About Jonathan Higgins

Jonathan joined Scanner Master in May 2008. Along with being a scanner expert Jonathan handles all of the digital content; websites, point of sale management, social media, blogs, e-newsletters, phone system, and photography. Before working at Scanner Master Jonathan was in Radio as an on air personality and producer, in both the Boston and Providence Markets. Jonathan has been interested in scanners and two-way radios for over 25 years When not at work Jonathan loves to spend time with his wife Jodie and daughter Kortnie and there dogs Abbie, Daisy and Watson. He loves to go bike riding and camping with his family. He has an interest in trains and railroad history, check out his personal blog "Train Aficionado" about everything that rides on rails!

New Products – Radio Shack Scanners are back!

Radio Shack’s most popular models are back and now available again through Scanner Master as well as Radio Shack stores.  These include the high-end APCO-25 digital base and mobile scanners as well as the low-end analog radios. Call 1-800-SCANNER to order now or online anytime.

Basic Analog Conventional Scanners
Simple to program for those basic analog VHF/UHF communications

  • 200 Channel Handheld Scanner in 10 Banks
  • Analog Entry Level Scanner (no trunking or digital)RS_BasicPRO549-550
  • VHF and UHF Coverage – No 800 MHz
  • 5 One Touch Service Searches
  • PC Programmable

Radio Shack PRO-649
Handheld Police Scanner
$99.95

Radio Shack PRO-650
Desktop Police Scanner

$99.95


Digital Trunking Scanners
Sensitive, amazing digital decoding, simple menu structure

  • Store up to 1,800 frequenciesRS_BasicPRO651-652
  • Object-Oriented, Menu-driven programming
  • Signal Stalker II Near field frequency capture
  • Multi-Site Trunking Scanning

Radio Shack PRO-651
Digital Handheld Scanner
$399.95

Radio Shack PRO-652
Digital Base/Mobile Scanner
$399.95

Show off your shack! – Colin Burt of Lowell, MA


Learn how to Show off your shack! – read more

Colin Burt of Lowell, MA Scanner Shack
My shack consists of the following:

  • Radio Shack Realistic 7ch Weather Alert Radio
  • Radio Shack Realistic PRO-2022
  • Uniden Bearcat 8500XLT
  • Uniden Bearcat BCD996XT

Been in the hobby for 30 years and mainly monitor public safety.

Learn how to Show off your Shack! – read more

Show Off your shack! – Garry Luxton of Newcastle, NSW, Australia

My home Shack:
I’m currently running a Pro2035, 2 x UBCD996T’s, Pro2096, UBC9000xlt, 3 x UBC780xlt’s, 3 x UBCD396T’s two of them are using Remote Heads, UBCD396XT, BC125AT, 2 x Motorola GP328’s, 3 x XTS5000’s, ADS-B and AIS

A little about myself:

  • Garry Luxton
  • Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  • I have been happily scanning since 1983
  • I mainly listen to Marine, Private Security Services, Surf Lifesaving, Traffic Management and also tune into emergency services
My website is www.lakescan.com.au

 

Show off Your Shack! – Kevin Poe (N0THJ) Kennett, MO

Learn how to Show off your shack! – read more

My Name is Kevin Poe ham call ( N0THJ ) I live in Kennett Missouri.Been in the Hobby since about 1989 and listen to just about everything. I run my own online scanner feed for Dunklin and Pemiscot counties in outheast Missouri (bootheel) Website can be found at www.tinyurl.com/kennettscanner

Radio/scanners are BC9000XLT, BC895XLT, BCT8, BCT15, Homebrew repeater made of two FT-2900’s, Motorola MaxTrax, TYT-8900, Pro-2055, Two Pro-197’s, Two BCD996XT’s, BC-RH96 Remote Head, BCD396XT, Pro-97, FT-7900, IC-2200H, IC-V8000, Pro-405, two SA-7 Speech Descrambler’s, Two TYT TH-UVF1 Duel Bands, Two Wouxun KG-UV D1 Duel Bands, FT-250, KA1103 shortwave, Two Frequency Counter’s, 100 foot tower, On top is a D130J Super Discone, Down a little is a ringo ranger II, Home brew 4 element beam and a ST-2 scanner antenna. Coax cables are LMR 400 and RG11 quad shield. *Everything is hooked up to a back-up power in case the electric goes out, Back-up is run by a PS-52KX power supply, Transfer switch is a PWRgate PG40s, two 115 ahr deep cycle battery’s and a 3000 watt inverter.*

