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So yeah, I have another hobby involving buttons, blinking lights and expensive toys... This time it's radio scanning.  My neighbor got a scanner as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago. He let me fart around with it for a few days this year. In that time I found and programmed about seventy channels into his scanner. When I gave it back, I decided that I really needed one of my own - one that was better than my neighbor's! After some research, I decided to get the Uniden Bearcat BC780XLT TrunkTracker III 500 Channel Scanner.  It has a very slick front panel and is capable of remote operation by computer via an RS232 port on the back. It can receive channels from 25.0 MHz to 1300.0 MHz Of course, the AMPS band cell phone frequencies are locked out. Strange that they are allowed to call it continuous band coverage... continuous, with gaps? You can also label each channel with a name that will show on the display when there is active traffic. All in all, a most excellent radio.

People ask why scan? For me, beyond the basic blinking lights and buttons appeal, it is the hunt more than anything else. It's a challenge to find channels with activity, then try to deduce what the channel is. I have become very enlightened as to the day to day operations of our police and fire departments.  It is becoming apparent that some cities have much more activity than others in my area. Fortunately, my city is rather quiet. Activity seems to peak on full moons. I'll need a few more months of observation before I can confirm that.