Best products from r/policescanner
We found 15 comments on r/policescanner discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 12 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital Handheld Scanner. TrunkTracker V, Simple Programming, S.A.M.E. Emergency/Weather Alert, Covers USA and Canada
- The BCD436HP is the first scanner to incorporate the HomePatrol-1 ease of use in a traditional handheld scanner. Plus, Uniden's exclusive Close Call RF Capture feature, GPS Connectivity, Extra-Large Display, Radio System Analysis and Discover Modes put the most advanced scanner features ever right in the palm of your hand.
- Simple to operate, no programming needed. Simply turn it on, enter your zip code, and TrunkTracker V does the rest.
- This user-friendly digital scanner will immediately begin receiving communications used by Public Safety, Police, Fire, EMS, Ambulance, Aircraft, Military, Weather, and more.Scan Speed - 85 channels per second
- This functionality is made possible by combining the rich radio system database from Radio Reference with Uniden's patented radio system selection methods to correctly identify and monitor only nearby systems in the USA/Canada.
- Whether it is across town or across the street, the BCD436HP keeps you informed. Now with the largest display on the market and more advanced features, the BCD436HP makes a superior unit for the scanner enthusiast..Instant Replay – Plays back up to 240 seconds (4 minutes) of the most recent transmissions..Custom Alerts – You can program your scanner to alert when you receive, a Channel or Unit ID, a Close Call hit, an ID is transmitted with an Emergency Alert, or a Tone-out hit. For each alert in the scanner, you can select from 9 different tone patterns, 15 volume settings, 7 colors, and 3 flash patterns.
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions2. Nooelec NESDR Mini USB RTL-SDR & ADS-B Receiver Set, RTL2832U & R820T Tuner, MCX Input. Low-Cost Software Defined Radio Compatible with Many SDR Software Packages. R820T Tuner & ESD-Safe Antenna Input
- Included: Nooelec USB dongle & antenna
- RTL2832U interface IC & R820T tuner IC on USB dongle
- These are custom USB devices tuned for SDR and include much better components than generics (see description below)
- Full 1-year warranty & installation support available!
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions3. Uniden BC75XLT, 300-Channel Handheld Scanner, Emergency, Marine, Auto Racing, CB Radio, NOAA Weather, and More. Compact Design. (New replacement model, Replaced by Uniden SR30C Bearcat)
- 300 channels , 10 Programmable Search Ranges
- Vhf low/high, uhf frequencies
- Close call RF capture Technology with do Not disturb
- Pc programming port & free software
- Narrow band compatible
- Operating system: Linux
- 300 Channels: You can program up to 300 channels into the scanner's memory, 30 channels in each of 10 banks. Then, you can scan for transmissions on the stored channels
- Close Call RF Capture Technology: Close Call automatically detects and tunes to nearby transmissions, even if the frequency isn't programmed into a channel
- Runs on 2 AA alkaline or Simple USB charging allows you to recharge your scanner's batteries from a computer, or adapters for many wireless telephones
- Narrowband Compliant: Properly tunes to channels using the Narrowband modulation now required for business and public safety operation
- Ten Preprogrammed Service Search Bands: Easily search for frequencies typically used by Police, Fire/Emergency, Marine, Racing, Civil Air, Ham Radio, Railroad, CB Radio, Weather, and more
- Refer user manual below.
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions4. 100-Watt Portable Generator Power Station, 40800mAh 151Wh CPAP Battery Pack, Home Camping Emergency Power Supply Charged by Solar Panel/Wall Outlet/Car with Dual 110V AC Inverter, DC 12V, USB Ports
POWERFUL AC, USB AND 12V OUTPUTS KEEP ALL YOUR DEVICES CHARGED UP: Whether you’re looking to keep iPhone, iPad, laptop, DSLR camera charged up, or running lights, CPAP machine and small appliances in an off-grid or power outage, the Paxcess portable power station features a variety of outputs, inc...