Learn how to Show off your Shack! – read more

Show off your Shack! – Jeremy Irwin Houston,TX


Learn how to Show off your shack! – read more

Your Name: Jeremy
Your City and State: Houston, TX
Ham Call Sign: I’d rather not for security reasons but it’s not hard to find.
How long you been in the hobby? 15 years scanning, 8 years HAM.
What you like to listen to? I like to listen to Public Safety but I will listen to anything really. I am also a licensed HAM operator and I stream 3 repeaters in the Houston area online.

A little about myself:
You might find it strange that Dukes of Hazard sparked my interest in radio communications as a child growing up. You can’t beat fast cars, women and radios!
I am a photographer and a huge scanner enthusiast.
I run a blog called Houston Scanner and you can find it at houstonscanner.blogspot.com

My station consist of:
Radios: IC-7000 | Yaesu FTM-350 | Yaesu VX-8DR | Baofeng UV-5R | Baofeng UV-5RA | Baofeng UV-5RC | Baofeng UV-3R | Cobra 29 LC CHR LE
Scanners: GRE PSR-500 | BCT15X x3 | BC370CRS

Learn how to Show off your Shack! – read more

Show off your shack – David Grub Newport, PA

Learn how to Show off your shack! – read more

About David Grub of Newport, PA
I have been in the scanning hobby for probably the past 30+ years. I’m 43 now and can remember getting my first scanner (an 8 or 10 channel Realistic crystal scanner) for Christmas. I enjoy scanning mainly local police, fire and EMS frequencies. I was out of the hobby for a few years after the county I lived in moved to an OpenSky system which you cannot monitor. I maintained one scanner (PRO-2014) and sold the rest. After moving to a different county which still uses VHF/UHF, I have slowly gotten back into the hobby. Recently I purchased a new scanner (a Uniden Bearcat BC355N) to mount in my vehicle but, after experiencing RF interference, I made it my new base. The antenna for the base is an off center dipole I made from copper pipe and PVC fittings and is mounted in my attic. A few weeks ago, I purchased a Uniden Bearcat BC125AT to use in my vehicle and had better luck with it. I have it mounted in a cup holder mount and am using a Radio Shack magnetic mount scanner antenna with good results. I am happy to, once again, be back in the hobby.

Check out David’s Mobile Shack with the Uniden BC125AT Scanner

Learn how to Show off your Shack! – read more

Show off your shack! – Jason Rabinowitz New York, NY

Learn how to Show off your shack! – read more

Hi. My name is Jason Rabinowitz. I am a paramedic supervisor for an ambulance service in the NYC area. I have been involved in the scanning hobby since 1981.


I currently have the following in my work vehicle: (above)
Uniden BCT15 with a BC-RH96 remote head that I use primarily to listen to conventional radio traffic (NYPD, FDNY, EMS, Hospitals)

I also have an Uniden BC346XT that I have attached to another BC-RH96 remote head. This allows me full control over the portable scanner via the remote head’s functions. I use this radio primarily for trunking communications (NYC DOITT UHF system, Port Authority, and NYC 800 mhz system) such as NYC OEM, FDNY EMS supervisors, FDNY Hazmat, FDNY marine units, Port Authority Police operations at the area’s 3 major airports and bridge/tunnel crossings into NJ. I use a 12-volt amplified speaker for the audio.

The Mototrbo portable on the right is for my company radio communications.

