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

188 - Are Vintage Scanners Becoming Too Expensive? Jul 27, 2021

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Is it a seller's market when it comes to used scanner radios? Are older, "vintage" scanners prices out of control?

What You Need To Know

There is a shortage in the new market for P25 type scanner radios, especially SDS100 and 200, but prices are the same as for new ones in the used markets.
The used market will dictate a solid price for that kind of radio because of less supply and high demand.
eBay is the largest second-hand market for used scanner radios.
The Facebook marketplace is another option for scanner radio purchases, but it is advised not to use the Facebook payment program as there is no protection.
One can also find scanner radio-like stuff at Craigslist, and it’s better to find some cash-only deals from Craigslist.
Don't be fooled by a scanner listing if someone simply puts the word "vintage" in the title.
If a radio has been well maintained or in collective items or still in the box with manual and never been used, those radios collect a premium.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at https://www.scannerschool.com/session188

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit http://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

--------------------------------------------------------------Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at http://www.scannerschool.com/support

187 - Scanner Radio Shortages Jul 20, 2021

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Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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In today’s episode, I will discuss shortages of scanner radios, which models of scanners may be out of stock, and why this could be.

What You Need To Know

Brand new P25 style scanners have become hard to find in the last year and a half.
This is especially true for the SDS100 and 200, as well as the TRX-1, and TRX-2.
They seem to be out of stock from everywhere in the market.
A partial and obvious reason for the shortage of P25 scanners is COVID.
In this Pandemic situation majority of people were staying home or working remotely. Many of them come back into scanner radio hobby after being not involved for some time.
During the pandemic, numerous people were introduced to scanner radio hobby or something they want to do, and now they are just picking on that hobby.
It’s not only the scanner radio market with shortage issue; it’s also beyond the radio and communication market.
In the shipping industry, we have a shortage of dock workers due to COVID, and they are not working in total capacity, which causes ships not to load and unload fast, and ships are queued for longer than their routine trip.
Containers from the ship are unloaded on trains or trucks, but as the truck drivers are sick due to COVID, the movement, loading, and unloading of containers are significantly less, causing a shortage of containers to difficulty in moving inventory.
Silicone issue or the microchip problem has been a global issue, and everyone is looking for these microchips.
Demand for microchips is exceptionally high due to a surge in people wanting electronics equipment as they are stuck at home.
It takes almost a year to get the chip designed and ready to be manufactured from start to finish, and these are built on wafers.
Everything is based on microchips and all these come from the part of the world where there is a shortage of workers due to another wave of coronavirus.
If you are in the market for new scanner radio, put your name on any email list that you find by major scanner sellers like scanner master.
Because of the shortage of new scanners, the used market for some of these hard to find scanners is very strong.
eBay, Facebook, and the Radio Reference Classifieds are a great place to find scanners radios on the secondary market.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at https://www.scannerschool.com/session187

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit http://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

--------------------------------------------------------------Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at http://www.scannerschool.com/support

186 - Discovering a New Federal Trunk System Jul 13, 2021

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Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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In today’s episode, I will talk about how a community came together to help uncover a brand-new federal trunk system.

What You Need To Know

A user from Radio Reference posted that they discovered a Federal System and wanted to know if anyone recognized the WACN and NAC
This was discovered when this user entered the search mode in his scanner
It was quickly uncovered that this was a new Trunk System in the NY / NJ / CT area
People from the area were contributing to the new trunk system in forums.
They looked at systems and sites and reported what they saw, heard, and observed in the system.
Within two weeks of the initial post on radio reference, we got updates on frequencies, control channels, neighbors, talk groups, radio ids, and changes in sites and cold nation to identify from where signals are coming out.
Can we expect a nationwide system with over a hundred sites?
This is exciting because the local scanner radio community came together to uncover this new system.
The secrets are in the searches!

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at https://www.scannerschool.com/session186

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit http://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

--------------------------------------------------------------Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at http://www.scannerschool.com/support

185 - Ask Scanner School v34 Jul 06, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. You may submit questions at www.scannerschool.com/ask

Questions asked this month:

Besides watching online websites, can we spot skip or ducting on our own? What do we look for?
How do you keep your home patrol style favorites lists updated when you update the master database?
What are the filters on the SDS100/200 for and how do they work?
How do you change the Unit ID's (UIDs) on the Home Patrol style scanner?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session185

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit https://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at https://www.scannerschool.com/support

184 - Budget Friendly P25 Scanners Jun 29, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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In today’s episode, I will talk about budget-friendly P25 scanners.

We will also cover some limitations when trying to stick within our make believe budget.

What You Need To Know

When it comes to buying scanners, everybody has different budgets
For this exercise, I’ve set a budget of $300
At this price point, we will only be able to afford a Phase 1 Scanner
There are some scanners in our make believe budget that are current and can be bought new today
We will be reviewing Radio Shack, GRE, Whistler, and Uniden Scanners
Simulcast and updated features will not be supported in this budget
Even with these limitations, we will have a nice list of great scanners that we can afford

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at https://www.scannerschool.com/session184

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit http://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at http://www.scannerschool.com/support

183 - Scanner Laws and Restrictions to Know Before Traveling and Vacationing Jun 22, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Traveling with your scanner may have consequences.

It is important that you understand the laws where you are traveling and even the rules where you are staying.

What You Need To Know

Different forms of travel have different rules when carrying a scanner
Check your airlines for any prohibited carry on items
If cruising, be sure your scanner is allowed on board
Scanners may or may not be allowed in sporting venues. Be prepared to be stopped by security if attempting to bring a radio into an event.
For Sporting events such as NASCAR, you can bring your scanner to the event.
Scanner radios in countries you are visiting can be shockingly strict, or very relaxed.
If you are traveling across the United States, be aware that each State, County, or City could have their own scanner radio laws

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at https://www.scannerschool.com/session183

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit http://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at http://www.scannerschool.com/support

182 - Skip, Ducting, and Propagation Jun 15, 2021

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Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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In today’s episode I am going to talk about Skip, Ducting and Propagation

How does this happen, why does this happens, and when you can expect it happen?

Find out why you want to keep you ears open for this phenomenon on today's podcast.

What You Need To Know

Most VHF and UHF reception is done via line of sight.
Another form of radio propagation is ground wave, which follows the earth's contours.
Radio waves that use the earth's ionosphere to further propagate are cause for excitement in the VHF and UHF Spectrum.
The ionosphere is made up of several distinct layers.
E-skip or Sporadic E happens when the radio waves are reflected back to earth by the unusually ionized the atmospheric gases in lower E levels.
Weather can also affect propagation and this is called tropospheric ducting

Find out more about Skip, Ducting, and Propagation on today's podcast.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at https://www.scannerschool.com/session182

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit http://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at http://www.scannerschool.com/support

181 - 10 Ways to Repurpose Your Analog Scanner Jun 08, 2021

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"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Let's talk about 10 ways that you can use your old analog radio in today's digital scanning environment

What You Need To Know

Marine monitoring is a built in search range on many analog scanners
Aircraft monitoring can be done worldwide
Railroad is moving to NXDN here in the US, but most of RR is still analog only.
Weather Alert Standby is a feature in many newer analog scanners
SKYWARN traffic is typically on amateur radio analog repeaters.
Fire Tone Out is another feature found in many analog scanners.
News and media frequencies are very busy and you can hear interesting transmission on those frequency ranges.
Shopping malls and departmental store use FRS radios that are analog.
Put your old analog scanner in search mode, put it into close call mode, and see what is close to you or what is around you.
You can tap into discriminated baseband audio or raw audio or unprocessed or unfiltered audio of the board of your scanner.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at https://www.scannerschool.com/session181

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit http://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at http://www.scannerschool.com/support

180 - Ask Scanner School v33 Jun 01, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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In today’s episode we are answering your submitted questions!

What You Need To Know

We revisit Chris' question from last month regarding Close Call and AM reception for Aviation.
Jeff asks a question about using his software defined radio and frequency assignments
Jack inquiries about Bill Cheek and if his material is still available online
Ray asks while going through the courses is there any special consideration on location we should use while backing up our folders.
Jim asks a question about antennas, resonate frequencies, and how to figure out what antenna length is needed to receive a specific frequency

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session180

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit https://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at https://www.scannerschool.com/support

179 - The Uniden BR330T May 25, 2021

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Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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The Uniden BR330T is one of those scanners that has a special place in my collection. For many years it was my "go to" scanner.

What You Need To Know

I purchased my BR330T back in 2007, right when they were discontinued.
At that time, they were $250USD for this radio making it about $322 radio in 2021 dollars.
This radio was ahead of it’s time and a unicorn in the scanner radio hobby
I have not seen another scanner since that can do what the BR330T was capable of achieving
The BR330T handheld scanner operates on 3 AA batteries or a 6v aux. power.
This radio has a built in battery charger
Besides Analog Conventional, the scanner also supported Motorola, EDACS, and LTR Trunking

The memory system uses an early version of Uniden’s Dynamic Memory Allocation
It supports basic features such as PL / DPL Decoding, Fire Tone out, and Priority Scaning
What makes this scanner so unique is it’s ability to pickup AM Broadcast, FM Broadcast, and even Analog TV
This scanner included an internal BAR antenna for AM Broadcast reception

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at https://www.scannerschool.com/session179

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit http://www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at http://www.scannerschool.com/support

178 - Scan All The Bands with Larry Van Horn May 18, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Larry Van Horn is one of the legends in the Scanner Radio Hobby. We are fortunate enough to have him on this week's podcast!

What You Need To Know

Larry has published multiple columns and guides over the years.
Today, Larry shares the key to success when it comes to Scanner Radio Hobby.
During this conversation, Larry and Phil cover topics ranging from short-waves to gigahertz.
Larry's digital publications are available on Amazon
Phil reiterates how the guides written by Larry have helped him.
Larry spent 15 years documenting activity in the military radio spectrum in his monthly Milcom columns.
The MT Milcom columns documented the U.S. military conversion to narrowband LMR systems, the move from conventional to trunk radio systems, the 225-400 MHz band plan shift, including the new 380-400 MHz sub-band, and HF military frequencies, both foreign and US.
Larry has spent the last 65 years enjoying the radio hobby

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session178

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

177 - AM/FM DXing with Loyd Van Horn May 11, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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In today's podcast, we welcome Loyd Van Horn. He is the founder of dxcentralonline.com, and a former radio guy. He was a columnist with Monitoring Times magazine, writing the weekly GlobalNet column, which dealt with online streaming of radio/TV.

What You Need To Know

DX is the short form for distance
The goal is to hear as many stations as you can.
For Loyd AM/FM DXing is all about finding those stations which one has never heard before.
What is the grey line and how does that help you?
During sunset and sunrise, one gets weird propagation of radio frequencies. One might get a little bit of the ground wave as well as a little bit of the skywave.
Loyd talks about how he searches for different frequencies from the Atlantic, Europe, Africa, England etc.
Loyd keeps a logbook that really helps him keep a track on the frequencies he had already tuned into.
Find out what equipment Loyd Recommends to get started
How is Loyd using Software Defined Radios to help him catch DX stations?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session177

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

176 - Ask Scanner School v32 May 04, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. You may submit questions at www.scannerschool.com/ask

This month I answer:

Can you use priority with your trunk radio scanning?
What is up in the 1700Mhz - 6000Mhz Range?
Do I need more than 1 SDR Dongle to receive?
What can I do to improve my scanner radio enjoyment while flying?
Can you setup Close Call on a BCD436HP to use AM?
What are the filter settings in the SDS100 and SDS200?
What type of antenna would I recommend for VHF, UHF, and 800?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session176

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

175 - Decimal, Binary, Octal, and Hex Apr 27, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Today we talk about several different numbering schemes. Two of which we find in the scanner radio environment.

What You Need To Know

Decimal system can be thought of as human-readable digits.
These are easy to use to read and compute.
They are also easy to convert from one form to another.
While decimal works well with humans, it is not the case with computers.
Binary language is used for them. It has two bits 0 and 1.
Octal is a 8 bit system. This is how we save a little bit of room in a system.
0-7 make up 8 bits.
Hexadecimal (Hex) is a 16 base system with values from 0 – F.
There are no numerical symbols that represent values greater than nine, so letters taken from the English alphabet are used, Hexadecimal A = decimal 10, and F = decimal 15.
I stick to decimal format when I program talk groups into my scanners.
When you look at Radio Reference, Trunk SysIDs and WACN are in Hex.
RFSS and Site ID’s are shown in Decimal with Hex in parenthesis.
Talk groups on Radio Reference have a column for Dec and a column for Hex.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session175

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

174 - Scanners vs Receivers Apr 20, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Today we break down the similarities and differences when it comes to Scanners and Receivers

What You Need To Know

Scanners and Receivers are more like cousins than brothers and sisters in the radio world.
Both receive and scan frequencies
They don’t transmit.
Receivers have a larger receive foot-print than a typical scanner.
Typically 100 KHz is the bottom of a receiver, but you can go up to a couple of gigahertz.
A typical scanners start as low as 25 MHz and go up to 1300 MHz
Scanners will typically not support monitoring AM Broadcast Bands, but Receivers will.
Scanners do not support SWL monitoring, but Receivers will.
Scanners have more modes that are not found in receivers; NXDN, DMR, P25, are common modes of reception present in a scanner.
Receivers have modes that are not in present in a scanner, such as upper and lower sidebands, AM and CW
Some high end receivers will do D-STAR, P-25, dPMR, and NXDN.
Receivers can be very affordable starting less than $200 and going over $10,000 for a high end model.
Scanners can start at $100 and cost over $600 for a high end model.
With close call and signal stalking, scanners can help you find a more relative frequency faster than a receiver.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session174

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

173 - What Can You Do When They Encrypt? Apr 13, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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On today’s episode, we talk about the encryption of police and fire department frequencies, and how to get around them and discover new frequencies in the process.

What You Need To Know

My local police scanners are encrypted and have been for years.
My local police department is encrypted, but I'm currently able to listen to the next county over.
You can set your scanners to only pick up certain types of tones that indicate specific emergencies that the fire department might respond to.
You can also listen to security radios at a concert venue to be in tune with things that might be happening at that place, like an overdose or chaotic behavior from concertgoers.
School bus companies can also be entertaining during school arrival/dismissal.
Aviation and railroads are also typically not encrypted, which can provide insight to the local police or fire departments being dispatched.
I am able to tune into a new frequencies with DSD+ and find other related frequencies.
I leave new frequencies on in the background just to see what he can hear.
The most fun way to find new frequencies is to see them in front of you on your computer.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session173

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

172 - Ask Scanner School v31 Apr 06, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. You may submit questions at www.scannerschool.com/ask

This month I answer:

What do you feel are the minimum hardware requirements for an SDR to work properly?
Do you deal with setting up OP25 on a computer and SDR?
I’m in St. John’s County, Florida. My current scanner is a BC125AT and will not receive fire or police. What kind of scanner do I need? Do you have any suggestions for one that isn’t too expensive?
I have an SDS200 with screen flicker, and the unit’s only two months old. Is this something I need to live with, or will this get worse over time?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session172

---------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

171 - The Ultimate SDR Training Courses are Here! Mar 30, 2021

Free SDR Course!