▼ Read Reddit mentions5. RTL-SDR Blog SMA Male to SMA M, BNC F, Type N F, Type F F, UHF F, PAL F RG316 20cm Pigtail Adapters Kit
SMA Male to various common female connectors. Including BNC F, Type N F, Type F F, UHF F and PAL F.Perfect for RTL-SDR Blog SMA dongles. Be prepared to connect to almost any antenna or device.Included is a bonus SMA M adapter for many common devices like upconverters which have SMA F connectors.Uses...
▼ Read Reddit mentions6. Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Handheld Scanner. 500 Alpha-Tagged channels. Public Safety, Police, Fire, Emergency, Marine, Military Aircraft, and Auto Racing Scanner. Lightweight, Portable Design.
- LISTEN IN AND STAY INFORMED, this sophisticated scanner has 500 alpha-tagged channels in a convenient compact design with loads of features. Close Call RF capture technology instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters and the Do Not Disturb Mode prevents Close Call checks during a transmission.
- LISTEN TO OVER 40,000 FREQUENCIES, you can listen to both civilian and military bands, including Non-Digital Police, Ambulance, Fire, Weather, Marine, Aircraft, Railroad, Civil Air, Amateur radio services, and Racing events.
- SEARCH MORE EFFICIENTLY with 500 Alpha-Tagged Channels finding the channel you want to listen to is easy, with 500 channels divided into 10 storage banks. Organize your channels by department, location, area of interest, or any other way you prefer. Alpha Tagging lets you assign names to your channels, so you can keep track of who you are listening to.
- LIGHTWIEGHT PORTABLE DESIGN, take this Bearcat handheld radio scanner with you on the road, or on outings. It packs plenty of features, the orange backlight display is easy to read, even in low light conditions.
- GET STARTED LISTENING RIGHT AWAY with convenient Pre-sets for the most popular searches. Frequencies are preset in ten separate Non -Digital Police/Fire/Emergency, Ham, Marine, Railroad, Civil Air, Military Air, CB Radio, FRS/GMRS/MURS, and Racing search bands. This makes it easy to find channels that interest you.
- EXCELLENT HAND-HELD SCANNER (Please note: model BC125AT is NOT suitable for Trunking or Digital Radio system monitoring, (e.g. Project 25, DMR, NXDN). Some Police/Fire/Emergency/Public Safety Agencies in larger cities are switching over to DIGITAL Trunking systems. If you live in an area where Trunking or Digital Radio systems are used, you need to upgrade to a Uniden Digital model (“D” stands for Digital), such as models BCD436HP, BCD536HP, BCD996P2, BCD325P2, or HomePatrol-2.
- NOTE: The product does not have 2-way communication, is only a scanner for receiving radio transmissions
- How can we help? Uniden Customer Support web site is designed to conveniently walk you through product setup and troubleshooting, Web site: https://uniden.com/pages/support-1 . Contact customer support at email: custsupport@uniden.com or phone: 1-800-297-1023.
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions7. Uniden SDS100 True I/Q Digital Handheld Scanner, Designed for Improved Digital Performance in Weak-Signal and Simulcast Areas, Rugged / Weather Resistant JIS 4 Construction
- SDS100: True I/Q receiver design for improved digital performance in weak-signal and simulcast areas
- SDS100: Rugged/ weather resistant jis 4 construction
- SDS100: Li-Ion battery
- SDS100: Improved UI with 3 contextual soft keys that Change function based on the current operation
- SDS100: Customizable color LCD: user can modify color and what is displayed
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions8. Whistler WS1040 Handheld Digital Scanner Radio
- Menu Driven Programming with Context Sensitive Help - Each menu item provides a few lines of help text that provide assistance with programming and using the scanner
- Scan List-functionality allows you to arrange, group and scan objects according to your preference;Lock-out Function
- Skywarn Storm Spotter Functionality - Instant access to frequencies used by storm spotter networks
- Digital AGC - Instantly compensates for low user audio levels that are common on digital systems
- If you pressed the FIRE icon button it is possible that the frequencies pre-programmed in the scanner do not include your area. These Pre-programmed frequencies are generally common Police/Fire frequencies
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions9. Nooelec NESDR Smart v4 Bundle - Premium RTL-SDR w/Aluminum Enclosure, 0.5PPM TCXO, SMA Input & 3 Antennas. RTL2832U & R820T2-Based Software Defined Radio.