Learn how to Show off your Shack! – read more

Limited Stock on GRE PSR-800 Digital Police Scanner

By Jonathan Higgins

If you haven’t heard already, GRE shut-down it’s manufacturing operation last September (2012) due to financial constraints. GRE America will continue to support and warranty these products. We have limited stock of GRE PSR-800 Digital Pre-Programmed Digital Police Scanner What different about this scanner? The PSR-800 is only scanner on the market right now that follows Project 25 Phase 2 TDMA Systems. Here are a handful of Phase 2 system online today:

  • Prince George’s County MD Project 25 System
  • Loudoun County VA Project 25 System
  • Apopka County FL Project 25 System
  • King County WA Metro Transit Project 25 System

The popularity of this system type is growing, with more Phase 2 systems coming online this year! Not sure if your area is switching to a Project 25 Phase 2 TDMA system? E-mail us! GRE PSR-800 Basics Programming This pre-progammed digital scanner has the Radio Reference national database for the U.S. and Canada. You can program the scanner by going into the national database and selecting the agencies you want to monitor. For simple and quick programming you can enter your zip code and the scanner will program agencies for your local area. We strongly recommend our Set-up and Optimize service for those who are not experienced scanner users or techies. This service is very affordable at $29.95 and covers the following:

  • Setting up a local favorites list/Scan List for your hometown
  • Updating the national pre-programmed database to the current date
  • Updating the radio’s firmware (operating system) to the latest version

Once our Set-up and Optimized Service is done, your scanner will be ready to go out of the box! Highlights

  • Easy to understand Media Player User Interface – The simplified keypad and display with familiar Play, Pause and Navigation controls make EZ Scan Digital intuitive to use.
  • Complete USA Database on a MicroSD Card – The entire USA database is stored on a MicroSD Card included with the EZ Scan Digital, giving the user the most comprehensive radio data available…all without connecting EZ Scan Digital to a computer or Internet a GRE First!
  • Upgradeable CPU Firmware and Library – Keep EZ Scan Digital current with the enhancements and updates as they become available through provided PC Software Application
  • Powerful PC Software Application – Modify or add your own Scanlist with the easy to us EZ Scan Digital software application.
  • SKYWARN Store Spotter Functionality – Instant access to frequencies used by storm spotter networks. Monitor storm conditions as they occur, and learn about dangerous conditions before the media or emergency management officials announce them to the general public.
  • SAME and All Hazards Weather Alerting -EZ Scan Digital features a Dedicated SAME Weather Alert Receiver mode, alerting users to severe weather and other hazards in the specific area(s) that they select. EZ Scan Digital can check local NOAA weather frequencies periodically, even while scanning, and provide an alert when an All Hazards alert occurs.
  • Multi-System Digital and Analog Trunking – Scans digital and analog trunked radio system signaling formats, including Project-25, Motorola Type I/II/Hybrid, EDACS, and LTR systems.
  • Powerful Spectrum Sweeper – Quickly sweeps EZ Scan Digital’s frequency ranges for transmissions from nearby sources. When a nearby transmission is found, EZ Scan Digital automatically tunes to that frequency and receives the transmission.
  • Built-in Service Searches – Predefined service search ranges makes it easy to fine activity in your area.
  • Audible alarms – Programmable alarms can be configured to sound when certain frequencies are active.
  • Signal Strength Meter – Shows relative strength of received signals
  • Slim, compact case design with larger speaker – Designed for one-handed operation and portability.

For more info about this product.

Get your Police Scanner for a Snow Storm

By Jonathan Higgins

Stay ahead of the storm with a police scanner.

Before you head out and on the road!

  • Keep update on traffic accidents.
  • Keep a pulse on traffic delays and backups.
  • What roads are treated and plowed.
  • Up-to-minute Weather updates from NOAA Weather Radio.

Looking to get into the hobby:
I would recommend a portable unit because you have may power options, such as rechargeable/alkaline, AC and DC Power. Portables are compact and easy to take everywhere with you.  We can program the scanner for you or you can program it with computer software, USB cable, and Radio Reference subscription. Not sure what police scanner to get?  Drop us a e-mail!

Already own a scanner? Here are some programming tips…
In addition to programming your local Fire EMS and state/local police you may want to program some storm related departments such as:

  • Local and Statewide Emergency Management Agencies
  • Highway/Dept of Public Works
  • Electric Utilities Company
  • Intercity Fire and Police Networks
  • Traffic gathering networks

Most of this can be found on RadioReference.com

You don’t always need to scan these departments, but you can stored them in the scanner, so in an event of a storm they can be turn on.