[Right_Handed_Writer]

The thing I like about it is its ability to handle trunked systems. Most major cities/towns are going to that type of system. And even here in Chicago I have a hard time filling up all 1000 channels. I reserve 2 full 100 channel banks just for "special" occasions. If something hot is going on I move the specific frequencies into my "event" bank so all I need to scan is that one bank. I keep one full bank for all local police, one for all fire, 3 for trunking, 1 for weather/storm spotters/skywarn/ham radio, 1 for O'Hare/aircraft and the 2 event banks. I keep the priority channel set to Chicago Fire main freq since they will be called for anything major. The only thing I wish it had was a sleep timer!!

[Myrddin]

There is a co-channel interference between NexTel iDEN cell phones and many 800 MHz trunked radios. The whole Pocatello Valley/Bannock county area will be replacing the current radio systems with 700 MHz trunked systems in the next year. Start saving your spare change for a new radio that will handle that range. It's going to be happening all over the country.

[HipShot]

Thanks! You sold me. I used a mobile Bearcat for a long time. It'd alarm when a repeater signal was detected; that came in handy OTR.

That scanner is probably one of the most important tools we could have as part of our preps, and as a way to alert each other on the thread if something is happening.