- Premium RTL-SDR bundle includes newly designed NESDR SMArt in beautiful brushed aluminum enclosure, re-designed antenna base with 2m (6.5') RG-58 feed cable, and 3 antenna masts. Proudly built by Nooelec in the USA and Canada! Full 2-year product warranty
- A wide variety of improvements on other designs, including ultra-low phase noise 0.5PPM TCXO, RF-suitable voltage regulator, custom heatsink, 2 silicone pads and SMA female connector
- Designed from the ground up to reduce USB port occlusion. Run multiple NESDR SMArt side-by-side with any USB-compliant device, including tightly-spaced embedded devices like the Raspberry Pi
- SDR frequency capability approximately 25MHz-1700MHz. Frequency range can be extended down to 100kHz or lower with the Ham It Up, available on Amazon (Product ID B009LQT3G6)
- An 8pc SMA adapter set and carrying case is also available on Amazon (Product ID B073JT98RR)
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions10. Tram 1410 Broad Band Discone/Scanner Base Antenna
Wideband reception covering 25/1300 MHzTransmit bands 144-220-440-900-1290 MHzRust free stainless steel structureMax power 200 WattsSWR < 1/5: 11 3/8" maximum mast diameterUHF female (SO-239) connector8 lower radials 32 3/4"8 upper radials 11 1/4"
▼ Read Reddit mentions11. Uniden PRO505XL 40-Channel CB Radio. Pro-Series, Compact Design. Public Address (PA) Function. Instant Emergency Channel 9, External Speaker Jack, Large Easy to Read Display. - Black
- COMPACT & AFFORDABLE; The PRO505XL is ideal for CB users seeking an affordable CB Radio with Public Address, Instant Channel 9 Emergency Button, Channel Up/Down Buttons, and S/RF Meter.
- DURABLE & EASY TO USE; The PRO505XL Compact CB Radio uses advanced microelectronics to pack plenty of power and features into a modern, compact design; Offers full 40-channel operation with dynamic squelch control for crisp, clear sound.
- BACKLIT LCD DISPLAY; With an orange backlit LCD display, this Bearcat CB radio is optimized for day or night viewing, view the current channel, the volume, and other features on the display.
- SQUELCH CONTROL; Dynamic squelch control for optimal sound, turn the squelch knob to adjust the level at which the radio suppresses weak radio signals, this provides you with high-quality sound.
- 40 CHANNEL OPERATION; Enjoy the complete range of 40 CB radio channels to communicate with those around you; The backlit display is easy to read, even in low light conditions.
- INCLUDED IN THE BOX; CB Radio, Microphone and Hook, Mounting Hardware, Knobs, Mounting Bracket, User's Manual; CB Radio antenna required, not included, sold separately.
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions12. Whistler WS1065 Desktop Digital Scanner,Black
- Menu Driven Programming with Context Sensitive Help - Each menu item provides a few lines of help text that provide assistance with programming and using the scanner
- Scan List-functionality allows you to arrange, group and scan objects according to your preference. Memory Backup - Frequencies remain stored in memory for an extended time even without batteries.
- Free-Form Memory Organization - Allocation of memory dynamically and efficiently as it is needed. This differs from low cost and older scanners that had memory organized in rigid and wasteful memory banks
- Skywarn Storm Spotter Function - Instant access to frequencies used by storm spotter networks. Multi-System Trunking. Tune - Find new and unlisted frequencies starting from a specified frequency
- Digital AGC - Instantly compensates for low user audio levels that are common on digital systems
- Scans most common trunked radio system signaling formats, including Motorola, EDACS, LTR and P25 trunked radio networks. Both talkgroup and individual call monitoring are supported
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentionsTop comments mentioning products on r/policescanner:
Summary
1. Uniden BCD436HP HomePatrol Series Digital Handheld Scanner. TrunkTracker V, Simple Programming, S.A.M.E. Emergency/Weather Alert, Covers USA and Canada
- The BCD436HP is the first scanner to incorporate the HomePatrol-1 ease of use in a traditional handheld scanner. Plus, Uniden's exclusive Close Call RF Capture feature, GPS Connectivity, Extra-Large Display, Radio System Analysis and Discover Modes put the most advanced scanner features ever right in the palm of your hand.
