Don’t Be Like Scanner Stan and Ricky Radio

What You Need To Know

• Scanning is a hobby that many can find strange.
• In today’s age of “See Something, Say Something”, you don’t want to be the “Something” that people feel the need to report when you are out enjoying scanning.
• You don’t need to be Ricky radio. You don’t need to be on the news. You don’t need to be on somebody social media wall as unhinged.
• Think about how loud your scanner might be if you are using it around others
• Don’t draw attention to yourself by holding your radios out for everyone to see.
• There are still plenty of ways to enjoy scanning and be out in public and keep the equipment hidden in plain sight.
• Backpacks are coming common places these days for anyone out in public. Use one to conceal your scanner and antenna.
• You can blend in if you have a wired headset in your ear because there are a ton of people out there that are listening to portable devices.
• Wireless headphones do bring in a challenge. You need to find a Bluetooth transmitter that will plug into the speaker port or headset port on your scanner so that you can listen to it.
• There are plenty of options too if you do not want or cannot bring a scanner physically with you.
• There are plenty of apps that will allow us to listen on our phones.
• Setting up our own private audio feeds can be another option, so we have more control over what we are listening to.
• With cameras on every phone and people looking to post their side of their story, play it safe when out scanning.
• The last thing you want to do is be seen as a nut on someone’s social media account. There are many who post for “internet points” and do not take other people’s feelings into consideration when oversharing their own personal points of view.
• Remember that you are an ambassador to the hobby when out in public. Be polite, professional, and courteous.   Don’t give anyone a reason to make you and your actions an example and give scanning a bad name.
• If someone asks you to move, stop monitoring, or lower your volume, please respect their ask.
• It’s easier to relocate yourself somewhere else and let them think they’ve won then to argue with them.  Simply apologize (even if you did nothing wrong), relocate yourself, and then go back and enjoy monitoring without being bothered.

Are you looking for your first scanner radio?

Download our new e-guide, “5 Thinks You Need to Know Before Buying Your First Scanner”.   This free PDF is about 30 pages long and has 5 things you should look for, plus a few extra bonus items to make sure you make an educated purchase.

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