# handheld scanner troubles **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 10, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756 "2003-06-10T00:44:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SoulSearching](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SoulSearching](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulSearching)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/1 "2003-06-10T00:44:13Z")
I purchased a handheld scanner from radioshack today and am having problems getting it work function properly. i spent about an hour seraching frequencies and came up with virtually nothing. there was an occasional police scanner or two that i picked up but i figure i should be able to get a lot more, especially since i paid $$. to test, i turn on my cell phone and called my home phone (900mhz cordless) and searched both the cell and cordless frequencies. nothing came up, i can understand if my scanner has poor range but when both wireless phones are active in the same room, something must be wrong. can anyone help me? i need to be able to at least pick up my own wireless equipment in the same room. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/2 "2003-06-10T00:48:03Z")
If you bought a handheld scanner from Radio Shack, I doubt it even has coverage of the cell range. It may pick up cordless, but with a lot of newer phones you won’t be able to understand what was being said anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/3 "2003-06-10T00:52:20Z")
Not only will it _not_ pick up cellular and cordless conversations, but doing so is illegal in the US. If you want to test your scanner, use one of the 7 NOAA weather frequencies which broadcast continuously, 24 hours a day: 162.400 MHz 162.425 " 162.450 " 162.475 " 162.500 " 162.525 " 162.550 " One of these will be active within your area, most likely. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/4 "2003-06-10T00:53:51Z")
Incidentally, which model is it? I worked at RadioShack for a number of years. ---
**Author:** ![SoulSearching](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SoulSearching](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulSearching)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/5 "2003-06-10T00:57:43Z")
Pro-79 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/6 "2003-06-10T01:08:46Z")
Things to try: [ul] [li]Adjust your squelch control to the lowest setting that stops the shot noise “static”.[/li][li]Change your location. The rubber duckie antenna that comes with the scanner is fairly poor as antennas go (this is true for all rubber duckie antennas–don’t shout at RS). If you can get to the second floor or higher, try that, as height above ground is a major factor in range.[/li][li]Consider investing in a rooftop antenna. This will dramatically increase your reception range when you’re home.[/li][li]See [http://www.cityfreq.com:81/ga/](http://www.cityfreq.com:81/ga/)]this page for listings of scanner frequencies in your state (as listed in your location).[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/7 "2003-06-10T01:10:52Z")
Oops. [Fixed link.](http://www.cityfreq.com:81/ga/) ---
**Author:** ![Novus\_Opiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/858c86/32.png) [@Novus\_Opiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novus_Opiate)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/8 "2003-06-10T01:13:38Z")
It _will_ pick up cordless phones if you have one of the older model cordless phones that utilize frequencies around 43-49 mHz. Not that I’m advocating such a thing… All scanners leagally sold in the U.S. nowadays come with the 800 & 900 mHz phone bands (both cellular and cordless) blocked. However, if your scanner is like my Radio Shack scanner (Pro-91, I think) the phone will pick up some frequencies in the 800-900 mHz range, which used to be filled with signal harmonics from cell phones. I could usually recieve these well if I was close to the phone. But, now that most phones operate in encrypted digital mode (in the 1.2 gHz rangem if I’m not misteken), it’s kinda a moot point. Novus ---
**Author:** ![SoulSearching](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SoulSearching](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulSearching)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/9 "2003-06-10T01:14:34Z")
Thanks. but that still doesn’t explain why it won’t pick up my cordless or cellular phone. i know it is unlawful to do so but that is not my intention, i just need to see if it actually works. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/10 "2003-06-10T01:18:30Z")
You’re missing the point. Those frequencies are _intentionally_ blocked on all scanners sold after c. 1987 (IIRC). You can have the best scanner in the world and have your phone right next to it, and it _will not pick it up_. ---
**Author:** ![Greekigurli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Greekigurli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekigurli)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/11 "2003-06-10T06:19:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SoulSearching \* > \*\*Thanks. but that still doesn’t explain why it won’t pick up my cordless or cellular phone. i know it is unlawful to do so but that is not my intention, i just need to see if it actually works. \*\* Unless you can get your hands on an old scanner you won’t be able to hear cell phones. I have an old Pro-51 scanner that with a few keystrokes will open up the blocked cell freqs. I happened to buy this just in time because as soon as Radio Shack realized they left a door open on the scanner, they removed all of them from sale while they remanufactured the scanners. Also if you can get hold of an older scanner, it was always my understanding that listening to cordless phone conversations was not against the law. What was against the law was telling someone about a conversation that you heard on a scanner. ---
**Author:** ![Greekigurli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Greekigurli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekigurli)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/12 "2003-06-10T06:21:19Z")
Oh I forgot to mention that I had bought my scanner in 1994-95, the Pro-51. ---
**Author:** ![SoulSearching](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SoulSearching](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulSearching)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/13 "2003-06-10T12:57:53Z")
If your Pro-51 picks up both cell and cordless and was made after 1987 then Q.E.D. is wrong? ---
**Author:** ![SoulSearching](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SoulSearching](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulSearching)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/14 "2003-06-10T13:28:04Z")
Also, I don’t know if you have heard of the Pro-43, but it was also made after 1987 I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/15 "2003-06-10T13:59:22Z")
I have a PRO-71 that most certainly picks up some cordless phone conversations. I bought it at Radio Shack 5 years ago. It never picked up cell phones though. If you live near an airport you can try the air traffic band (roughly 112.00 - 130.00) ---
**Author:** ![Greekigurli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Greekigurli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekigurli)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/16 "2003-06-10T18:27:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SoulSearching \* > \*\*If your Pro-51 picks up both cell and cordless and was made after 1987 then Q.E.D. is wrong? \*\* Q.E.D. Was probably correct. What this scanner is able to do is enter a “TEST” mode. In that test mode, the scanner can access all of those freqs that are normally locked out. You can then scan those bands, when you get a cell call, hit manual then you can lock that freq into a memory that will be available once the test mod is turned off. [HERE](http://home.earthlink.net/~kvuo/pro51.html) is a page that tells how to get to the test mode on my scanner. All I did was search for pro-51 scanner and it was like the third result that came up. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/17 "2003-06-10T18:35:38Z")
> [@](#): > > The FCC also receives many inquiries regarding the interception > and recording of telephone conversations. To the extent these > conversations are radio transmissions, there would be no > violation of Section 705 if there were no divulgence or > beneficial use of the conversation. **Again, however, the mere > interception of some telephone-related radio transmissions, e.g., > cellular, cordless and landline conversations, may constitute a > criminal violation of other Federal or State statutes**. Further, > there are Federal and State tariffs that impose conditions for > recording telephone conversations. See Use of Recording Devices, > 2 FCC Rcd.502 (1987). From [this page.](http://www.qsl.net/kf4uel/fccwarn.htm) So, don’t do that. I suspect the staff would look dimly on further discussion of how to monitor such things. Bolding mine. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/18 "2003-06-10T18:37:25Z")
Like someone just did. ---
**Author:** ![Greekigurli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Greekigurli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekigurli)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/19 "2003-06-10T20:23:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Like someone just did. \*\* LOL It’s not illegal to link to such a page in a post. As your reference points out, it’s illegal to listen to the calls. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756/20 "2003-06-10T20:38:24Z")
Actually, [it is:](http://www.crbbooks.com/archives/scanner_scene_july_2001.htm) > [@](#): > > In 1994, it became illegal (in the U.S.) to manufacture, import, modify or sell scanners or converters able to tune cellphone frequencies, as well as scanners that could be readily modified to do so. while linking to the infomation may technically not be illegal, using such information is. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handheld-scanner-troubles/180756.md?page=2)