- Simple to operate, no programming needed. Simply turn it on, enter your zip code, and TrunkTracker V does the rest.
- This user-friendly digital scanner will immediately begin receiving communications used by Public Safety, Police, Fire, EMS, Ambulance, Aircraft, Military, Weather, and more.Scan Speed - 85 channels per second
- This functionality is made possible by combining the rich radio system database from Radio Reference with Uniden's patented radio system selection methods to correctly identify and monitor only nearby systems in the USA/Canada.
- Whether it is across town or across the street, the BCD436HP keeps you informed. Now with the largest display on the market and more advanced features, the BCD436HP makes a superior unit for the scanner enthusiast..Instant Replay – Plays back up to 240 seconds (4 minutes) of the most recent transmissions..Custom Alerts – You can program your scanner to alert when you receive, a Channel or Unit ID, a Close Call hit, an ID is transmitted with an Emergency Alert, or a Tone-out hit. For each alert in the scanner, you can select from 9 different tone patterns, 15 volume settings, 7 colors, and 3 flash patterns.
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions2. Nooelec NESDR Mini USB RTL-SDR & ADS-B Receiver Set, RTL2832U & R820T Tuner, MCX Input. Low-Cost Software Defined Radio Compatible with Many SDR Software Packages. R820T Tuner & ESD-Safe Antenna Input
- Included: Nooelec USB dongle & antenna
- RTL2832U interface IC & R820T tuner IC on USB dongle
- These are custom USB devices tuned for SDR and include much better components than generics (see description below)
- Full 1-year warranty & installation support available!
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions3. Uniden BC75XLT, 300-Channel Handheld Scanner, Emergency, Marine, Auto Racing, CB Radio, NOAA Weather, and More. Compact Design. (New replacement model, Replaced by Uniden SR30C Bearcat)
- 300 channels , 10 Programmable Search Ranges
- Vhf low/high, uhf frequencies
- Close call RF capture Technology with do Not disturb
- Pc programming port & free software
- Narrow band compatible
- Operating system: Linux
- 300 Channels: You can program up to 300 channels into the scanner's memory, 30 channels in each of 10 banks. Then, you can scan for transmissions on the stored channels
- Close Call RF Capture Technology: Close Call automatically detects and tunes to nearby transmissions, even if the frequency isn't programmed into a channel
- Runs on 2 AA alkaline or Simple USB charging allows you to recharge your scanner's batteries from a computer, or adapters for many wireless telephones
- Narrowband Compliant: Properly tunes to channels using the Narrowband modulation now required for business and public safety operation
- Ten Preprogrammed Service Search Bands: Easily search for frequencies typically used by Police, Fire/Emergency, Marine, Racing, Civil Air, Ham Radio, Railroad, CB Radio, Weather, and more
- Refer user manual below.
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions4. 100-Watt Portable Generator Power Station, 40800mAh 151Wh CPAP Battery Pack, Home Camping Emergency Power Supply Charged by Solar Panel/Wall Outlet/Car with Dual 110V AC Inverter, DC 12V, USB Ports
POWERFUL AC, USB AND 12V OUTPUTS KEEP ALL YOUR DEVICES CHARGED UP: Whether you’re looking to keep iPhone, iPad, laptop, DSLR camera charged up, or running lights, CPAP machine and small appliances in an off-grid or power outage, the Paxcess portable power station features a variety of outputs, inc...