Our new free course will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radio: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon" is now open for enrollment.

Register now at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Today, we introduce our two new SDR courses.

This past week, we released a free intro course, and a paid advanced course.

These courses will teach you how to set up your computer’s operating system to work with SDR equipment, the best software for your needs, and more.

What You Need To Know

Phil decided to launch on the Teachable platform rather than Youtube.
It is easier to follow a course on Teachable because it keeps track of where you left off.
Unlike YouTube, Teachable isn’t trying to bump you to the next unrelated video.
The free course is broken down into seven modules with steps inside them to help you complete each module.
The first step in every module is an intro video that explains what the module is going to be about.
The Free course will have you running a SDR, tuning in local frequencies and building a DMR Trunk Radio.
The Advanced Course picks up where the Free Course end.
In the Advanced course, you will learn:
- How to install DSD Plus Fast Lane
- How to use UniTrunker 1x and 2x
- How to bridge software into DSDPlus
- What high end options are available, such as Airspy, HackRF, and SDRplay devices
- Software such as HDSDR, SDR Console, and SDRUno
- Building ADS-B/UAT Receivers on a Raspberry Pi
- Setup OP25 on a Raspberry Pi and Linux
- How to build a server to send talk groups to Broadcastify
- How to download weather maps from GOES and METEOR Satellites
- and more
When you pay for the advanced course, the free course is also bundled with it.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session171

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

170 - SDRplay with Jon Hudson Mar 23, 2021

On today’s episode, host Phil Lichtenberger interviews Jon Hudson, the co-creator of the SDRplay devices. They talk about the evolution of radio scanning software, the advantages of SDRplay and SDRuno, where they think the scanner hobby is headed, and more.

What You Need To Know

Jon Hudson is a co-creator of the SDRplay device.
SDRplay manufactures both hardware and software.
Before about 20 years ago, processing the radio chain was done exclusively on the hardware. Now computers are powerful enough to support doing most of this work with software.
SDRplay was founded in 2014.
The RSPDX has multiple antennae, which allows users to switch from one antenna to another quickly and easily.
Because SDRplay makes their own software for Windows, they take a lot of time to make sure it works seamlessly out of the box.
SDRplay acquired a company called Studio One that manufactured software about five years ago.
SDRplay is releasing a scheduler, which will function as an audio recorder for a specific channel at a specific time.
An advantage of the scheduler is that it allows users to tune in to certain frequencies at a specified time and then turn it off or move on to something else.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session170

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

169 - SDR++ with Alex Rouma Mar 16, 2021

Free SDR webinar!

Our new webinar will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"Why Every Scanner User Needs an SDR: The #1 Underrated Tool that should be in your setup" will be March 23, 2021.

Register now at www.scannerschool.com/webinar

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A cross platform, open source, free SDR software!

In this episode, Phil talks to Alex Rouma, author and creator of SDR++. They discuss how Alex got into SDRs, where SDR++ is now and where he hopes it can go, and how you can contribute to this open source software’s development, whether you’re a programmer or not.

What You Need To Know

SDR++ is free, open-source, cross-platform software for your SDR.
Alex got into SDRs after watching a video of someone receiving weather satellites, piquing his interest in radio in general.
Alex is currently building SDR++ as general purpose SDR receiver software with more modern functionality like multi-VFO and multi-platform support.
SDR++ supports anything Alex has or that companies have sent him, including SDR Play, HackRF, RTLTCP, and more.
Alex considers the software still in beta, but thinks he’ll have stable code with the features he wants within 3-4 months.
He wants to add audio filtering features and more options for the file source.
SDR++ is fully modular so you can add plugins as you need them.
Alex aims to make the software as automatic as possible.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session169

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

168 - Using a SDR as Your Scanner Mar 09, 2021

Free SDR webinar!

Our new webinar will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"Why Every Scanner User Needs an SDR: The #1 Underrated Tool that should be in your setup" will be March 23, 2021.

Register now at www.scannerschool.com/webinar

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Do you want to dive deep on Software Defined Radios?

In this episode, Phil talks to listener Greg Weamer about his SDR setup. They get into the history of SDR development, what you can do with an SDR that you can’t do with a hardware-based scanner, and where they think the future of SDRs is heading.

What You Need To Know

Today, Greg does not have a hardware scanner at all, but only a SDR.
His area has simulcast problems that the SDR solves.
Greg currently uses about 8 RTL-SDR dongles, including 3 on a Raspberry Pi, some on another Raspberry Pi, an old laptop, and more.
Greg also uses Trunk Recorder, which is one of the most difficult things he’s ever configured, but he loves that it monitors every voice channel at the same time.
RDIO Scanner is a web interface that takes the feeds from the virtual recorders Greg has going and cues up calls on every voice channel so you don’t miss anything.
Because it’s a web interface, he can bring it up on his phone or tablet from anywhere.
Greg thinks the next major SDR development will eliminate the need for any fully hardware based radios entirely.
An SDR can do things that not a single hardware-based scanner out there is capable of.
Greg has used his SDR to tune into his utilities smart meters for his water and gas to track his usage.
One of Greg’s favorite things about SDR is that you can see the signals and whether they’re strong or not, whether they’re digital or analog, etc.
The ability to visualize the signal lets you find a lot more new stuff to listen to.
The flexibility of an SDR and ability to do so many things at once with it means you get the equivalent of several premium subscriptions to other services.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session168

---------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

167 - Ask Scanner School v30 Mar 02, 2021

Free SDR webinar!

Our new webinar will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"Why Every Scanner User Needs an SDR: The #1 Underrated Tool that should be in your setup" will be March 23, 2021.

Register now at www.scannerschool.com/webinar

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Every month I answer your questions on the podcast. You may submit questions at www.scannerschool.com/ask

This month I answer:

If police and fire stations move to TDMA, does that mean they’re likely to become encrypted soon?
Are there any best practices for scanning a partially encrypted digital system? Why would a department or system choose partial encryption?
An SDS100 scanner is missing the first seconds of some transmissions. Is there a setting he should check or is this a decoding speed issue?
How should you set up a scanner to broadcast the audio over the internet without using the Proscan software?
Is it possible to sub a BCD536HP from Sentinel software?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session167

---------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

166 - The New Face of Uniden Feb 23, 2021

Free SDR webinar!

Our new webinar will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"Why Every Scanner User Needs an SDR: The #1 Underrated Tool that should be in your setup" will be March 23, 2021.

Register now at www.scannerschool.com/webinar

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In this episode, we learn about Joe Bearcat, the new Product Service Representative at Uniden America.

What you will take away from this week's podcast:

Uniden has a new public-facing representative, Joe Bearcat.
Joe announced his new position as the official Uniden representative and Uniden scanner Product Manager.
This fills in the gap left by Paul "Upman" Opitz' sudden passing in 2019
The announcement relieved a lot of people who worried about Uniden remaining a strong player in the hobby with Paul’s passing.
Joe’s background is in scanning and he’s had a career in two-way radio and in the RF field.
To learn more about "Upman", his legacy, and passing, please listen to Session 106
Joe will be fulfilling some of Paul’s forum duties on Radio Reference.
In an interesting turn, Joe posted on Radio Reference asking for input on a potential future product.
What other surprises will Joe Bearcat have for us?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session166

---------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

165 - This is Why You Need an SDR Feb 16, 2021

Free SDR webinar!

Our new webinar will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"Why Every Scanner User Needs an SDR: The #1 Underrated Tool that should be in your setup" will be February 23, 2021.

Register now at www.scannerschool.com/webinar

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In this episode, Phil walks through the basics of what an SDR is, its history, and how you can get set up with one. The perfect introduction to his upcoming SDR webinar and course.

What you will take away from this week's podcast:

An SDR means that anything normally handled by the hardware of the radio is now handled by the computer, and the physical hardware serves as an interface.
The only limitation on the SDR hardware you buy is the frequency range and the amount of RF it can digest.
SDR receivers have come a long way since they were first hacked into existence.
SDRs used to be difficult to set up, but that’s no longer true.
You don’t need advanced computer skills to run SDR software.
SDR software can run on PC, Linux, Mac, Raspberry PI, and even Android.
An SDR is more flexible and less expensive than a traditional radio.
You can turn a $30 USB stick into something as powerful as an SDS200 in an afternoon.
All you need to get started is an SDR USB stick, a computer, and the free starter software SDR Sharp.
Once you get set up with FM broadcast stations, aviation, and other analog systems, Phil’s SDR course will go into how to set up digital reception.
If you download DSD+ Fast Lane or Unitrunker you can monitor trunking systems.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session165

---------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

164 - Raspberry PI and SDR w/ Fuzz the Pi Guy Feb 09, 2021

Free SDR webinar!

Our new webinar will introduce you to Software Defined Radios.

"Why Every Scanner User Needs an SDR: The #1 Underrated Tool that should be in your setup" will be January 26, 2021.

Register now at www.scannerschool.com/webinar

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In this episode, Phil talks to "Fuzz the Pi Guy".

Fuzz has a large YouTube channel and has a ton of SDR and Raspberry Pi Videos.

Fuzz and I discuss how he uses his Software Defined Radios and how he keeps costs down by using a Raspberry Pi as as his computer for many of these projects.

What you will take away from this week's podcast:

SDR stands for Software Defined Radio, where you plug your hardware into power on one end and your computer on the other end so the computer software can interpret the signal.
The Raspberry Pi is essentially a low-cost computer to help teach computer science in schools, and is now used for things like hosting Minecraft servers, learning Linux, and running SDR programs.
Fuzz has a YouTube channel where he primarily demonstrates Raspberry Pi projects and tips, as well as a wide variety of small electronics content.
He’s using a new setup that involves a Raspberry Pi 3 with an RTL-SDR dongle, connected to a 2m 70cm homemade antenna to receive his local Phase 2 frequencies, uploaded to Broadcastify using the new free software OP25.
Using this setup, Fuzz essentially created a Phase 2 scanner for under $100.
The FlightAware website gives a good introduction to using the Raspberry Pi with an SDR that can get you set up in under 15 minutes.
The Raspberry Pi has the best support system out there for any Pi hardware, but Fuzz has been working with the Atomic Pi lately.
This setup provides an inexpensive alternative to buying a pricey scanner if you don’t mind troubleshooting and problem solving to get going.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session164

---------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

163 - Ask Scanner School v29 Feb 02, 2021

Free SDR Training!

Check out our new course, "The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radios: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon."

You can enroll for free at https://courses.scannerschool.com

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Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

What makes the SDS200 so much heavier than the SDS100, and what more are you getting for the weight?
What equipment is compatible with a BCD3600XLT with NXDN for location-based scanning via GPS?
Bergen County PD is now operating on a new system. What is the best scanner to use to pick up and listen to their new system?
How can I update the firmware on a Uniden trunk tracker for BCD996T?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session163

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

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Get started with Scanning in 2021

Our "2021 Scanner Radio Crash Course" Webinar rebroadcast is now online. www.scannerschool.com/crashcourse

This webinar will get you started or up to speed on Scanning for 2021.

162 - Crash Course 2021 Pt 3 - Hardware Jan 26, 2021

Free SDR Training!

Check out our new course, "The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radios: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon."

You can enroll for free at https://courses.scannerschool.com

---------------------------------------------------------------

Get started with Scanning in 2021

Our "2021 Scanner Radio Crash Course" Webinar will be January 26, 2021 at 8pm Eastern US time. Register for the live webinar or catch the replay at www.scannerschool.com/2021

This webinar will get you started or up to speed on Scanning for 2021.

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Do you want to get started with scanning or brush up on basics in the new year?

In this episode, Phil goes through a rapid-fire rundown of Scanner Radio Hardware

This is part 3 of this 2021 crash course.

What you will take away from this week's podcast:

Antennas need to be matched, or resonant on the frequency or frequencies you need to monitor.
The lower the frequency, the larger the wavelength, which requires a longer antenna. The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength, and thus the shorter the antenna.
Some antennas can cover a wide bandwidth or even multiple bandwidths.
A discone antenna works reasonably well across just about every frequency we might want to listen to, but there is no gain.
Discone antennas are omnidirectional and vertically polarized.
Yagi antennas are directional antennas with high gain over a small bandwidth, consisting of a boom, a reflector, and a driven element.
After your antenna, you need good quality coax cable to deliver the frequencies your antenna is picking up into your radio.
As your frequency increases, the amount of loss in coax cable also increases.
The best way to combine multiple scanner to a single antenna is with an active multicoupler because it uses isolated ports.
You can use filters if you have nearby interference that is preventing you from hearing what you want to listen to.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session162

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

161 - Crash Course 2021 Pt 2 - Trunking Jan 19, 2021

Free SDR Training!

Check out our new course, "The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radios: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon."

You can enroll for free at https://courses.scannerschool.com

---------------------------------------------------------------

Get started with Scanning in 2021

Our "2021 Scanner Radio Crash Course" Webinar will be January 26, 2021 at 8pm Eastern US time. Register for the live webinar or catch the replay at www.scannerschool.com/2021

This webinar will get you started or up to speed on Scanning for 2021.

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Do you want to get started with scanning or brush up on basics in the new year?

In this episode, Phil goes through a rapid-fire rundown of Trunk Systems.

This is part 2 of this 2021 crash course.

What You Will Take Away from This Week's Podcast:

Trunking means that multiple users share pooled frequencies, allocated on an as-needed basis.
Each talk group is assigned a frequency to use, which is more efficient than conventional systems.
These systems can be linked together into networks.
The control channel can be considered air traffic control or the traffic cop at an intersection; when a user keys in they request a voice channel, and when it’s no longer in use, everyone moves back to the control channel.
Types of trunking include EDACS, Motorola Type II, P25, DMR, LTR, NXDN, and more.
Rebanding came about because NexTel purchased ESMR frequencies, which resulted in cell phone band frequencies moving up 15MHz and public safety bands moving down 15MHz.
Simulcast is when you have multiple transmitter locations keying up at the same time and broadcasting the same information over the same frequencies.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session161

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Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

160 - 2021 Crash Course Pt 1 - The Basics Jan 12, 2021

Free SDR Training!

