For most people, we think our best budget pick, the Uniden BC365CRS is the one you should just buy. Police scanners let you stay on top of local events and ahead of the curve in several potentially dangerous situations. You can also use a police scanner to stay abreast of local news before it’s reported on television, you can get weather alerts and find out about an impending natural disaster, or you can tune into amateur radio channels. The best police scanners can also serve as an alternative to a standalone CB radio or radar detector, so read on to see your options. For anyone who spends a lot of time on the road, this is an excellent device for communications, safety, and general peace of mind. It alerts you when there’s a nearby public safety transmission, so it serves as a radar detector alternative. The BearTracker 885 has a noise-canceling mic that allows for clear conversation, and it’s also wireless mic compatible. The BC365CRS takes three AA batteries, and it includes an antenna and AC adapter in the package. This is designed as a tabletop scanner, so it’s not the best option to take with you on the go. The reception will depend somewhat on your geographic area and the type of transmissions you’re attempting to receive. Most users say they receive clear audio with police, fire, weather, and radio transmissions, but this is a basic, analog, non-trunking scanner, so it may not be able to pick up transmissions from some agencies. It’s best to check the compatibility against the local agencies in your area. Weighing just over a pound, the HomePatrol-2 is easy to tote around. Additionally, the inclusion of a touch screen was an industry first with the HomePatrol-2. Uniden also includes rechargeable batteries that last between five to six hours. It comes with a USB charging cord that you can connect to a standard USB power brick. The BCD99P2 is capable of location-based scanning, and it can detect nearby radio transmissions. The TrunkTracker V scanner also offers continuous band coverage spanning 25 MHz to 1.3 GHz. Factor in 25,000 different dynamically allocated channels, and you’ll have enough options to cover all your local systems, recalled via the intuitive internal memory of the unit. It all comes in a compact 11 x 3.75 x 8.5-inch unit with a bright display and easy-to-navigate controls. You can save 300 channels into the scanner’s memory or 30 channels total in 10 separate banks. This makes it easy to scan for current transmissions on each stored channel. Additionally, the inclusion of Close Call RF capture technology assists the BC75XLT in identifying and detecting nearby transmissions, even if they aren’t pre-programmed into a channel. Powered by two AA batteries, the BC75XLT is both lightweight and designed to fit in the hand. Overall, it has good reception as long as you’re in a strong signal area. The LCD backlit keypad helps illuminate the unit, so you can see it in the dark and quickly access the controls. Included within the packaging are home and auto power cords, as well as a mounting bracket for inside the vehicle and a Wi-Fi dongle and telescoping antenna. There’s no battery power to worry about since this Uniden scanner runs entirely off the car battery (or a power adapter). Additionally, the BCD536HP was one of the first Uniden scanners to incorporate the HomePatrol data, which allows the easy entering of a zip code and you’re ready to listen in. There’s even international coverage where available, so the scanner app can detect your location and determine relevant feeds you’ll want to follow. Currently free in both the Apple Store and Google Play, there’s also a pro option that offers 50,000 more feeds.
Analog vs. Digital
Your ability to listen in on transmissions from your local police and other agencies hinges on compatibility between their transmitters and your scanner. Digital scanners tend to have the best compatibility, but you’ll get by fine with a less expensive analog police scanner if your local agencies haven’t made the jump to digital yet. The other feature that can impact your ability to receive transmissions on a police scanner is trunking. Scanners that don’t support trunking cannot tune in to trunked systems, so this feature is a must-have if your local agencies use trunk lines. Radioreference.com is an excellent resource for finding out if you can receive analog signals in your area.
Additional Features
Do you want a basic scanner or a police scanner with extra bells and whistles? Some scanners may have extra features like an alarm clock, GPS, Wi-Fi, or CB radio functionality.
About Our Trusted Experts
Erika Rawes has been a professional writer for more than 10 years. She’s spent the last five writing about consumer technology, including gadgets like police scanners for personal use.