▼ Read Reddit mentions5. RTL-SDR Blog SMA Male to SMA M, BNC F, Type N F, Type F F, UHF F, PAL F RG316 20cm Pigtail Adapters Kit
SMA Male to various common female connectors. Including BNC F, Type N F, Type F F, UHF F and PAL F.Perfect for RTL-SDR Blog SMA dongles. Be prepared to connect to almost any antenna or device.Included is a bonus SMA M adapter for many common devices like upconverters which have SMA F connectors.Uses...
▼ Read Reddit mentions6. Uniden Bearcat BC125AT Handheld Scanner. 500 Alpha-Tagged channels. Public Safety, Police, Fire, Emergency, Marine, Military Aircraft, and Auto Racing Scanner. Lightweight, Portable Design.
- LISTEN IN AND STAY INFORMED, this sophisticated scanner has 500 alpha-tagged channels in a convenient compact design with loads of features. Close Call RF capture technology instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters and the Do Not Disturb Mode prevents Close Call checks during a transmission.
- LISTEN TO OVER 40,000 FREQUENCIES, you can listen to both civilian and military bands, including Non-Digital Police, Ambulance, Fire, Weather, Marine, Aircraft, Railroad, Civil Air, Amateur radio services, and Racing events.
- SEARCH MORE EFFICIENTLY with 500 Alpha-Tagged Channels finding the channel you want to listen to is easy, with 500 channels divided into 10 storage banks. Organize your channels by department, location, area of interest, or any other way you prefer. Alpha Tagging lets you assign names to your channels, so you can keep track of who you are listening to.
- LIGHTWIEGHT PORTABLE DESIGN, take this Bearcat handheld radio scanner with you on the road, or on outings. It packs plenty of features, the orange backlight display is easy to read, even in low light conditions.
- GET STARTED LISTENING RIGHT AWAY with convenient Pre-sets for the most popular searches. Frequencies are preset in ten separate Non -Digital Police/Fire/Emergency, Ham, Marine, Railroad, Civil Air, Military Air, CB Radio, FRS/GMRS/MURS, and Racing search bands. This makes it easy to find channels that interest you.
- EXCELLENT HAND-HELD SCANNER (Please note: model BC125AT is NOT suitable for Trunking or Digital Radio system monitoring, (e.g. Project 25, DMR, NXDN). Some Police/Fire/Emergency/Public Safety Agencies in larger cities are switching over to DIGITAL Trunking systems. If you live in an area where Trunking or Digital Radio systems are used, you need to upgrade to a Uniden Digital model (“D” stands for Digital), such as models BCD436HP, BCD536HP, BCD996P2, BCD325P2, or HomePatrol-2.
- NOTE: The product does not have 2-way communication, is only a scanner for receiving radio transmissions
- How can we help? Uniden Customer Support web site is designed to conveniently walk you through product setup and troubleshooting, Web site: https://uniden.com/pages/support-1 . Contact customer support at email: custsupport@uniden.com or phone: 1-800-297-1023.
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions7. Uniden SDS100 True I/Q Digital Handheld Scanner, Designed for Improved Digital Performance in Weak-Signal and Simulcast Areas, Rugged / Weather Resistant JIS 4 Construction
- SDS100: True I/Q receiver design for improved digital performance in weak-signal and simulcast areas
- SDS100: Rugged/ weather resistant jis 4 construction
- SDS100: Li-Ion battery
- SDS100: Improved UI with 3 contextual soft keys that Change function based on the current operation
- SDS100: Customizable color LCD: user can modify color and what is displayed
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions8. Whistler WS1040 Handheld Digital Scanner Radio
- Menu Driven Programming with Context Sensitive Help - Each menu item provides a few lines of help text that provide assistance with programming and using the scanner
- Scan List-functionality allows you to arrange, group and scan objects according to your preference;Lock-out Function
- Skywarn Storm Spotter Functionality - Instant access to frequencies used by storm spotter networks
- Digital AGC - Instantly compensates for low user audio levels that are common on digital systems
- If you pressed the FIRE icon button it is possible that the frequencies pre-programmed in the scanner do not include your area. These Pre-programmed frequencies are generally common Police/Fire frequencies
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions9. Nooelec NESDR Smart v4 Bundle - Premium RTL-SDR w/Aluminum Enclosure, 0.5PPM TCXO, SMA Input & 3 Antennas. RTL2832U & R820T2-Based Software Defined Radio.
