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11Jan 2022 by Phil No Comments
2022 Scanner Crash Course

2022 Scanner Crash Course

Podcasts
On today’s episode, I will go through my slides on my presentation for Ham Radio University, which I normally do every year. This is my practice run for the presentation that I gave at HRU on January 8, 2022. If HRU publishes the presentation, we will follow up with a link. This presentation is for those who are new to the scanner radio hobby, or need a quick reset and want to have a bit of a refresher on some scanner radio topics and terms. If you need more help with your scanner, you can book me for a 1 hour tutoring session at www.scannerschool.com/tutoring   (more…)
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28Dec 2021 by Phil No Comments
Encryption? No Problem! with Kenneth Fowler

Encryption? No Problem! with Kenneth Fowler

Podcasts
Kenneth Fowler, a past guest several times over, is today’s guest on the podcast. Kenneth and I discuss how encryption has changed his scanning habits. His local police and fire have encrypted, but this has not stopped Kenneth from enjoying the scanner radio hobby. Today, Kenneth shares how he is scanning other agencies to gather the same information he would have received if he was listening to police or fire.   (more…)
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14Dec 2021 by Phil No Comments
Home Weather Stations

Home Weather Stations

Podcasts
Many podcast episodes are written and recorded weeks in advance. I could have never imagined that vicious storms would have rolled through the lower mid-west states this past weekend resulting in a tornado that was on the ground for more than 200 miles. I hope that those who have lost their homes and property are safe and are able to rebuild.   (more…)
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30Nov 2021 by Phil No Comments
Plectrons and Early Fire Alerting

Plectrons and Early Fire Alerting

Podcasts
Gregg Johnson and I discuss Plectrons and early fire alerting methods before portable radios and pagers were commonplace. We discuss the history of Plectron receivers and how volunteer firefighters were alerted to calls before they had in-home radio alerting or portable receivers.   (more…)
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23Nov 2021 by Phil No Comments
2021 SDR Holiday Buyer’s Guide

2021 SDR Holiday Buyer’s Guide

Podcasts
It is time for our annual radio buyer’s guide. In the past few years, I have offered a list of scanners that I would recommend. However, since there haven’t been any new releases in the scanner radio world in the last few years, I do not want to repeat the same information that I gave you last year. Instead, I’m going to give you my recommendation for Software Defined Radios. This list will include what to stay away from, and what radios I recommend from beginners to advanced SDR users.   Why cover Software Defined Radios?  Because I believe that the future of scanner radios will somehow be part of the software-defined radio hobby.   (more…)
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16Nov 2021 by Phil No Comments
Baofeng Alternatives

Baofeng Alternatives

Podcasts
Let’s talk about some Baofeng Options. Our objective is to find a radio that has the same price point that many Baofeng models come in at, but are better value for the money. We will be looking at some handheld radios that are less than $100 that might be worth investing in.   (more…)
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09Nov 2021 by Phil No Comments
Baofeng Pros and Cons

Baofeng Pros and Cons

Podcasts
If you listen to the podcast, it’s no big secret that I give Baofeng and similar radios a bad rap. Not surprisingly, I have a list of things I dislike about these radios. But as shocking as it sounds, I have a larger list of things that are great about these affordable two way radios that many use as scanner radios.   (more…)
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