Reader Chip Ossman asks some reasonable questions:
A while back I purchased a scanner.
But, I really don’t know how to use it effectively (buy first, learn second, probably not a path to fiscal reward, but, the philosophy has worked on occasion… the Apple IIe comes to mind)
Is there a nice web site that really tells us how to “enjoy” our scanner?
What frequencies do you listen to for learning about Altadena happenings?
Can it be used more as a “radio” than a “scanner”? – Where it is preset to the best frequency for Altadena info?
Perhaps a little link item on the left “favorite scanner frequencies” ?
Maybe I’m not the only altadenablog fan who wonders?
Or maybe I am…
Nonsense, Chip! Reasonable questions all -- particularly when incidents of major police activity like Thursday night's suicide on Santa Rosa occur, or things like earthquakes or forest fires (our scanner was really helpful during the Station Fire to keep abreast of what the sheriff's department was dealing with in Altadena during the evacuation madness). Scanners can also be amusing -- we listen to the Pasadena PD frequency on New Year's Eve to keep up with the antics of the drunks on Colorado Blvd.
Our bible (well, besides THE Bible) is a distressingly thick book called the Southern California Scanner Directory, sold at www.CaliforniaScanner.com. It has more frequencies than one will ever use, as well as useful information like police codes.
We have a $75 on sale Radio Shack "Weather Alert" which can hold 200 frequencies (analog only -- the only nearby digital-only agency of interest would be Pasadena Fire, but going digital will add about $500 to the price of your scanner). Our favorite frequencies are:
Sheriff Dispatch (base): 483.9875 (used by the Altadena/Crescenta Valley base)
Sheriff Dispatch (mobile) 486.9875 (used by radio cars to talk to base)
Sheriff L-tac (local tactical, used by radio cars to talk to each other, Altadena/Crescenta Valley/Santa Clarita) 483.1125
ATAC-1 North (area tactical, used for major incidents, units from several stations) 483.087
CTAC-1 (Countywide tactical) 482.8125
CTAC-2 (countywide tactical) 482.8375
County fire response: 470.4125
County fire dispatch: 470.5375
County fire fireground: 154.0700