Check out our new course, "The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radios: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon."

You can enroll for free at https://courses.scannerschool.com

---------------------------------------------------------------

Get started with Scanning in 2021

Our "2021 Scanner Radio Crash Course" Webinar will be January 26, 2021 at 8pm Eastern US time. Register for the live webinar or catch the replay at www.scannerschool.com/2021

This webinar will get you started or up to speed on Scanning for 2021.

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Do you want to get started with scanning or brush up on basics in the new year?

In this episode, Phil goes through a rapid-fire rundown of basic terminology and types of scanning from analog to digital transmissions.

This is part 1 of this 2021 crash course.

What You Will Take Away from This Week's Podcast:

Scanning is the ability to cycle through many frequencies per second, or to monitor one or several frequencies, allowing you to monitor several agencies on one radio.
What is a frequency and how do we measure it
The difference between Hertz, Kilo-Hertz, and Mega-Hertz.
AM, FM, and USB
Simplex, Duplex, and Repeated Transmissions
The benefits of Analog and Digital Transmissions
The differences between FDMA and TDMA and what this means for Digital Transmissions
P25 is short for Project 25, a set of standards under telecommunications associations.
What DMR is and the differences between Tier 1, 2 and 3
NXDN and it's benefits

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session160

---------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

159 - Ask Scanner School v28 Jan 05, 2021

Check out our new course, "The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radios: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon."

You can enroll for free at https://courses.scannerschool.com

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

The first question is more of a comment regarding the improvements made to the Unication G5 scanner. Will Phil update his review of this scanner to mention these upgrades?
How are DMR and simulcast on the Whistler TMR1?
Does the new firmware on the BCD 996P2 and 325P2 p25 improve their function for Phase 2 simulcast?
What antenna and equipment does Phil recommend for someone who wants to mount a Uniden SDS-200 in their truck without drilling holes and who thinks he needs a wideband antenna?
What scanner does Phil suggest for someone who used to scan but hasn’t been involved in the hobby for a few years and wants to get back involved in the community?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session159

Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

158 - The Secrets are in the Searches Dec 29, 2020

Check out our new course, "The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Software Defined Radios: Everything you need to know to get started with SDR in an afternoon."

You can enroll for free at https://courses.scannerschool.com

Have you wondered how you can best use the search function on your scanner?

In this episode, Phil walks through some tips for how to use your scanner to search for new frequencies, from pre-programmed search ranges to scan and search mode, and more.

What You Need To Know

There is more out there than what you program into your scanner.
Not every frequency or use for a frequency has been documented.
Once when searching late at night, Phil found an active Federal frequency that he discovered was the USPS sorting mail onto trucks.
He also once found a military installation trunk system that he was able to monitor.
Searching is useful in case something you listen to becomes encrypted so you have alternatives.
Even if you don’t know what you want to search for, scanners have built-in search ranges right out of the box that you can use as a starting point.
Phil sets up search ranges for what he knows he likes to scan, for example, aviation.
Sometimes he sets up new search ranges for random things he feels like listening to that day.
Phil suggests setting your search range as a favorites key.
You can set your scanner to go through all of your programmed frequencies, and then go back into search mode.
You can connect your scanners to your computer with software like Butel or ProScan and have it log the frequencies it finds in search mode for you.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session158

Would you like 1 on 1 help?

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

Help support Scanner School

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

157 - Uniden Close Call vs Whistler Spectrum Sweeper Dec 22, 2020

Uniden Close Call vs Whistler Spectrum Sweeper

Which is better: Uniden Close Call or Whistler Spectrum Sweeper?

In this episode, Phil puts them to the test in a head-to-head comparison on speed, distance, and technology. Listen in to find out who wins!

What You Need To Know

Close Call and Spectrum Sweeper are used to seek out nearby frequencies that are stronger than a set value over the scanner’s noise floor.
You would use this function to listen to, for example, news helicopters flying overhead to report on traffic.
Close Call has three modes: standard Close Call, Close Call DND, and Close Call priority.
Spectrum Sweeper can be accessed through your settings menu, as a special feature or as automatic tuning.
Phil took the current flagship scanner model for both companies with a fresh charge on the battery, using the stock antenna straight out of the box.
He set the scanners to Channel 14 to simulate a worst-case scenario scanning situation on a low power FRS channel where the ERP is half a watt.
Then, for each radio, Phil tested how long it took for each scanner to lock onto the frequency at progressively farther distances.
There were three variables to the test: speed, distance, and technology (Analog, DMR, etc)
We choose a winner at the end of this podcast

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session157

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

156 - Whistler Signal Stalker & Spectrum Sweeper Dec 15, 2020

Whistler Signal Stalker & Spectrum Sweeper

Do you want to know how to use Whistler’s signal stalker or spectrum sweeper functions?

In this episode, Phil explains how to access and use these features, the options you have, use cases, and more.

What You Need To Know

The signal stalker and spectrum sweeper features are found on many RadioShack Pro series scanners, as well as GRE Whistler object-oriented scanning.
Signal Stalker and spectrum sweeper are the same.
The scanner will rapidly search for a strong signal that’s coming through at a set value over the noise floor.
Signal Stalker is not a solution for finding frequencies while traveling, similar to Uniden close call.
As a refresher, an example of how to use these types of features is tuning into a traffic or news helicopter overhead.
You can also use it to listen in to sporting events, construction sites, department store security, and more.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session156

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

155 - Uniden's Close Call Dec 08, 2020

Do you have questions about how to use Uniden’s close call function?

In this episode, Phil explains the purpose of close call, shares examples of times he has used it successfully, and what the different close call settings on your scanner mean in practice.

What You Need To Know

Close call is an option on just about every available Uniden radio.
It’s a way to find frequencies that are close to you with a very strong signal.
Close call does not work over long distances or with weak signals.
Close call won’t help you monitor local agencies while you’re traveling.
It generally picks up signals for communication within a few hundred feet.
I have used this feature in situations like when there’s a helicopter hovering overhead and he wants to know what’s going on.
There are 3 ways to set your Uniden scanner for close call: Close call only, close call priority, and close call do not disturb.
Changing things like your antenna, the height you’re trying to receive, and power levels can affect how well close call may work on your scanner.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session155

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

Ask Scanner School v27 Dec 01, 2020

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

On the SDS100, what are the most useful items to have shown on the display screen to get the most information out of the scanner as possible?
What should someone do if their SDS200 isn’t locking on to the control channel right away?
Should the Service Types name be changed on an SDS100?
How can someone whose laptop uses the same plug for both the speaker and microphone set up their system for Zello?
How can someone set up their SDS200 with ProScan where you can listen in and control the scanner remotely from your phone?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session154

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

153 - Splitting and Sharing Antennas Nov 24, 2020

Splitting and Sharing Antennas

Do you need to split or share the signal from a single antenna to multiple scanners?

In this episode, Phil explains the hardware you need to achieve this setup, how the technology works, and what to look for when purchasing the accessories you need. He also walks through his personal setup.

What You Need To Know

You can use diplexers, duplexers, Triplexers ,and the like to share or split antennas based on frequency
A simpler setup would be to split an antenna equally between radios using a multicoupler.
A multicoupler can be thought of as a splitter, but the ports are separated so the scanners aren’t able to "talk" to each other.
Passive multicouplers are less expensive and have no gain, but introduce loss between the ports.
Active multicouplers have to be plugged in and powered, and it mimics connecting directly to an antenna.
Active multicouplers are Phil’s recommendation, especially if you plan to do a lot of splitting or daisy-chaining your multicouplers.
Don’t use T-connectors because it may cause cross-talk and interference between scanners.
When you’re buying a multicoupler, make sure that it passes the frequencies you want to monitor.
Also, pay attention to the types of connectors on your multicoupler, and whether it’s a passive or active multicoupler.
Phil uses a Stridsberg multicoupler, model MCA208M.
Phil also recommends looking at the website Digital Loggers for their 16-port multicoupler.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session153

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

152 - 2020 Holiday Buyer's Guide Nov 17, 2020

2020 Holiday Buyer's Guide

Are you wondering what should be on your holiday shopping list this year?

In this episode, Phil shares his 2020 holiday buyer’s guide, helping you compare radios, scanner software, and accessories.

What You Need To Know

This year’s buyer guide is the same as the 2019 buyer guide because no new equipment has been released.
East Coast Pagers will have great Black Friday deals.
Uniden SR30C: A radio at the lowest price point with minimal features.
Phil recommends instead upgrading to the Uniden BC125AT.
Recommended analog trunking scanner: Uniden BCT15X
For digital radios, Phil compares and contrasts the Uniden BCD325P2, BCD996P2, and the UBCD325P2, which all support P25 Phase 2.
If you don’t need Phase 2 P25, Phil recommends the Whistler WS1040 and the WS1065.
The next step up is the Whistler TRX1 and TRX2, which come with NXDN and DMR right out of the box.
The Uniden BCD436HP and BCD536HP radios are Phil’s current go-tos.
Internationally, Phil recommends the UBCD3600XLT, which is the overseas version of the BCD436HP scanners.
Phil’s current “holy grail” scanners are the Uniden SDS100 and SDS200, despite some of the issues they have had.
The Unication G2 through G5 are pagers work well in P25 Phase 2 Simulcast environments.
We also have a top 10 accessories in the second half of this podcast

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session152

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

151 - How to Combine Antennas Nov 10, 2020

Have you wanted to learn about how to combine multiple antennas?

In this episode, Phil discusses some best practices for using multiple antennas, including how to set them up to avoid interference, how to bring the signal into your house to connect to your radios, and more.

What You Need To Know

LMR 400 Coax costs around $1 per foot, so running multiple coax lines for many antennas can get very expensive.
Diplexers have a low port, high port, and a common port.
Triplexers have a low port, mid port, high port, and a common port.
You should not use a T connector to combine multiple antennas.
It’s possible to run multiple antennas into the same coax line and then split them again at the bottom to feed them into specific radios.
Diplexers have a wide separation between Frequency A and Frequency B, and are fairly inexpensive compared to duplexers.
Duplexers are tunable and used for frequencies that are very, very close together, like same band combiners.
Duplexers are larger and are typically ground-mounted, but diplexers/triplexers/quadplexers can be mounted indoors or outdoors.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session151

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

150 - Ask Scanner School v26 Nov 03, 2020

Ask Scanner School v26

This month I answer:

What are some troubleshooting tips to improve audio quality and overall reception on a Uniden scanner?
Can Unication G-series pagers support Motorola type 2 systems?
What can someone do or what antenna can they buy if the scanner app on their cell phone is picking up more than their actual scanner radio?
Is it worth putting a scanner in your car if most of what you scan is digital?
What SDR antenna would I recommend?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session150

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

149 - T-Band Giveback Oct 27, 2020

Have you wondered about the impact a potential T-band giveback would have?

In this episode, Phil walks you through the FCC’s plan, the opposition it faces, and what it would mean for public safety and scanner radio hobbyists alike.

What You Need To Know

The FCC T-band giveback is reallocating the 470-512 MHz spectrum.
The T-band spectrum was part of the TV band that ran from Channel 14-20.
This spectrum was allocated to certain major urban areas for public safety, broadcast television, transportation, and private land mobile services to reduce congestion.
The FCC is aware that the giveback is a bad idea and will harm public safety as licenses in these bands are crucial for first responders, but it is currently the law to move forward with it.
Congress has bipartisan support to get rid of the T-band giveback.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session149

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

148 - Discovering and Logging Radio IDs with Kenneth Fowler Oct 20, 2020

Do you want to discover the radio IDs broadcasting in your area?

In this episode, Phil welcomes back guest Kenneth Fowler. They discuss how Kenneth logs and verifies the radio IDs he finds, issues you may run into, and developments in the hobby coming soon.

What You Need To Know

Everything that transmits on a trunk system documents itself with a radio ID.
Kenneth started in the scanner radio hobby because of friends who volunteered with the fire department.
Every digital radio and radio on a trunk system are programmed with an ID and alias so others know who you are when you broadcast.
When Kenneth uses Uniden scanners, he runs ProScan and has radio IDs display on the screen so he can determine what he wants to pay attention to based on who is broadcasting.
Radio IDs assignments can change, and the person using a particular radio with a particular ID can change, especially if they’re portables.
Kenneth started by logging IDs in a notebook, and he still keeps a hard copy but transfers the information into a spreadsheet.
Phil got interested in this when he wanted to map out an encrypted trunk system.
Many radio IDs are defined by department, location, or some other way of organizing the information, and it can help you figure out what each ID is on an encrypted system.
Sometimes Radio Reference will have collected radio IDs published on their wiki pages.
Different scanners and software have different ways of programming radio IDs.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session148

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

147-Ham Radio Prep Oct 13, 2020

Do you want to learn more about getting your Ham radio license?

In this episode, Phil welcomes back guest Chuck Gysi from Ham Radio Prep. They discuss the Ham radio licensing exams, the new extra course launching soon, and more.

Sign up for Ham Radio Prep using our affiliate link: www.scannerschool.com/hamradioprep

What You Need To Know

Chuck runs National Communications Magazine, and it has existed since 1988.
Chuck got interested in radios because his father was a volunteer fireman and got calls through a radio.
Ham Radio Prep was started in 2017 by people who got licensed as a way to communicate during hurricanes when national systems are down.
They are developing a new course to teach new licensees on how to program a radio by hand so that it serves them in an emergency situation.
The course has some interactivity, including games and flashcards to prepare you for the licensing exam.
Because of COVID, the number of registrations for the ham radio prep course rose 700%.
Also due to COVID, if may not be possible to take the licensing exam virtually.
Many have reported that they are receiving their license from the FCC within 24 hours.
The length of time it will take to complete the course depends on how fast you can pickup the content.
There’s a Facebook support group for students to ask questions and answer each other.
Go to ARRL.org to find a testing location.
No matter what your other hobbies are, there is probably a tie-in you can make to amateur radio.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session147

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

146 - Ask Scanner School v25 Oct 06, 2020

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

How can he improve my current antenna setup?
What scanner should I buy if I wanted to listen to my local area and also stream it to my phone?
Is there a scanner that can do P25 phase 1 and 2, and NXDN at the same time?
Would Phil recommend spending additional money to get a desktop Whistler scanner over a handheld?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session146

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

145 - Uniden MR8100 Sep 29, 2020

The Uniden MR8100

In this episode, Phil talks about the Uniden MR8100 and its unique features, from its design to rumors about its functionality.

