Pluggers by Rick McKee for January 21, 2022

Who would use a police scanner if you’re not a police officer?

If you use a scanner then you know that not all “News” is reported by the media ;-)

Eh?

I had a scanner and had the local police and fire department programmed. Of course, I was a volunteer fireman at the time.

In some locales, emergency services radio traffic is also broadcast over the Internet.

There is a scanner app available for your phone that allows you listen in on cities all over the country. There’s an app for everything.

…..and now that most of the ‘calls’ are digitally encrypted, there’s not much use in having a scanner around the house anymore…

Or in my ex’s case, a railroad scanner.

This reminds me of when my dad had a CB. He got it when I was about 6 and had it for about 4 or 5 years. I think he got rid of it when we moved states. I am now 65 and still remember his call sign. :o) We had a base unit and a mobile unit. I got pretty good at using both as needed – most of the (clean) jargon and some of the most used 10 codes. My dad was an MP (military policeman) at the time, so the CB was kind of necessary.

10-45 Riot

10-45Bomb Threat

10-45Bank Alarm

10-45 What is the condition of the patient

Depends on the PD.

From ’94 to ’96 I as a volunteer EMT at the Mexican Red Cross, and I got me a hand held scanner to monitor the Firemen, Police and Civil Protection departments to know where were going to be possible calls to duty. We also liked to listen to the municipal EMS to steal the rides from them, and they did the same to us. Good times.