- Premium RTL-SDR bundle includes newly designed NESDR SMArt in beautiful brushed aluminum enclosure, re-designed antenna base with 2m (6.5') RG-58 feed cable, and 3 antenna masts. Proudly built by Nooelec in the USA and Canada! Full 2-year product warranty
- A wide variety of improvements on other designs, including ultra-low phase noise 0.5PPM TCXO, RF-suitable voltage regulator, custom heatsink, 2 silicone pads and SMA female connector
- Designed from the ground up to reduce USB port occlusion. Run multiple NESDR SMArt side-by-side with any USB-compliant device, including tightly-spaced embedded devices like the Raspberry Pi
- SDR frequency capability approximately 25MHz-1700MHz. Frequency range can be extended down to 100kHz or lower with the Ham It Up, available on Amazon (Product ID B009LQT3G6)
- An 8pc SMA adapter set and carrying case is also available on Amazon (Product ID B073JT98RR)
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions10. Tram 1410 Broad Band Discone/Scanner Base Antenna
Wideband reception covering 25/1300 MHzTransmit bands 144-220-440-900-1290 MHzRust free stainless steel structureMax power 200 WattsSWR < 1/5: 11 3/8" maximum mast diameterUHF female (SO-239) connector8 lower radials 32 3/4"8 upper radials 11 1/4"
▼ Read Reddit mentions11. Uniden PRO505XL 40-Channel CB Radio. Pro-Series, Compact Design. Public Address (PA) Function. Instant Emergency Channel 9, External Speaker Jack, Large Easy to Read Display. - Black
- COMPACT & AFFORDABLE; The PRO505XL is ideal for CB users seeking an affordable CB Radio with Public Address, Instant Channel 9 Emergency Button, Channel Up/Down Buttons, and S/RF Meter.
- DURABLE & EASY TO USE; The PRO505XL Compact CB Radio uses advanced microelectronics to pack plenty of power and features into a modern, compact design; Offers full 40-channel operation with dynamic squelch control for crisp, clear sound.
- BACKLIT LCD DISPLAY; With an orange backlit LCD display, this Bearcat CB radio is optimized for day or night viewing, view the current channel, the volume, and other features on the display.
- SQUELCH CONTROL; Dynamic squelch control for optimal sound, turn the squelch knob to adjust the level at which the radio suppresses weak radio signals, this provides you with high-quality sound.
- 40 CHANNEL OPERATION; Enjoy the complete range of 40 CB radio channels to communicate with those around you; The backlit display is easy to read, even in low light conditions.
- INCLUDED IN THE BOX; CB Radio, Microphone and Hook, Mounting Hardware, Knobs, Mounting Bracket, User's Manual; CB Radio antenna required, not included, sold separately.
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions12. Whistler WS1065 Desktop Digital Scanner,Black
- Menu Driven Programming with Context Sensitive Help - Each menu item provides a few lines of help text that provide assistance with programming and using the scanner
- Scan List-functionality allows you to arrange, group and scan objects according to your preference. Memory Backup - Frequencies remain stored in memory for an extended time even without batteries.
- Free-Form Memory Organization - Allocation of memory dynamically and efficiently as it is needed. This differs from low cost and older scanners that had memory organized in rigid and wasteful memory banks
- Skywarn Storm Spotter Function - Instant access to frequencies used by storm spotter networks. Multi-System Trunking. Tune - Find new and unlisted frequencies starting from a specified frequency
- Digital AGC - Instantly compensates for low user audio levels that are common on digital systems
- Scans most common trunked radio system signaling formats, including Motorola, EDACS, LTR and P25 trunked radio networks. Both talkgroup and individual call monitoring are supported
Features:
▼ Read Reddit mentions
You can read about it here. It is between 108 and 137 MHz and is AM modulated. Like 2gigch1 said, you need a good antenna. Here is an homemade antenna that works great for me. If it's for plane spotting you can buy an handheld like the Uniden BC75XLT. The better the line of sight, the better the signal will be. If you go the SDR route, there is an awesome project: rtl_airband (works great on raspberry pi). Have fun!