What You Need To Know

This radio was marketed as a scanner developed for public safety.
Rumors say it was created for the LAPD.
This radio was analog-only, with 100 memory channels in 10 banks, with no trunking and no P-25.
The radio was designed to be mounted on a wall or on the dashboard of a car, so the display is on what would be the top of a desktop scanner.
It doesn’t have an internal speaker but would come with an external speaker and a connector.
On this radio, you could adjust the contrast and the dimmer of the display using dials.
Software for this scanner is still available online.
You could enter passwords to unlock certain features of the scanner.
Each memory bank can be alpha tagged.
Supposedly, with additional software and some manual entry, you could access a massive range of frequencies with this scanner.
These radios are hard to find, but they occasionally pop up on eBay.
The radio has areas of birdies, so you need to be aware of them to get around them.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session145

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

144 - Monitoring the International Space Station Sep 22, 2020

Are you interested in listening to the International Space Station?

In this episode, Phil shares what you need to know to tune into the ISS and other satellites passing overhead. Learn what equipment and software can help you, where to find the frequencies you’ll need, and how to know when the ISS will be passing over your location.

What You Need To Know

The ISS just launched a new amateur radio cross-band repeater.
You’ll need a HAM radio license for your country in order to transmit on the repeater.
No license is required to monitor the repeater
The repeater is installed on the Columbus Module of the ISS
The repeater is part of the IORS (Inter-Operable Radio System).
In order to receive the ISS, you'll need to be aware of the doppler effect.
In the doppler effect, you'll need to tune to a higher frequency as the ISS approaches you and a lower frequency as it moves away from you.
Any scanner on the market can receive the ISS' new repeater.
A directional antenna will be best but you can use a fixed antenna too.
My favorite mode from the ISS is SSTV.
SSTV is Slow Scan TV, where an image is transmitted over about 30 seconds to your computer.
Sometimes the ISS has short communications with local schools, which you can hear if it’s happening near you.
You can find the frequencies at ARISS.org.
To see when the ISS will pass over you, go to Heavens Above or N2YO and enter your location.
If you’re on a PC, download the Orbitron satellite tracker software to your computer.
Orbitron will also tell you the drift frequency of the satellite.
If you connect your radio to your computer, you can set Orbitron to automatically adjust the drift on your radio.
If you use Mac or Linux, download gpredict.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session144

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

143 - Federal Scanning with Chris Parris Sep 15, 2020

Are you interested in scanning Federal agency frequencies?

In this episode, Phil welcomes Chris Parris, an expert on Federal scanning and writer of the blog The Fed Files. They discuss how Chris found his way into Federal scanning, tips and tricks for people interested in trying it, and so much more!

What You Need To Know

Guest Chris Parris is known in the community for his work scanning Federal signals.
Chris started trying Federal scanning when he was touring a radio tower in the 1970s and was told that there was an FBI repeater on site, so he began to research how to listen to those frequencies.
When Chris moved to southern Texas near the border, he became particularly interested in listening to border patrol and other very active Federal agencies operating there.
When you start listening to Federal frequencies, you need to have patience because they often don’t broadcast that often.
You should look between 162.0-174.0 MHz and 406.0-420.0 MHz to find the majority of Federal agency communications.
There are some smaller bands with some Federal or military operations, including 138-144 MHz and 148-150 MHz.
Though most communications are digital, you can still find quite a bit of analog particularly among smaller agencies.
Most law enforcement need to maintain interoperability in their communications with each other, like local police with the FBI, but other agencies don’t need that.
Even Federal agencies have call signs and are licensed frequencies.
Chris’s biggest tip is to be patient, because it’s unlikely that you’re going to find a big list of great things to listen to right away.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session143

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

142 - How to improve your scanner's audio Sep 08, 2020

Do you want to know how to improve your scanner’s audio?

In this episode, Phil welcomes back Harrison Wilson to discuss sound quality with scanner radio setups. They discuss external speakers, how sound vibrations work, audio mixers, and more.

What You Need To Know

Guest Harrison Wilson returns for his third guest appearance to talk about improving your scanner’s audio quality.
A lot of scanner radios produce a tinny sound.
To deliver all the features that customers want and keep manufacturing costs low, speaker and audio quality is what ends up suffering.
As a firefighter, Harrison takes a tip for diagnosing water problems and applies it to audio: start at the source and work your way forward.
Once you have good signal on your radio, the next step is adjusting the volume on your speaker.
Understand how speaker resistance plays into your audio quality because sometimes it increases quality, and other times it can worsen it.
Sound is a vibration, so what’s around your speaker can dramatically impact the sound.
For people who want to listen to multiple scanner feeds at the same time, you can feed your signal into a mixer
If your scanner has a line out jack, that’s typically better to use than a headphone jack.
A sound mixer will allow you to fine-tune your audio, like adjusting treble and bass levels.
Feeds may start to do something called clipping when the audio exceeds the bandwidth and the sound gets very distorted.
It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole reading reviews and trying to find the ideal equipment but you’ll have more success searching for general tips for how to improve audio quality on what you already have.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session142

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

141 - Ask Scanner School v24 Sep 01, 2020

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

What does the setting for “Set Hold Time” on a P25 scanner mean?
What do you do if every few days, you suddenly can’t pick up signal on your scanner?
What is the super dumbed-down version of how to program an SDS-100 scanner?
What products would I recommend for an antenna upgrade to reach an area about 20 miles away?
Can you monitor P25 trunking by only scanning frequencies?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session141

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

140 - Whistler V-Scanner Aug 25, 2020

In this episode, Phil explains the virtual scanner feature that exists in many Whistler and Radio Shack scanner models. He talks about what they’re best used for, how to set them up and make changes, and more.

What You Need To Know:

This virtual scanner option is available on most, but not all, Whistler, GRE, and Radio Shack scanners that support object-oriented scanning.
V-scanner stands for “virtual scanner”, and they are built into your existing scanner, with different models having between 21-200 v-scanners built-in.
V-scanners are a set of configurations inside your scanner that save your object lists.
These allow you to create backup copies of your scanner configurations.
You can also create v-scanners for different locations and swap them out as you travel.
V-Scanner comes in two flavors
Doing a reset will only apply to the v-scanner you currently have loaded.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session140

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

139 - Scanning the George Floyd Protests Aug 18, 2020

What’s it like to scan during moments of major unrest?

In this episode, Phil is joined by listener Brad, from Minnesota, to talk about scanning during the George Floyd protests. They discuss what Brad found to listen to during the first week of protests in Minneapolis, what surprised him, and how things are now.

What You Need To Know

Brad did what Phil suggests and thinks outside the box, programming his scanner with more than he ever thought he would need to listen to.
Brad has been involved with this hobby for over 50 years, having bought his first scanner when he was 12 years old.
Brad always tries to remember that while this is a hobby to him, what he’s hearing is a tragedy to somebody else.
Minneapolis has had a lot of peaceful protests, so at first listening to this wasn’t unusual or concerning.
During the second night of the protests, Brad was surprised not to hear any fire department response to the fires being set around the 3rd Precinct, and he knew exactly which stations should be answering.
Brad started also following this on Facebook live streams and other broadcasts.
On the third night, the protests and police activity spread to the 5th Precinct, even closer to Brad’s home.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session139

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

138 - The Scanner Guys Aug 11, 2020

Are you craving more scanner radio content?

In this episode, Phil is joined by Jonathan Higgins and Rich Carlson, hosts of The Scanner Guys, a weekly YouTube show. They discuss some of the common questions and topics that come up, how they’ve grown their audience, and more.

What You Need To Know

The Scanner Guys met at Scanner Master and started doing Facebook Live in 2018, and it grew into their YouTube show.
They always made a point to interact with their audience members.
The show has grown over the past couple of years and they now have regular viewers.
They broadcast live every week on Wednesday at 8pmET/5pmPT and Rich posts the topic on Radio Reference on Mondays.
Some recent topics have included GPS, vintage scanners, and NASCAR scanning.
Many people are currently frustrated by police scanners becoming encrypted, but there are still things to listen to.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session138

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

137 - Ask Scanner School v23 Aug 04, 2020

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

When will my SDR series come out?
What would I recommend for an SDR dongle to use Unitrunker on a laptop?
What outdoor antenna should I use?
How do you monitor a P-25 conventional system?
Why can’t fire departments use mobile bands?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session137

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

136 - Whistler Object Oriented Scanning Programming Jul 28, 2020

Do you want to better understand object-oriented programming?

In this episode, Phil explains how object-oriented programming differs from just using a scanner with hard coded memory and also Uniden’s DMA memory.

What You Need To Know

Object-oriented scanning allows you to create scan lists as small or as large as you need without wasting memory on your scanner.
Memory space on a scanner is based on blocks, and trunking, talk spaces, etc., each take up varying numbers of blocks.
Scan lists are thought of in object-oriented scanners as banks.
These scanners have dynamic memory, where instead of programming a frequency twice in two separate scan lists, you are able to program it once in two locations.
Trunking in object-oriented scanning requires separate lists for sites.
When talk groups are assigned to a scan list that means the scanner recognizes them as an object and knows it needs to monitor it.
Scan lists in object-oriented scanners can handle both conventional and trunk systems in the same list.
You can mix and match analog and digital as well.
Object-oriented scanners allow you to have v-scanners, which we will talk about on a future podcast.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session136

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

135 - No Fancy Tools Required - Analyzing Trunk Systems Jul 21, 2020

Do you believe analyzing trunk systems requires a fancy hardware setup?

Jackson from Kentucky joins us on the podcast this week to talk about how he is mapping out trunk systems with a scanner, a pager, pen and paper, and a spreadsheet.

You don't need to configure complicated computer programs to understand what is happening on your local trunk systems.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session135

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

134 - Social Unrest Scanning Tips Jul 14, 2020

Do you want tips for how to use your scanner to its fullest potential during times of social unrest?

In this episode, Phil shares ways to get started at scanning right now if you’re new to the hobby in response to current events, gives suggestions of what to listen for beyond fire and police transmissions, and more.

What You Need To Know

Due to current events, scanner radio sales are up, whether it’s first-time buyers who are new to the hobby or people returning to the hobby after some time away.
You are responsible for looking into the laws in your country/state/province/etc. to find out whether scanning is legal and any parameters around it.
Use Radio Reference to find out what you can listen to in your area.
Whether you need an expensive scanner depends on the modulation on the frequencies you intend to listen and the types of trunk systems in your area.
Some scanners can automatically program based on your zip code if you don’t care about programming with more specificity.
Other than fire and police, you can find and listen to tactical channels or the Office of Emergency Management.
The Federal DOJ has the 25 Cities Project, which allows for interoperability between local, state, and federal agencies during emergency responses.
Don't forget to program in the NIFOG channels
Try listening to media frequencies to hear field reports and traffic/news helicopters before news breaks.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session134

If you need help with your scanner and are looking for some one on one tutoring, I'd love to help you out. Visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting to book your one hour appointment today!

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

133 - Ask Scanner School v22 Jul 07, 2020

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

What is Intermediate Frequency Exchange and when would I need to use it?
On an SDS-200 Uniden scanner, do you need to set up a quick key for every favorites list?
How do you know if you need upgrades to your SDS-200 scanner?
What portable scanner would you recommend for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money or have a lot of complicated features?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session13

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

132 - Trunking Optimization Tips for Whistler's Object Oriented Scanning Jun 30, 2020

Do you want to understand how trunking systems work in your Object Oriented Scanner?

In this episode, Phil continues his miniseries about trunking systems. He walks through optimizing your Whistler, GRE, and Radio Shack scanners for trunking using their object-oriented scanning.

What You Need To Know

Think of a site as a repeater that transmits radio and control channel traffic for its coverage area.
Whistler allows you to have more control over your trunk scanning thresholds than Uniden.
To optimize your sites, you need to know what talk groups are most likely to be broadcast on what sites.
When you’re programming your Motorola or P25 trunk sites on a Whistler, you only have to input a list of every single control channel on every site you want to monitor, rather than having to break it out by site like on Uniden.
Whistler has multi-site settings including Off, Roam, and Stationary.
- Off means, the scanner will find the first usable control channel and use it to track the systems without bothering to scan the others.
- Roam is used if you’re driving or otherwise moving around and will lock onto the best site it can find based on your Threshold High and Threshold Low settings.
- Stationary allows you to scan through all decent quality control channels while you remain in one place.
Butel software makes duplicating these scan lists much easier than using the keypad.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session132

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

131 - Trunking Optimization Tips for Uniden DMA Scanners Jun 23, 2020

Do you want to understand how trunking systems work?

In this episode, Phil continues his miniseries about trunking systems, explaining how to most efficiently set up your Uniden DMA scanner for trunking, including sites, groups, quick keys, and more.

What You Need To Know

Episodes 129 and 130 are prerequisites for this episode.
Trunking systems can have multiple sites that can run on their own or as one large networked site running as simulcast.
Hypothetically, you could have sites for different regions of your state
- Ex north, south, east, west, and central
- each with their own control channel that would broadcast all the talk groups for all the radios affiliated on that site.
Every time your scanner has to go to a new site, it first has to find the control channel, then check the system for active talk groups on your list.
You should only program your scanner with sites that you expect to have the traffic you want to hear.
- you don’t want to program every site in your state because many of them will be out of range.
Each site you want to scan should be set up as its own quick key in the scanner so you can toggle them on and off as needed.
Toggling some of the sites off as needed allows your scanner to only be scanning 1-2 sites at a time rather than 5 or more, making the trunking more efficient.
For trunking, Phil recommends large systems that you can break down into groups.
Groups make scanning more efficient because the scanner doesn’t have to go in and out of sites repeatedly to check different scan lists.
You want to make sure that each site you want is set up to its own scan bank, and within the system, you want to make sure that each group is set up as its own group key.
You can assign more than one site per quick key.
You can define up to 20 groups per system, and up to 10 quick keys per group; only assign quick keys to groups you want to toggle off and on.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session131

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

130 - Trunking Systems and Trunking Sites Jun 16, 2020

Do you want to understand how trunking systems work?

In this episode, Phil explains how trunking system networks, sites, channels, and layers all work together and gives some examples both from his local area and more hypothetical use cases.

