subject: Common Questions About Buying A Radio Scanner [print this page] Buying the right racing scanner with the features and frequency range you require will be a good investment. But, with so many radio scanners, racing scanners, and police scanners out there, the choice can be confusing. Take a look at these common questions about buying a radio scanner.
Question: What if I accidentally buy a Uniden NASCAR scanner that can pick up cell phone conversation radio frequencies is this legal?
Answer: If your scanner was bought in the US, then cell phone frequencies should have been scrambled at the factory, before you bought it. It is illegal to listen in to cell phone conversations on radio scanners, and you should be aware of legal action that can be taken against you if you engage in this. Uniden scanners (including all Uniden NASCAR scanners) are made according to the laws of the US, and you shouldn't run into problems with a well-known brand of radio scanner like Uniden. Officially, it is not illegal to own a radio scanner that has this capacity, although it could be argued otherwise in certain jurisdictions.
Question: Why do radio scanner owners get so addicted to listening to them?
Answer: The excitement of hearing police officers bust criminals for real (not just on a late night TV show) is pretty thrilling. So is hearing about other emergency dispatch services, such as fire, ambulance, your favorite racecar drivers, extreme weather emergency situations, and riots.Listening to scanners puts you in the know with what's happening in your community. How do you think news reporters find out what's happening so quickly? They spend a lot of time listening to police scanners. There's a reason Mr. Incredible (from Disney's "The Incredibles") gave up bowling every Thursday night to listen to police scanners in dark alleys... it makes you feel like you're part of the crime busting team.
Question: What frequency range are most racecar driver stations, like the NASCAR races?
Answer: Usually, race drivers use the 400 to 500 frequencies. Sometimes, drivers use the 600 frequencies, although this is uncommon.
Question:Will I have to spend a lot of time programming in stations to my Uniden scanner when I first buy it?
Answer: That depends on whether your scanner comes preprogrammed. You may spend some time programming in your local stations (which may not be preprogrammed), or special stations that aren't commonly used. Usually, if you purchase a scanner directly made by a solid brand name, then the manufacturer will program in many of your local stations for you.