/u/naturalorange has you on the right track.
Here is the link to the firmware update and instructions for the scanner: http://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BCD536HPFirmwareUpdate
What area of the country are you in and what type of things do you like to listen to? The type of radio systems in your area will give us a better idea of the best type of antenna to use. A discone is the best type to cover everything reasonably well, but you can think of it like a crossover car. Not very good at being a car, truck or van, but just ok. If your area only has 800MHz digital radio systems, a discone won't be your best choice.
The 536 doesn't have an internal battery, but because it runs on 12v DC you can wire it directly to a car battery. It can be permanently installed in a car, or you could power it during a power outage or emergency that way. Another option is a DC battery booster like a car jump pack. The 536 draws between a half and 3/4amp normally when on, so a small emergency battery pack like this will power the scanner for about 2 days before needing to be recharged.
https://smile.amazon.com/100-Watt-Portable-Generator-Inverter-Emergency/dp/B01M3S00H0/
I provide the scanner feed for my area and I had been using a Bearcat to receive on. A friend of a friend got me started with SDR and I've seen a HUGE improvement. I live on the south side of town but I'm getting a great signal from all over.
You need two of the SDR dongles (they are cheap on Amazon) and just follow this guide.
Buying the next step down - about $400 (plus for AC adapter cable etc.) without the cool color display but also the easy setup. Hopefully a lot easier than my ancient Radio Shack handheld that doesn't hear anything any more as everyone's gone trunking here (some encrypted, so Broadcastify will still be needed).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I33XDAK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
The actual antenna connector on the radio is SMA, but as /u/plague421 pointed out, it includes a BNC adapter as well. Of course you can get adapters for pretty much any other antenna connector as well.
this is so very helpful thank you very much for your detailed answer. i guess i mispoke, to clarify, i want to listen to the entire san gabriel valley dispatch (going from pasadena to duarte). i live in pasadena specifically. so to simplify all this in my mind, i can buy:
https://www.amazon.com/Uniden-Bearcat-Channel-Numeric-BC125AT/dp/B00772MR0K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1465509830&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Uniden+BC125AT
Which is the Uniden BC125AT.
and listen to both pasadena and los angeles county police stations? i'm just trying to wrap my head around all of this. once again thanks
So, while Goshen PD is on FM Narrow, the rest of the law enforcement appears to be on the P25 Phase I unencrypted. Unfortunately this means unless you want to listen to just Goshen and the airport, you'll need a more expensive receiver.
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I'm a big fan of this one as it has programming software that is super easy to get through (and everything is done for you, no manually programming - just select what you want and go).
Thank you so much for all your help
Would this one work?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01GDN1T4S/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1502832090&amp;sr=8-2-spons&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=rtl-sdr+tcxo&amp;psc=1
Would something like this work, how much would it increase the range by https://www.amazon.com/Tram-1410-Discone-Scanner-Antenna/dp/B00QVPGKHU?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&amp;tag=duckduckgo-d-20&amp;linkCode=xm2&amp;camp=2025&amp;creative=165953&amp;creativeASIN=B00QVPGKHU
Thats a lot of gear. May i suggest a cb radio, dont know about yours but by baofengs dont pick up on the cb radio freqs.
Something like this https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B005ZLB0E4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_iUnUDbNWAGT9A
That information in the link says p25 phase 1. So that scanner wont work.
You would need https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IID3OLI/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_dufIxb3SPET9Z
I bought one of these a couple years ago
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009U7WZCA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
and got the SDR# software
but I never managed to get it working properly so I kinda gave up and ended up buying a uniden bearcat police scanner