What You Need To Know

This episode ties into last week’s episode about programming groups.
A Motorola type 2 trunking system is capable of having 28 channels per site.
A Smart Zone system is a collection of Smart Net systems
Smart Zone networks have dynamic site assignments, meaning that if a radio or talk group is not affiliated with a site, then it does not need to be broadcast on that site.
Although he uses a Motorola system as an example, these explanations also apply to DMR and P25 radio systems.
In Phil’s county, they have simulcast sites on different frequency bands.
These sites on this system may or may not broadcast the same talk groups.
Trunking systems have multiple sites in order to efficiently use the resources available, freeing up channels for local users.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session130

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

129 - Uniden System and Groups Jun 09, 2020

Do you understand the difference between a Group and a System your Uniden programming?

In this episode, Phil explains use cases for groups and how to set them up, and how to create quick keys for them.

What You Need To Know

Groups are important to optimize your scanners for trunking.
Systems are the container for your trunking and conventional systems in your DMA Scanner.
Groups are where you store your frequencies or Trunk Group and Unit IDs.
You can have up to 20 groups within the system.
Each type of group and system can have their own quick keys defined.
Using groups allows you to organize different precincts and battalions by location, for example, grouping all Manhattan NYPD frequencies separate from citywide NYPD frequencies.
While you can add up to 20 groups per system, you can only map out 10 group quick keys.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session129

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

128 - Ask Scanner School v21 Jun 02, 2020

This month I answer:

Is there any place in the US where law enforcement uses analog, unencrypted signals to allow you to use certain equipment like a radio that’s inaccurately being marketed as a scanner?
Can you disable certain frequencies in a statewide radio system to make a scan cycle go faster or will you be missing out on something?
How do you know which radio and software upgrades will be most useful to you?
What suggestions do you have for an HP2 that won’t connect to the computer?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session128

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

127 - Yagi Antennas May 26, 2020

Do you want to understand how a Yagi antenna works?

In this episode, Phil explains the elements of a Yagi antenna, what they’re used for, and even how to build your own.

What You Need To Know

Shintaro Udo and Hidetsugu Yagi created the antenna.
A Yagi antenna is a directional antenna with at least two elements, usually three, mounted on a boom.
The main element is the boom, where everything else is mounted.
A Yagi usually includes a driven element, a reflector element, and a director element, all mounted on the same plane.
The driven element is the main element, and it is what your feed line is connected to.
Next, behind the driven element, you have the parasitic element called the reflector, and in front, you have the director element.
The different elements are positioned to interfere with each other in a way that enhances the radiation and increases the directivity of the antenna.
The longest element always sits behind the driven element, and that’s how you know which is the front and back.
A Yagi can be used to pick up signals far away from you
You can use a Yagi antenna to try to overcome simulcast issues.
Yagi antennas are typically built for a very small range of frequencies.
You can get a cross-pole Yagi antenna, which is very popular with amateur radio and using satellites.
It is possible to build your own Yagi antenna with some basic materials.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session127

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

126 - Antenna Polarization May 19, 2020

Do you struggle to understand why antenna designs differ?

In this episode, I explain antenna polarization and how the design impacts it.

What You Need To Know

Your antenna needs to be within the same polarity in order to receive what you’re trying to receive.
A vertically polarized antenna will pick up vertically polarized signals better than horizontal.
Radio waves are oscillating sine waves, and the frequency at which they oscillate is measured in a hertz.
Vertically polarized antennas are perpendicular to the earth’s horizon
Horizontally polarized antennas are parallel to the earth’s horizon.
Satellites are not in a fixed position, so we’ve needed to develop circular polarization to communicate with satellites when their polarization is constantly changing.
Vertically polarized antennas are the most common in general, and horizontally polarized antennas are common in the scanner radio hobby world.
A common example of vertical antennas is on cars.
Cell phones are the most common example of a need for cross-pole antennas.
Circular antennas are good for eliminating multi-path distortions.
A GPS and some drones use circular polarization.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session126

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

125 - Spring and Fall Outdoor Maintenance Checklist May 12, 2020

The Spring (or Fall) to take inventory and make a note of how your radio setup is doing. Phil covers, antenna, masts, mounting, coax, and grounding.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session125

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

124 - Ask Scanner School v20 May 05, 2020

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

Are there any scanners that are commercially available that are capable of Tetra decoding, and if not, what other options are there?
What jacks are on the SDS-200?
Is it possible to upgrade an HP2 to make it function more like an SDS-100 or SDS-200?
How do you cross-reference what’s available on Radio Reference with how it appears in Uniden’s software?
And more

All session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session124

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

123 - How to Find and Win Scanner Radio Auctions on eBay Like a Pro Apr 28, 2020

Do you want to find deals on used equipment on eBay?

In this episode, Phil shares his do’s and don’t’s of bidding on eBay auctions.

Alls session notes with links to the items we talked about an be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session123

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

121 - A Peek Inside a Zello Net Apr 21, 2020

Are you wondering what it’s like to participate in a Scanner School Zello net?

In this episode, Phil plays a recent Zello net chat for you to hear what it’s like.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session121

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

122 - A Dozen Radio Fun Ways to Pass the Time Apr 14, 2020

Yes - Episode 122 is being released before episode 121...

We are all starting to feel a little bit cooped up in our homes. Social distancing is the new normal and keeping inside may be driving you nuts.

Today we go over 12 different radio ways you can keep yourself sane during an insane time.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session122

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

120 - Ask Scanner School v19 Apr 07, 2020

In this episode, Phil plays the live Ask Scanner School session he held on Facebook and YouTube.

This month we answer:

Has there been anything about new scanners on the horizon from Uniden or Whistler?
Where should you look for tips if you’re brand new to scanning?
How to troubleshoot scanning on a Windows 10 Sentinel machine?
What to do about a hum sound on an SDS-200?
What impact will the passing of Paul Opitz at Uniden have on future scanner quality?
Will Phil ever do an IceCast setup tutorial for Windows or Linux?
Would Phil recommend Butel software for a beginner?
What is the best antenna to use for your house without breaking the bank?
Is there a known issue with the Radio Shack Pro 197 resetting its memory?
How is the SDR class coming along?
Does DSD support trunking?
Can you fly with any of your scanning equipment?
How can using quick keys benefit you?
Is there a database to identify non-voice signals on scanners?
What to do if you get an “Unknown” error?
Are there certain settings to pay attention to, like filters, to improve your audio quality?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session120

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

119 - Looking back at the Uniden BC780XLT Mar 31, 2020

Today we're talking about a classic, the Uniden BC780XLT.

This radio came out in 2000 and it shook up the scanner radio market.

Learn why the power that was behind it made it a go-to scanner for many people at the time and what was available for this model on the aftermarket.

What You Learn in this Week’s Podcast:

Learn what the BC780XLT could do right out of the box.
The BC780XLT was strictly analog.
You can put a Motorola trunk system in the same bank as conventional frequencies.
You can't mix two trunk systems in the same bank but you can mix conventional and trunking together.
This model allows you to search out CTCSS and DCS tones.
You can program 500 channels in 10 banks.
It works well as a weather receiver
You can program scan delays that are built-in per channel, and you can have a limit hold on each frequency.
This scanner has channel alerts.
A very cool feature is this scanner’s versatile RS232 serial port.
You have a tape-out on the back of the radio
Program searches are built-in.
You can pre-program ten search ranges and have selectable step sizes.
The display was revolutionary for the time.
There were many aftermarket software options for this model.
People took this scanner with them and actually used it as a portable radio.
Aftermarket Accessories Include:
- Protective carrying cases for portable use
- There was a way to have internal battery packs powering the scanner.
- AM and shortwave broadcasts modification
- An automatic mute with an RF sensor mod.
- Remote head kit.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session119

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

118 - How Dispatch Centers Work Mar 24, 2020

Have you ever wondered what it takes to set up a dispatch center?

In this episode, Phil talks to his old friend Rob Bambino to discuss his company RF Designs.

Rob's company specializes in consulting with fire departments and local law enforcement to build and maintain their dispatch centers and equipment.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session118

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

117 - Coronavirus Scanning Mar 17, 2020

Where can you find frequencies that might have Coronavirus-related traffic?

In this episode, Phil shares with you what he’s listening to and makes suggestions for you to find what you might want to listen for in your area.

What You Need To Know

Some local radio frequencies will be encrypted, but don't expect everything to have encryption.
You may be able to find local ambulance companies or EMS.
Many of these dispatches give a rundown of symptoms before responders go in.
Find frequencies for your local hospitals.
Don't forget about news frequencies.
Another suggestion is a university public safety office.
On a national level, Phil suggests trying TSA, FEMA, and CBP.
The NIFOG is a group with Homeland Security that responds in emergencies, and Phil has heard them in the past when they responded to Hurricane Sandy on Long Island.
In search mode, maybe you’ll hear something in aviation or rail, although rail is now being affected by the pandemic.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session117

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

Don't forget to join us for our weekly net on Zello. For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

116 - A new scanner radio net for everyone Mar 10, 2020

How can you join the Scanner School community in a live Zello chat?

In this episode, Phil walks you through how to create your Zello account and join the Scanner School group, and explains the purpose of the weekly Zello net chat and what sets it apart!

For info, visit https://www.scannerschool.com/zello

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session116

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

115 - Ask Scanner School v18 Mar 03, 2020

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

Difficultly with monitoring in Sacramento California
How do I program or add talk groups or frequencies to the GRE-PSR800 handheld scanner?
What is the best scanner available? Who is the best source to purchase from?
I have an SDS100. Can you tell me the flight watch move for the statewide system in Indiana?

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session1115

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

114 - What is Zello and how to use it as a live scanner Feb 25, 2020

Did you know you can use a free app to set up a live scanner feed?

How can you get started?

In this episode, I will walk you through how to set up a live feed of your scanner radio using the free app Zello, including equipment you’ll need and how it compares to setting up a broadcast hosted on your own computer.

PS - Join our NEW Zello channel!

For info, visit https://zello.scannerschool.com

What You Need To Know

Zello is a free app for your smartphone or other smart device that wasn’t originally built for the scanner radio hobby.
Zello is a push-to-talk application that allows you to mimic the function of a two-way radio.
It can be set up with “private rooms” where only one user can talk, or a few trusted users can talk, which makes it perfect for scanner radio broadcasts.
There is almost no delay in the broadcast like there is with other online broadcasts.
You can keep multiple rooms open at once.
To broadcast your scanner, you need a Windows computer that’s always on, a wired Internet connection, a radio scanner with output through a patch cable, potentially an additional sound card depending on your setup, and a separate Zello account just for the live stream.
Know what your audio input is.
Turn on Vox and set the activation threshold and deactivation threshold.
To listen to your channel, open the app on your phone and search for the group you’ve created.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session114

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

113 - How To Setup a Private Live Feed in Under 30 Minutes Feb 18, 2020

Do you want to set up your own scanner live feed?

How can you get started?

In this episode, I'll walk you through how to set up a live feed of your scanner radio to be hosted on your home computer, from what hardware you need to specific software settings that need to be changed.

All of this in less time than it takes to get a pizza delivered

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session113

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

112 - Rail Scanning with Joe Curtis Feb 11, 2020

Does your area have a lot of rail traffic that you want to scan?

How can you get started?

In this episode, we have guest Joe Curtis. He shares about his background, his setup, how he monitors train location while trackside, and more.

What You Need To Know

Guest Joe Curtis shares his background and how he got into scanning rail networks.
The equipment Joe uses and what’s actually necessary to listen to rail traffic.
What can you hear on a rail scanner?
The first steps you should take if you want to listen to the rails.
What does Joe hear most often when listening to the rails?
You only need the basics to listen to the railroads because they haven’t switched to digital yet.
Listening to the railroad is a good alternative as police departments increasingly encrypt their radios.
How Joe uses his iPhone to monitor train location with PC-based software.
Joe and Phil discuss the benefits and limitations of different rail scanning setups.
Joe shares advice for those interested in monitoring the railroads.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session112

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

111 - Ask Scanner School v17 Feb 04, 2020

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

What is the best broadband bay station antenna on the market, and the top-performing mobile scanner?
What SDR dongle do I use?
How to find out if the radio in your area is encrypted.
Is it possible to get around control channel delays?
How can you fix it if you are getting no signal from something you know is an active channel?
Is it possible to set up your own private scanner broadcast to listen to on your own home system or on your cell phone?

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session111

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

110 - Uniden SR30C Jan 28, 2020

The Uniden SR30C is the newest release by Uniden.

Hitting the market in late 2019, this scanner replaces the BC75XLT as a their entry level scanner.

With 500 memory channels, 10 banks, and limited features, is this a good scanner for the money?

How does it compare to the BC75XLT, BC125AT, or UBC126AT?

We break it all down in this week's podcast

109 - Recording your scanner's audio to a PC Jan 21, 2020

Have you ever wondered how to record your scanner audio?

What software tools and equipment would you need?

In this podcast, we have guest Garrett Farwell. He shares about his background, his setup, how he records his scanner audio to PC, and why.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session109

You can help support Scanner School by visiting our support page at www.scannerschool.com/support

108 - Remembering Paul "Upman" Opitz Jan 14, 2020

Today we remember Rodney Paul "Upman" Opitz.

Paul was the Director of Marketing and Product Development for Uniden.

It is his work that gave us scanners such as the HomePatrol 1 & 2, The BCD436HP and BCD536HP, and the SDS100 and SDS200.

Paul passed away at the age of 59 after losing his battle with cancer on Dec 28, 2019.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session108

107 - Ask Scanner School v.16 Jan 07, 2020

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

What GPS should be used on the SDS100 & SDS200
Why is my USB hub transmitting?
Why can't I unlock banks on my PRO-2055?
Should I trade in my BCD436HP for an SDS100?
Does it look like a SDS100 or SDS200 will be required to monitor the Alameda County Trunk System in California?

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session107

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

106 - Predictions for the next decade in scanning Dec 31, 2019

The Scanning hobby is ever-changing.

Who would have though that at the start of the 2010's we would see touch screen scanners, be able to receive DMR and NXDN, and also use SDR's to pickup almost any signal out there?

What will the next one hold?

In this podcast, we discuss what has happened over the last decade in scanning and what might be coming in the future.

What do you predict we will see in the hobby in the next 10 years?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session106

105 - 20 things I've learned in 30 years of scanning Dec 24, 2019

I've been in the scanning hobby for about 30 years now.

Here are some of the observations that I've made about the hobby since I started.

I hope you enjoy this list!

What are some observations you made about the hobby?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session105

104 - Where to find quality radio reviews Dec 17, 2019

In this podcast, we discuss where you can find high-quality reviews for the equipment you are looking for.

Are you searching for new or used equipment?
What do people think about the products you're looking for?
Sometimes "good" review for can be hard to find.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session104

103 - How to safely buy used gear Dec 10, 2019

Are you not able to afford completely new equipment?

