrange and group objects according to their preferences.
The scanner also comes with a free-form memory organization that allows for dynamic and efficient allocation of memory. This is particularly useful for those who are using the scanner for more complex tasks, such as scanning multiple trunked radio system signaling formats.
Additionally, the WS1065 has a Skywarn Storm Spotter Function that gives users instant access to frequencies used by storm spotter networks.
The WS1065 is also equipped with an Object Oriented Scanning feature, which makes programming the scanner easier and more intuitive.
This feature works by using common conventions for scanning concepts that have common characteristics. This is especially beneficial for users who may not have prior experience with programming scanning devices.
The WS1065 also offers a Digital AGC feature, which automatically compensates for low user audio levels that are common on digital systems.
Finally, the scanner can store up to 1,800 frequencies and allows users to search for nearby frequency transmissions and automatically jump to a found transmission.
Overall, the Whistler WS1065 Desktop Digital Scanner is a great scanning device that is packed with features that make it both powerful and user friendly.
From its menu driven programming with context sensitive help to its object oriented scanning feature, the WS1065 is a great choice for anyone in need of a reliable and efficient scanning solution.
Uniden BCD536HP HomePatrol Series Digital Phase 2 Base/Mobile Scanner with HPDB and Wi-Fi
The Uniden BCD536HP HomePatrol Series Digital Phase 2 Base Mobile Scanner is a revolutionary device that packs a powerful punch.
This advanced mobile scanner offers an incredibly easy-to-use setup, with no programming required. Simply enter your zip code and the device does the rest.
The scanner is equipped with an array of features, including the Wi-Fi feature that allows users to access their scanner from anywhere in their home or vehicle. This is made possible by using the exclusive Uniden Siren App on their smartphones or tablets.
The 536HP digital Trunk Tracker V is the first full mobile/desktop unit that requires no user programming.
This user friendly digital scanner will immediately begin receiving communications systems used by Public Safety, Police, Fire, EMS, Ambulance, Aircraft, Military, Weather, and more.
The scanner is made even more efficient by combining the rich radio system database from Radio Reference with Uniden’s patented radio system selection methods to only identify and monitor nearby systems in the USA and Canada.
The Scan by location feature allows users to set their location(s) by zip/postal code or GPS coordinates.
The Specific Area Message Encoding feature is a must-have for those living in areas prone to severe weather and emergency situations. This feature will alert users to severe conditions in their immediate area during a NOAA Weather or Emergency Alert.
The Close Call feature is another unique and useful feature of the scanner. This feature will automatically detect and tune to nearby transmissions, even if the frequency isn’t programmed into a channel.
Overall, the Uniden BCD536HP HomePatrol Series Digital Phase 2 Base Mobile Scanner is an impressive device, offering a range of features that make it the ideal choice for both personal and professional use.
With its easy-to-use setup and advanced features, it’s no wonder the BCD536HP is one of the most popular scanners on the market today.