How do you go about finding the best "used" equipment?

What do you look for when buying "used" gear?

In this podcast, we talk about what's changed in finding new gear, how to go about looking for used scanners and the best and safe ways for finding good used equipment.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session103

102 - Ask Scanner School v15 Dec 03, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

Should you be scanning NIFOG Frequencies and why they should be programmed into your scanner
Scanning the Connecticut Land Mobile Radio Network and where to find the frequencies and talk groups
What type of computer should you buy for radio programming
What antennas would I recommend for basement dwellers?
What do the filters do on the SDS100 and SDS200?
Where do I see the hobby going in the next 10 years?
Does it look like a SDS100 or SDS200 will be required to monitor the Alameda County Trunk System in California?

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session102

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

101 - 2019 Holiday Buyer's Guide Nov 26, 2019

The holidays are just around the corner!

Here is my scanner radio and accessory buyer's guide for the 2019 Holiday Season.

Links to purchase all of these recommendations can be round at the link below.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session101

100 - Something new for you Nov 19, 2019

We made it to session 100 of the podcast - and I have something new for you.

A new community for all of you Scanner School members, called scannerschool.club

This will not replace the existing Facebook Group, but will be a place for anyone to join. So if you don't like Facebook here is a way to network with your fellow Scanner School classmates.

099 - Vehicle Installation Tips Nov 12, 2019

Harrison Wilson returns to the podcast to discuss some tips and tricks on how to install your scanning in your vehicle.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session99

098 - Ask Scanner School v14 Nov 05, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

This month I answer:

Why can't I update my SDS 200e?
Is there a setting to allow me to listen to just My fire station or equipment that I need to do so?
What external antennas do you recommend?
How do you input frequencies when not using the Radio Reference Database?

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session98

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

097 - Stolen Radio IDs Oct 29, 2019

We spoke about the dangers of using commercial radios on Session 81 of the podcast

In this podcast, we talk about an actual incident of stolen radios that occurred in the Ohio MARCS P25 System.

Several people were arrested for “stealing” and “pirating” stolen radios IDS that belong on the OHIO MARC Trunk Radio System.

Those arrested were charged with the following:

Engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity
Aggravated theft
Unauthorized use of computer, cable or telecommunications property
Criminal simulation
Impersonating a peace office

What You Need To Know

The Incident that sparked arrests for stolen radio I.D.'s
The effect of the stolen pirated I.D.'s
The charges attributed to the perpetrators.
Can you actually steal a radio I.D.?
What you need to be aware of.
Why you need to scan with a scanner.

Remember - this is now on the radar. People have been charged with possessing, selling, and programming commercial radios.

If you want to monitor a trunk radio system, you are far safer to do so with a communications scanner and not a two way radio. If someone sees you using a two way radio, it can look suspicious.

And now that people have been charged with this, what is to say there won’t be more people in possession of personal two way radios that are monitoring a trunk system find themselves in trouble with the law as well.

It is better to be safe than sorry!

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session97

096 - Whistler Updates Oct 22, 2019

While Whistler might have thrown in the towel on new radios, they have been busy upgrading the current TRX-1 and TRX-2 platforms, and released new accessories this month

In this podcast, we talk about the latest upgrades and updates to Whistler’s TRX-1 and TRX-2 Scanners.

We also look at Whislter’s new antenna lineup, which is quite interesting.

What You Need To Know

Features of the TRX-1e and TRX-2e updates
What happens when you convert?
How to upgrade to the new software.
What happens to your weather button?
Service searches unique to e-version: great for those outside U.S. and Canada.
New products from Whistler: 3 new antenna
Details and Specs for new antenna
- WMM-160
- WMM-460
- WMM-860

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session96

095 - Working Around Simulcast Issues Oct 15, 2019

In this podcast, I talk with our guest Nathan McMullin, who is the first repeat guest on the podcast and is an aviation major at Eastern Kentucky University. He shares today about combating the issues of simulcast, but in his own way.

If you remember from Nathan’s first interview (link in the notes below) we talked about how to scan on a budget. This includes monitoring a P25 simulcast system.

Nathan is here to talk about how he is building upon that setup to be able to do more with it, and what he is doing to try to monitor a simulcast system with a Whistler 1040.

What You Need To Know

Updates on Nathan now and his current equipment setup.
Using Zello as a streaming tool.
What content is being streamed?
Time needed for setup for streaming.
Using Zello as a scanning tool.
Utilizing the Whistler WS1040 on the simulcast system.
Keys to working through the simulcast headaches.
Common issues with decoding.
Why laying the radio on the side helps.
More suggestions for combating simulcast issues.
Addressing issues from being between 2 sites.
Isolating talk groups with OpenMHz.

094 - National Communications Magazine Oct 08, 2019

Are you curious about a wide gamut of hobby radio topics?

Have you wondered where you could find the most up-to-date info on hobby radios?

In this podcast, our guest Chuck Gysi, who is the editor of National Communications Magazine shares about National Communications Magazine and its role in the industry. He talks about the ins and outs of producing a quality publication that brings the best information from the hobby radio world.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session94

093 - Ask Scanner School v13 Oct 01, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session93

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

092 - 10 Important Things Preppers Must Know About Scanning Sep 24, 2019

What do preppers need to know about scanners?

Do you know what to do before the emergency?

What kind of scanners? How to set it up?

In this podcast, we walk through all you need to know in detail!

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session92

091 - How to Scan Amateur Radio DMR Sep 17, 2019

What do you need to know about Amateur Radio DMR?

Everything you need to know from getting your ID's to hardware to use. Our guest, Kenneth Fowler gives us some great insight into Amateur Radio DMR.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session91

090 - How to Properly Set Your Squelch Sep 10, 2019

Here is a question that I receive often

How do I properly set my squelch?

In fact, it isn't always asked often enough, because sometimes I see radios where the squelch is set as high as it will go.

In today's podcast, I explain how to properly set your squelch.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session90

Bonus 01: What it takes to produce Scanner School Sep 03, 2019

This is the "Health and Wellbeing" report of Scanner School.

Find out what it takes to put a podcast together, how it costs, and what I am changing to make the podcast easier to produce and better for you.

What are the additional future plans of Scanner School?

Listen to find out

089 - Ask Scanner School v12 Sep 03, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session89

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

088 - Consulting Call with Lou Carollo Aug 27, 2019

Lou Carollo asked a question on last month's Ask Scanner School and by doing so, he won a free consulting call.

This is our conversation as I help him with his SDS100 and why he is having issues listening to certain talk groups on the amateur radio DMR network.

We also sort out some Sentinel issues.

If you would like to book a consulting session, please visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting

If you would like to ask a question for the podcast and enter to win a chance for your own free consulting call, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session88

087 - GNU Radio with Ben Hilburn Aug 20, 2019

Ben Hilburn is the project lead for GNU Radio.

What is GNU Radio?

GNU Radio is a free & open-source software development toolkit that provides signal processing blocks to implement software radios.

Ben and I discuss what you can do with GNU Radio, why you might want to use it, and who else is using it and what they are doing with this software suite.

Don't forget to check out GRCon this September and Ben's new podcast, Signals and Bits on www.gnuradio.org

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session87

086 - Overcoming the Challenges a Blind Operator Faces in the Scanner Radio Hobby w/ Pete De Vasto Aug 13, 2019

Pete De Vasto is a self taught scanner radio user. Pete is also blind since birth.

Pete and I discuss the ways that he sets up his scanners so he can keep track of what it is he is listening to, and how he uses text to speech software on his computer to program his radios.

Pete and I also talk about the limitations that today's software has in them and how some changes to the software could make his programming tasks a lot easier.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session86

085 - Ask Scanner School v11 Aug 06, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions via e-mail, and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session85

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

084 - Consulting Call with Ty Stevens Jul 30, 2019

Ty Stevens asked a question on last month's Ask Scanner School and by doing so, he won a free consulting call.

This is our conversation as I help him with his SDS100 and why he is having issues receiving in his home state of Wyoming.

This is Ty's first scanner and he has several questions about Sentinel, using his favorites lists, the best antenna to use, and if he should be using a GPS.

If you would like to book a consulting session, please visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting

If you would like to ask a question for the podcast and enter to win a chance for your own free consulting call, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session84

083 - How to Find the Correct Scanner for Your Area Jul 23, 2019

This is a question I see often on websites like Radio Reference and on Facebook Groups.

How do I find the correct scanner for me?

Or - I just bought this radio, will it work?

Or - Why can't I hear my local police, what is wrong with my new radio?

Or - How come nobody told me this wouldn't work!?!?

Today we'll decode some of the information in the Radio Reference Database so you can pick the right scanner for your area.

I also have a nice script in the session notes that you can use if you want to ask others what scanners work for them in your area.

You can find more info on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session83

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

082 - Recording Your Scanner Radio's Audio Jul 16, 2019

I am asked this question often - how do you record your scanner so you can go back at later date and time to play back the audio

Why would you do this?

Maybe you are looking for activity on a range of frequencies

Maybe you are looking for new talk groups

Maybe you are looking to figure out who is using a frequency or talk group

Maybe you want to know why the local rescue services are on their block and they weren't’ around to hear the dispatch (by the way this is where pagers come in very handy)

Who uses recorded audio?

Milair communications and aviation are big into recording audio

Fire Photographers and videographers want audio for their productions or to be able to summarize details about the photo or video gallery

News agencies want to play back the audio

You can find more info on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session82

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

081 - The Hidden Dangers of Scanning with Commercial Radios Jul 09, 2019

Commercial Radios.

Setting them up for receive only is safe, right?

In today's session we talk with Harrison Wilson who explains why you need to be careful if you choose to use a commercial two way radio as a receive only device.

You can find more info on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session81

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

080 - Ask Scanner School v10 Jul 02, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions via e-mail, and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session80

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

079 - Why Do We Use Multiple Scanners? Jun 25, 2019

Many of us have multiple scanner radios in our setup. But for those of you starting off, you may wonder why we do this.

I remember when I first entered the scanner radio hobby, I couldn't think of a single reason why I would want or need multiple scanners going at the same time.

Today we'll break down the benefits of scanning with multiple receivers.

You can find more info on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session79

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

078 - Passing on the Scanner Hobby Jun 18, 2019

We learn a lot from our fathers. We pass a lot to our children.

This past Sunday was Father's Day in the US.

Scanning is something that not only did my father pass along to me, but something that even my 5 year old has shown interest in.

I feel it is very important to pass on a piece of you to the next generation. My father was able to pass several important traits and hobbies onto me, including scanning.

Has scanning been passed onto you or did you pass the hobby onto your children? I hope so.

You can find more info on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session78

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

077 - Basic Electrical Terms Jun 11, 2019

Basic Electrical Terms

Volts, Current, Resistance, Power

What are they and what do they mean?

We go through them today on Scanner School.

You can find more info on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session77

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

076 - Ask Scanner School v09 Jun 04, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions via e-mail, and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session76

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

075 - Troubleshooting Your Scanner May 28, 2019

It's no fun when your scanner radio won't work right.

Here are some steps that you can do to troubleshoot a setup that no longer works correctly.

You can find more info on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session75

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

074 - Uniden BC200XLT May 21, 2019

The BC200XLT is the one scanner that will always have a special place in my collection.

This was the scanner that introduced me to more of what was possible with scanning than any radio before it.

If you are interested in the BC200XLT, please see the show notes at www.scannerschool.com/session74

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

073 - Scanning on a Budget w/ Nathan McMullan May 14, 2019

Getting start with scanning or sticking with the hobby on a limited budget can be a bit tricky.

With today's high end scanners costing several hundreds of dollars, monitoring your local trunk systems can be a bit of a drain on your wallet.

Today's guest talks about how he is monitoring all his local activity, including a P25 Simulcast solution all on a budget.

We shared a few links in today’s interview, and I’ve placed those links in the show notes at www.scannerschool.com/session73

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

072 - Ask Scanner School v08 May 07, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions via e-mail, and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session72

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

071 - DSDPlus Apr 30, 2019

What can receive DMR, NXDN, P25, and other digital modes...and is free? It's DSDPlus!

Today we talk about what DSDPlus is, how to use it, and what the differences are between the free and paid versions of this versatile software.

We shared a few links in today’s interview, and I’ve placed those links in the show notes at www.scannerschool.com/session71

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

070 - Signals Everywhere Apr 23, 2019

On today’s podcast we have Corrosive from the Signals Everywhere YouTube channel.

I’ve a huge fan of Corrosives work and what he has been doing for the SDR community. Corrosive and I discuss a lot of the more advanced things you can do with a software defined radio.

We shared a few links in today’s interview, and I’ve placed those links in the show notes at www.scannerschool.com/session70

If you are looking to get started with SDR, I invite you to check our our new training course. www.scannerschool.com/courses

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

069 - SDR Workshop Apr 16, 2019

Let's Build Something Together!!

I will be hosting a 4 week SDR Workshop.

Details can be found at www.scannerschool.com/courses

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session69

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

068 - Why did Whistler cancel the TRX-100 and TRX-200? Apr 09, 2019

On March 29, 2019, Whistler announced the end of development for the long awaited TRX-100 and TRX-200.

What happened to this product, why did it fail to launch, and what does this mean for Whistler?

I have a few ideas why this might have happened and I share my thoughts on today's podcast.

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session68

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

067 - Ask Scanner School v07 Apr 02, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions via e-mail, SpeakPipe, and Voicemail. Today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session67

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

066 - Survive the Storm with Chris Gilmour Mar 26, 2019

No matter when you are listening to this podcast, mother nature is always coming up with a way to change the weather.

Tornadoes in the spring if you live in the mid-west US. Hurricanes or cyclones in the summer and fall. Blizzards in the winter.

If you are along a fault line, you have to worry about earthquakes and the possibilities of tsunamis. No matter where you live, you always have to keep this in the back of your mind.

One day, you might have to survive the storm!

Today's guest, Chris Gilmour, is an expert when it comes to emergency preparedness, and today is a great time to talk about the safety of your family, being prepared. Not only is Chris an urban and wildlife survival skills expert, but he also work with and trains many government agencies as a professional emergency preparedness consultant.

Chris' new course, Survive the Storms, is a great way to make sure you and your family are prepared.

This is a 7 day course that will take you about 30 minutes each day to complete. And with a full print guide to go along with this course, you will come out an expert at the end.

Don't have time to take it now, that is fine! You can sign up and take the course when you are ready.

** SIGN UP HERE **

www.scannerschool.com/sts

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session66

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

065 - Understanding Uniden DMA Programming Mar 19, 2019

Programming a scanner using Uniden's DMA ( Dynamic Memory Architecture ) can be a very intimidating task.

But don't fear this memory configuration any longer. By the end of the podcast, you will understand how DMA works and how you can use DMA to program your scanner efficiently.

** BONUS DOWNLOAD BELOW **

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session65

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

064 - Unication G2 and G3 Pagers Mar 12, 2019

A lot of users in the scanner radio hobby have started using Unication G4 and G5 pagers.

Maybe you are one of them or maybe you have been tempted to purchase one yourself.

Unication has announced the G2 and G3 pagers. One is VHF or UHF while the other is dual band.

We'll talk about the new G2 and G3 as well as the new pricing schedule in today's podcast.

If you are in the market for a Unication pager, please contact me at phil@scannerschool.com

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session64

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

063 - Ask Scanner School V06 Mar 05, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions via e-mail, and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session63

A big THANK YOU to our continued Patreon Supporters. You can support us on Patreon by clicking here.

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

062 - Scanner Apps for your Smartphone or Tablet Feb 26, 2019

Enhance your scanning hobby with these apps for your smartphone and tablet.

Today be discuss 5 categories of apps that you can download to pair with scanning.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session62

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

061 - An Introduction to SDR Feb 19, 2019

SDR - or Software Defined Radio - is bringing new excitement into the scanner radio hobby.

If you wanted to learn about SDR - this session will get you off the ground

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session61

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

060 - I hear my wife - but I listen to my scanner Feb 12, 2019

This week is Valentine's Day - and I wanted to bring someone special on the podcast and get their point of view on the scanning hobby.

My wife and I discuss the parts of the hobby that annoy her, the parts that she likes, and how to live in harmony with the rest of your family.

We also learned that I can buy as many radios as I want.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session60

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

059 - Ask Scanner School V05 - A consulting call with Tyler Detmers Feb 05, 2019

Ask Scanner School - but with a twist.

Today you are a fly on the wall during a consulting session with Tyler Detmers.

If you would like to book a consulting session, please visit www.scannerschool.com/consulting

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session59

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

058 - Uniden SDS200 Preview Jan 29, 2019

The Uniden SDS200 is set to be released in just a few short weeks.

Inside this podcast, I'll tell you why I am excited for this new scanner, what features I am looking for, and what I'll be doing when it arrives.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session58

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

057 - An Introduction to Scanning Jan 22, 2019

Ham Radio University is an annual event on Long Island. While most of the topics at the event are centered around Amateur Radio, not all of the forums are strictly geared to the Ham hobby.

There are plenty of talks and activities that can be used in the scanner radio hobby as well.

Today's podcast is my presentation from HRU 2019. While some of the presentation is geared to those of us on Long Island, many of the topics are useful no matter where you live.

If you have been a long time listener of the Scanner School podcast, this session will be a great refresher on some of the content that we talked about over the past year.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session57

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

056 - DMR Trunking Jan 15, 2019

There are three types of trunking under DMR,

Connect Plus, Capacity Plus, and Capacity Max.

Of these three, only Capacity Max is DMR Tier III compliant.

What are the differences between these three forms of DMR Trunking? Check out this week's podcast to find out.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session56

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

055 - An Introduction to DMR Jan 08, 2019

DMR - Digital Mobile Radio

DMR is a pure digital system, meaning there is no analog.

DMR uses TDMA to double the amount of data that can be sent on a single frequency

Today we'll discuss the theory of DMR and how conventional DMR works

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session55

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

054 - #AskScannerSchool V.04 Jan 01, 2019

Many of you have have been submitting their questions via e-mail, and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session54

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

053 - Thanks for a Great First Year Dec 25, 2018

Scanner School has wrapped up our first year!

Thank you all for your support and kind words through the last 12 months.

Today, we discuss some of the accomplishments from our first year, and also lay out our plans for 2019

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session53

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

052 - Cheap Chinese Radios Dec 18, 2018

Cheap Chinese Radio Reviews

They go by many names

Baofeng, Pofeng, BTECH, Puxing, Retevis, Rugged Radios, TYT, and Wouxun.... to name a few

Cheap Chinese Two Way Radios that have become very popular with the scanner radio crowd.

What you need to know

These cheap chinese radios are a bargain. For under $30, you can pick up a two way radio from Amazon that will cover the VHF and UHF spectrum.

If you are a licensed amateur radio operator, this radio can save you a pretty penny if you are just starting out in the hobby.

But many people buy these as extra radios and may use them as scanners.

Today, I've reviewed the basics on these cheap radios and why many are buying them.

I also explain what to look out for and some warning when purchasing these.

We have some radios you may be interested in our show notes at www.scannerschool.com/session52

051 - Unication G5 Pager Review Dec 11, 2018

Should you buy the G4/G5 or a scanner?

Many have asked about the Unication G4 and G5 pagers, and how they compare to today's scanners.

If you are looking at the Unication G4 or G5 this episode of Scanner School has all the details you need to make an educated decision.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session51

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

050 - Ask Scanner School V.03 Dec 04, 2018

A lot of listeners have been submitting their questions via e-mail, and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session50

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

049 - 2018 Scanner Accessory Holiday Buyer's Guide Nov 27, 2018

The 2018 Holiday Shopping Season has begun!

Here are 10 scanners radio accessories that I would recommend as a gift for the scanner radio listener on your shopping list.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session49

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

048 - 2018 Scanner Radio Holiday Buyer's Guide Nov 20, 2018

This week starts the holiday shopping season.

Here are a the scanners that I would recommend as a gift for the scanner radio listener on your shopping list.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session48

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

047 - Scanning on a Cruise Ship Nov 13, 2018

I recently took a family cruise. It was a great trip and I even got some scanning in.

Today, I have 5 tips to help you enjoy scanning on your first (or next) cruise.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session47

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

046 - #AskScannerSchool V.02 Nov 06, 2018

A lot of listeners have been submitting their questions via e-mail, and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session46

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

045 - Encryption Oct 30, 2018

Encryption - it is the one word that will make any scanner radio listener cringe.

Today, we take a brief look at the history of encryption, and also what types of encryption are used today.

I also spend a few minutes talking about my thoughts on encryption. What do you think?

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session45

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

044 - NXDN Trunking Oct 23, 2018

NXDN stands for Next Generation Digital Narrowband

For an introduction to NXDN, please see last week's podcast at www.scannerschool.com/session43

NXDN Trunking comes in two classes: NXDN-C and NXDN-D

NXDN-C is like most trunking systems. There is a control channel and a set of voice channels.

NXDN-D is similar to LTR Trunking, where you have no dedicated control channel. Your users are listening to a home channel and any channel can be used as a voice channel

Please be sure to view the session notes for all the sources on both last week's and this week's podcast

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session44

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

043 - An Introduction to NXDN Oct 16, 2018

NXDN stands for Next Generation Digital Narrowband

NXDN was created in 2003 with a joint venture of Kenwood and Icom. The protocol was announced at IWCE in 2005 and the first units arrived in 2006. It wasn't until 2017 that NXDN was published by the ITU-R as an international digital land mobile system.

NXDN was created to satisfy the 2005 FCC Narrowbanding mandate. Originally created for business users, NXDN is used by public safety and even the military.

Overseeing NXDN development and standards is the NXDN Forum. A 30 member community including JVC Kenwood, Icom, Anritsu, The Boeing Company, and Zetron.

NXDN Comes in 3 flavors

NXDN Standard (As defined by the CAI)
Kenwood's NEXEDGE
Icom's IDAS

NXDN operates using FDMA over 12.5kHz or 6.25kHz wide bandwidth.

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session43

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

042 - Electrical and RF Station Grounding Oct 09, 2018

Electrical and RF Grounding - a simple solution for a common problem.

RF Grounding is more important in a transmitting environment than a receiving environment, but scanner listeners can still benefit from grounding their station.

By Grounding your receive station, you may find that you've increased your scanner's sensitivity and eliminated some RF noise.

In this session we discuss:

RF Ground Loops
Grounding best practices
Single Point Ground (SPG)
The differences between
- Copper Wire
- Flat copper braid
- Flat copper strapping
The Skin Effect

All session notes with links to the items we talked about can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session42

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

041 - #Ask Scanner School V.0I Oct 02, 2018

A lot of listeners have been submitting their questions via e-mail, and today I am answering some of them.

If you have a question about scanning, please visit www.scannerschool.com/ask and leave us a message via SpeakPipe or the local number on our website. We'll play your message on next month's #AskScannerSchool

If you are a little shy, you can always use the contact form on www.scannerschool.com/ask or use #askscannerschool on Twitter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session41

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

040 - An Introduction to Batteries Sep 25, 2018

Batteries - something that are in practically every device we touch.

There are many types of batteries out there. I'm not talking about battery sized, but the chemical composition that makes up a battery. From one time use to rechargeable - there is a correct type for every application

In this session, we discuss:

Alkaline Batteries
NiCd Batteries
NiMH Batteries
Li-Ion Batteries
Battery Voltages
Rating in ampere-hours

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session40

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

039 - Easy Emergency Battery Power Sep 18, 2018

There are a few ways that you can bring emergency power into your scanner radio setup. But there aren't many ways that can be ready to go in the blink of an eye.

Generators are good, but you wouldn't want to operate one in the middle of a storm. Most generator users don't have them ready to go immediately.

Computer UPS devices could make a good battery standby unit, but you are effectively taking a 12VDC source (batteries), using an inverter to create a dirty AC power source, and then using your scanner's power transformer or your power supply to go back to 12VDC.

You could just wire in a battery with your power supply, but that can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing.

Or you can pickup the device we talk about in this podcast. A safe, simple, and easy way to add a battery for emergency power in your station.

In this session, we discuss:

A few ways to add emergency power to your station
How to size a battery for your station
What Anderson Power Poles are and why I love them
How to safely connect a standby battery to your station

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session39

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

038 - Petition to Save WWV, WWVB, and WWVH Sep 11, 2018

Time is running out.....

The 2019 annual budget for NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) decreased by $49 Million USD from the 2018 budget.

Due to the decrease in budget, the NIST has decided to pull funding for WWV, WWVB, and WWVH. This move will save NIST $6.3 Million USD.

WWV is one of the oldest radio stations in continuous use. They went on the air in 1920 from Washington DC, broadcasting the time 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

WWV, WWVH, and WWVB

Broadcast the official US Time
Broadcast Atlantic and Pacific Maritime Conditions
Broadcast GPS Status Updates
Broadcast geophysical alerts from NOAA

WWV, WWVH, and WWVB

Are used by many radio operators to check band conditions
Used by many to calibrate their receivers to make sure they are on frequency
Used by mariners for storm updates
Used by anyone who has a device that sets the time automatically from the "atomic clock"

Listening to WWV, WWVH, and WWVB:

Operate on 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz
Transmit 10kW on 5, 10, 15 MHz
Transmit 2.5kW on 2.5 and 20 MHz
WWV and WWVB operate from Ft Collins, CO
WWVH operates from Kauai, Hawaii
You may also dial in over the phone
WWV receives 1M Calls per year
WWVH receives 50k calls per year

How can we save WWV, WWVH, and WWVB

Sign this petition online (www.scannerschool.com/savewwv)
- 100,000 electronic signatures are need
- As of this podcast date, only 16k are signed
- We need 83k more for the White House to respond
Call your state congressperson
Call your local government
Call your state's governor's office

All session notes and additional links can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session38

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

037 - Power Supplies Sep 04, 2018

Every Scanner needs it's own power brick plugged into your wall. Every other 12 volt device requires it's own wall wart.

The worst part about these adapters is the amount of space they take up. Sometimes they are large enough to cover 2 spaces on your power strip.

How do we clean up this mess?

Power supplies are the perfect way to deliver power to all of those 12volt devices at your scanner radio station. Using a single 12v source for your scanner and 12v accessories, this is a great way to bring some order to the electrical wiring mess in your shack!

In this session, we discuss:

Voltage
Amperage
Current
What to look for when buying a power supply
Constant Voltage
Peak Voltage
Regulated and Unregulated Power Supplies

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session37

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

036 - RF Connectors Aug 28, 2018

There are many different types of RF connectors on the market. F, BNC, PL-259, N, DIN, SMA, MCX, etc ;)

Do you know why there are so many connectors on the market and what makes each one different?

In this session, we discuss:

Common connectors for small diameter coax cables
Common connectors for medium diameter coax cables
Why we have so many connectors on the market
What makes each type of connector so different

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session36

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

035 - Combining multiple antennas Aug 21, 2018

It is possible to combine antennas to improve your scanner's reception. The tricky part is doing it correctly

In this session, we discuss:

Diplexers
Duplexers
Triplexers
Quadplexers
The difference between the above and a combiner or splitter
How you can share your coax between antennas and save money

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session35

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

034 - Filters Aug 14, 2018

As the name implies, a filter will either allow or reject frequencies from passing through and onto your radio

In this session, we discuss:

High Pass & Low Pass Filters
Band Pass & Band Reject Filters
Common filter terms
Why we use filters
Where to install a filter
What to look for when buying a filter

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session34

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

033 - Multicouplers Aug 07, 2018

There are many different way to share a single antenna with multiple radios. Many will get the job done, but we today we talk about the best way and the preferred way to share one antenna with multiple scanners

In this session, we discuss:

What makes a multicoupler different than splitters
The benefits of using multicouplers
Why cable TV splitters are a bad idea
Why we don't use "T" connectors
The difference between active and passive multicouplers
Where to install a multicoupler
What to look for when buying a multicoupler

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session33

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

032 - Lightning Arrestors Jul 31, 2018

Lightning can destroy your scanner radio setup in a second.

Adding proper grounding and installing lightning arrestors only takes a few minutes and can potentially save your setup.

In this session, you will learn how lightning arrestors work, what they do, the different types of lightning arrestors, and some that I recommend.

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session32

** CONTEST ALERT -- LAST CHANCE **

Win a $100 Scanner Master Gift Card.

Check out www.scannerschool.com/contest for details!

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

031 - Jonathan Higgins from Scanner Master Jul 24, 2018

Jonathan Higgins is the Digital Media Communications Manager for Scanner Master. He and I speak about his background in scanning, share some great stories, and talk about his "RailFan" experiences.

Jonathan and I also talk about the history of Scanner Master, which started 40 years ago. We talk about their current product lines and services, such as scanner radio programming, scanner sales, and radio packages.

As an affiliate for Scanner Master, I am happy to have Jonathan on the podcast so he can explain what makes Scanner Master a great company to buy from, why I've been a customer for the last 20 something years, and what I recommend their business.

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session31

** CONTEST ALERT **

Win a $100 Scanner Master Gift Card.

Check out www.scannerschool.com/contest for details!

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

030 - Coaxial Cable Jul 17, 2018

What are you using for coax cable?

Not all coax cable is created equal and in today's podcast we will run through some numbers to show you why the bargain stuff is so inexpensive compared to quality coax.

We have a great chart to help you see all the numbers in this week's session notes.

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session30

** CONTEST ALERT **

Win a $100 Scanner Master Gift Card.

Check out www.scannerschool.com/contest for details!

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

029 - PreAmplifiers Jul 10, 2018

Preamplifiers could help you or hurt you depending on several factors.

I have used preamps in the past and have seen mixed results. There are certain situations where a preamp could be extremely helpful.

I have ways you might be able to improve your station instead of investing in a preamp.

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session29

** CONTEST ALERT **

Win a $100 Scanner Master Gift Card.

Check out www.scannerschool.com/contest for details!

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

028 - Basic Scanning Antennas Jul 03, 2018

There are many things to consider when purchasing your next (or first) scanner radio antenna.

Do you need an antenna that...

Covers many frequencies
Covers a particular frequency
Is directional
Is NOT directional
Will fit in an attic
Is affordable
Will be used for a portable radio

These are some of the items we talk about today and tell you what the next antenna that I will be installing on my house this summer and why.

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session28

** CONTEST ALERT **

Win a $100 Scanner Master Gift Card.

Check out www.scannerschool.com/contest for details!

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

027 - MilAir Scanning with Michael Man Jun 26, 2018

MilAir Scanning is different depending on where it is you live.

Today's guest, Michael Man, is a big fan of Military Air monitoring. Since he lives close to a few training facilities, MilAir Scanning is one of this favorite past times.

Michael is lucky enough to live near several practice areas where he can listen to dog fights, refueling exercises, and other ground exercises.

Any scanner that can monitor the MilAir bands and a good outdoor antenna is all that is needed to enjoy MilAir Scanning.

MilAir VHF Frequencies: 118 MHz -136 MHz (AM and FM)

MilAir UHF Frequencies: 225 MHz - 380 MHz (AM)

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session27

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

026 - Amateur Radio Field Day Jun 19, 2018

Field Day - Amateur Radio's Open House!

If you've never been on the air or if you are interested in checking out what Amateur Radio is all about (and if you live in the US), check out Field Day.

Field Day is a contest. The more contacts you make, the more points you get... and it is by far the most popular and publicized event featuring Ham Radio.

But besides being a contest, Field Day is where Amateur Radio operators practice their skills. They operate using emergency power, on temporary antennas, in sometimes uncomfortable conditions.

Field Day is a day to practice getting on the air, making contacts, enjoying a good BBQ, and seeing some old friends that maybe only come out of the woodwork once a year.

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session26

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

025 - First Look at the New Uniden SDS100 Jun 12, 2018

Its finally here - the new Uniden SDS100 Scanner.

This scanner is new from the inside out, top to bottom.

I'll let you know all about this new scanner and my first thoughts after using this radio for only a day.

You can keep up to date with my review by visiting www.sds100review.com

If you are looking to purchase this scanner, would you mind using our affiliate link? We would earn a small fee for the sale and this helps support the Scanner School podcast. The best part is, it doesn't cost you anything extra. You can find out more by clicking here.

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session25

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

024 - ADS-B Receiving and Flight Tracking with Eric Carlson Jun 05, 2018

Eric Carlson from FlightAware.com joins us on the podcast to talk about ADS-B monitoring using a PiAware setup.

ADS-B (Automatic dependent surveillance — broadcast) is the protocol used by airplanes to give their position beacons. This includes there altitude, location, heading, and Squawk Code.

Eric and I discuss the benefits of owning your own ADS-B receiving setup, the steps required to build your own ground station, and the perks of sending your data to FlightAware.com

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session24

A tutorial on ADS-B setup, monitoring, and a shopping list can be found at www.scannerschool.com/adsb

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

023 - Aviation Scanning with Dave Pascoe KM3T May 29, 2018

Dave Pascoe, KM3T, from LiveATC.net joins us on the podcast.

We talk about the basics of aviation monitoring, what equipment is required, and how to understand the terms and common phrases used during aviation communications.

Dave also discusses the conversation workflow that a pilot goes through before taking off, while flying, and while landing.

All session notes can be found on our website at www.scannerschool.com/session23

Please support the Scanner School podcast. Visit www.scannerschool.com/support to see how you can help us. Some of the ways you can support us won't cost you any additional money!

022 - Scanning Air Shows May 22, 2018

One of my favorite scanning activities is to scan the local Air Show. The Air Show at Jones Beach is every Memorial Day weekend and it brings a lot of Military and Civilian Performers.

In this podcast, I'm going to let you know what you need to maximize your scanning during an air show.

We have a lot of links in this podcast, and all of them can be found in the show notes at www.scannerschool.com/session22

Please support Scanner School by becoming a Patreon Supporter at www.scannerschool.com/support

021 - Scanning and Fire Buff Photography with Jim Peruta May 15, 2018

Today we are joined by Jim Peruta, a 45 year veteran of the Fire Buff Photography scene. Jim runs his own website at res23cue.net and is a member of the Connecticut Fire Photographer's Association.

Jim and I discuss what it takes to be a fire buff photographer and what someone should do or should not do if they are looking to buff a fire scene.

We have a lot of links in this podcast, and all of them can befound in the show notes at www.scannerschool.com/session21

Please support Scanner School by becoming a Patreon Supporter at www.scannerschool.com/support

020 - Fire Paging and Uniden's Fire Tone Out Mode May 08, 2018

Fire Tone Out (FTO) is a feature included with higher end Uniden Scanners.

Before breaking down FTO and how it works, we take a look at basic two tone alerting by Plectron, GE, and Motorola.

We also discuss 5/6 tone and ZVEI tones used outside of the US.

Show notes can be found at www.scannerschool.com

Please support Scanner School by becoming a Patreon Supporter at www.patreon.com/scannerschool

019 - Weather Alert Radios and Weather Alert Monitoring May 01, 2018

Severe Weather Monitoring goes beyond just scanning.

I believe that every home and business should have a weather alert radio in a location that is centralized. A weather alert radio can be a life saving device and should be given the same importance as smoke detectors, CO alarms, Explosive Gas meters, and fire extinguishers.

In this session, we discuss how to use your scanner as a weather alert radio, how to monitor weather activity from SKYWARN via Amateur Radio, GMRS, and FRS.

I also recommend a few dedicated Weather Alert radios that you can purchase for less than $50 (USD).

Step by Step instructions for purchasing and setting up a weather alert radio can be found in the show notes at www.scannerschool.com/session19 or at www.scannerschool.com/wxalert

018 - Tips and Tricks when dealing with Simulcast Issues Apr 24, 2018

Simulcast - when it comes to digital systems, it can be your worst nightmare.

In this session of Scanner School, we have a few tips on dealing with simulcast and a few suggestions to eliminating the problems it causes.

You can grab the show notes for today's podcast at www.scannerschool.com/session18

New this week, you can also help support the Scanner School podcast by visiting www.scannerschool.com/support We have several ways to help fund the podcast, including a way that comes at no cost to you!

Don't forget to catch us this Saturday for our FB Live Q&A Session. See our schedule at www.scannerschool.com/events

73

Phil / w2lie

017 - The Benefits of Joining a Local Scanner Radio Community with Marshall Sherard Apr 17, 2018

Today we welcome Marshall Sherard, KE4ZNR, from the Tarheel Scanner/Shortwave Listener's Group, based out of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Marshall and I discuss the benefits of joining a local Scanner Radio Group, how to locate an existing group, and how to start your own group if there aren't any established in your area.

In addition, Marshall and I discuss what his background is and how he became interested in the scanner radio hobby.

You can grab the show notes for today's podcast at www.scannerschool.com/session17

New this week, you can also help support the Scanner School podcast by visiting www.scannerschool.com/support We have several ways to help fund the podcast, including a way that comes at no cost to you!

Don't forget to catch us this Saturday for our FB Live Q&A Session. See our schedule at www.scannerschool.com/events

73

Phil / w2lie

016 - P25 Scanner Radio Reviews and Best Buys Apr 10, 2018

In Today's podcast, we review the current Phase 2 capable scanners on the market

In Session 14 we introduced you P25 systems and hardware.

In Session 15 we discussed Phase 1, Phase 2, X2-TDMA, and conventional P25 as well as some hints and tricks you can use to monitor P25 systems.

This podcast will wrap up our P25 series, for now.

You can grab links and see more reviews on the scanners mentioned on today's podcast at www.scannerschool.com/session16

New this week, you can also help support the Scanner School podcast by visiting www.scannerschool.com/support We have several ways to help fund the podcast, including a way that comes at no cost to you!

Don't forget to catch us this Saturday for our FB Live Q&A Session. See our schedule at www.scannerschool.com/events

015 - P25 Hints and Tricks - Plus Conventional, Phase 1, Phase 2, X2-TDMA Trunking Apr 03, 2018

Last week we introduced P25. This week we build on that introduction session and discuss conventional and trunking with P25. This includes Phase 1, Phase 2, and X2-TDMA systems.

We also have a few hints and tricks for you to optimize your P25 reception on your Uniden, Whistler, GRE, or Radio Shack scanner radio.

You can grab the show notes for today's podcast at www.scannerschool.com/session15

You can also take a look at our glossary for all of the acronyms we used in this session at www.scannerschool.com/glossary

We also have a live Facebook Q&A Session every Saturday at 11am. Join us at www.scannerschool.com/facebook

73

Phil / w2lie

014 - Introduction to P25 Mar 27, 2018

Welcome to P25 aka Project 25 aka APCO-25.

We talk about the 8 modules that make up a P25 system and how they operate.

P25 Conventional is covered as well as NAC.

P25 Trunking, Phase 1, Phase 2, and X2-TDMA will follow in next week's session of the Scanner School Podcast.

If you haven't subscribed to our podcast, please do so now so you don't miss next week's session.

013 - Consulting Call with Jon Goldenberg Mar 20, 2018

Be a fly on the wall on one of my consulting sessions with Jon Goldenberg.

Jon was one of the winners of the Free Consulting Contest that we had in February of 2018.

Jon and I discuss his current scanner needs and discuss some ways on how he can setup his scanners.

We talk about the local P25 and EDACS Trunk systems, close call, P25 threshold settings, and if he should consider using multiple scanners for his monitoring needs.

There is also an idea I have been tossing around at the end of this session, so please be sure to list to the full podcast to know what I have planned at the end of this week.

012 - Trunk Tracker III Scanner Radio Reviews Mar 13, 2018

In this session of Scanner School, we review scanners that support "Analog" trunk systems, or systems that are not completely digital like P25, DMR, or NXDN. These scanners are sometimes called Trunk Tracker III scanners and the scanners we review in this session all support rebanding. You can download session notes for this podcast, as well as additional resources at http://www.scannerschool.com/session12

We also have a new e-guide available for anyone looking for their first scanner. Download a copy of the "5 Things You Need to Know Before Buying Your First Scanner" at http://www.scannerschool.com/newscanner

011 - Rebanding Mar 06, 2018

Rebanding is a necessary evil in the 800 MHz spectrum in the United States. In this session of Scanner School, we discuss why rebanding happened, how it changed the landscape of the 800MHz spectrum, and what it means for the scanner radio user.

There will be extra content that goes along with this podcast on our website at https://www.scannerschool.com/session11

010 - Motorola Trunk Radio Systems Feb 27, 2018

Motorola Type I was the first generation trunk system by Motorola. Motorola Type IIi Hybrid was a bridge to the 2nd Generation Trunk System by Motorola, the Type II Smart Net.

A Smart Net system can be expanded into Smart Zone and Omni Link Systems. We will explain those systems, plus Motorola Type II VOC on the session of Scanner School.

Show notes can be found at https://www.scannerschool.com/session10

Please leave your feedback! https://www.scannerschool.com/speakpipe or at +1 516-308-2885

009 - EDACS Trunk Radio Scanning Feb 20, 2018

In this session of the Scanner School podcast, we discuss the different flavors of EDACS Trunking. We cover EDACS Wide, EDACS Narrow, EDACS SCAT, EDACS-ESK, including AEGIS and ProVoice.

In addition, we answer some listener e-mail questions and give suggestions on discone antennas, coax, and scanners that support EDACS-ESK.

Session notes can be found at www.scannerschool.com/session9

008 - LTR (Logic Trunked Radio) Systems Feb 13, 2018

LTR or Logic Trunked Radio Systems, is a trunking protocol built by E.F. Johnson in the late 1970's. While it is primarily used in my area for business radios, it is the old dinosaur in the trunking world.

There are a few flavors of LTR Trunking. This session focuses on LTR Standard and LTR-Net. We discuss LTR Passport and LTR MultiNet very briefly.

Be sure to join our facebook group for your chance to win a free consulting session.

007 - Introduction to Trunked Radio Systems Feb 06, 2018

Trunked Radio Systems are not difficult to understand one you know how they work. In this session of Scanner School, we talk about the basics of how Trunking works and will be focusing on specific trunk systems in the upcoming episodes.

006 - Entry Level Scanner Radio Reviews Jan 30, 2018

Welcome to Scanner School Session 6 (www.scannerschool.com/session6). We review 3 handheld and 3 desktop scanners that you can use now with what you have learned in Scanner School Sessions 2 - 5.

005 - Common Analog Modulation Types - AM, FM, SSB, WFM, NFM Jan 23, 2018

Today we talk about the more common analog modulation methods, AM, SSB (LSB & USB), FM, NFM, and WFB (WBFM). Session notes are at https://www.scannerschool.com/session5

004 - Simplex, Duplex, and Repeaters Jan 16, 2018

We break down the differences between each and give examples of when each one might be used to communicate. Session notes are at https://www.scannerschool.com/session4

003 - Carrier Squelch, Tone Squelch, and Digital Coded Squelch Jan 09, 2018

In Session 3, we discuss the differences between Carrier Squelch, Tone Squelch, Digital Tone Squelch, and what is a NAC.

Show notes can be found at https://www.scannerschool.com/session3

002 - Frequencies and Hertz Jan 02, 2018

In this session we talk about Frequencies and how we measure them in Hertz.

001 - Welcome to Scanner School Jan 02, 2018

Welcome to the first session of Scanner School, a podcast by Phil Lichtenberger, W2LIE. In this episode, I'll introduce myself and talk about the goals of Scanner School and what you can expect in future episodes.

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