Which scanner to buy?

I don't know how much money you want to put into it, but if you go to any local racing, it pays to get a good scanner and headphones. We have had a Bearcat 180 scanner with nice headphones from Racing Electronics for a long time and I just recently upgraded the headphones to an intercom set for a very good price via eBay. If I had it to do all over again, this package is the one I'd buy today. http://cgi.ebay.com/Uniden-BC92XLT-...hZ008QQcategoryZ14956QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

This has all you would need.
  • 1 - Uniden BC92XLT Scanner (200 Channels)​
  • 2 - RACING RADIOS Scanner Intercom Headsets (24db Noise reduction)​
  • 1 - Tote Bag (Holds headsets, scanners, tickets, keys, etc. - Track Legal)​
  • 1 - Leg Strap (Free your hands, keeps the scanner secured and visible)​
  • 1 - Stubby Race Antenna (Perfect for track use)​
  • 1 - Nascar Frequency Guide (Nascar Cup, Busch and Truck Channels)​
 
Most scanners work well. I've had a Radio Shack brand for almost 10 years and havn't had one problem with it. Get a quality set of pro-type headphones. One of those will make all the difference in the world.
 
Warning! Some of the language heard on scanners is not nice. :D In fact, some of it is foul. :eek:
 
TexasRaceLady said:
I have the same scanner as buckaroo and love it.

Headphones are the key. Cheap ones just will not do.
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TRL, I think you'll agree that a 200 channel scanner is better than a 100 channel one because of the many different frequencies the drivers use.

Though we now seldome go to a big time Cup race, we use our scanner weekly and even there, some of our drivers use more than one frequencie and because of that, we have to try and remember what number is for what driver.

Most of the newer scanners have the capabilities of entering text so that you don't have to wonder who is showing up on your scanner.

Bump, believe it or not, the first driver I heard using such foul language was Terry Labonte in '95 at Martinsville. Whew, that very early caution got his dander going for sure.
 
All I no is that when your at the race a scanner is a must.
 
I went to a race this year without my normal equipment. No baggage at all. And you know what? I enjoyed it more than I expected. Just watched racing. No distractions. May do it again.
 
buckaroo said:
I don't know how much money you want to put into it, but if you go to any local racing, it pays to get a good scanner and headphones. We have had a Bearcat 180 scanner with nice headphones from Racing Electronics for a long time and I just recently upgraded the headphones to an intercom set for a very good price via eBay. If I had it to do all over again, this package is the one I'd buy today. http://cgi.ebay.com/Uniden-BC92XLT-...hZ008QQcategoryZ14956QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

This has all you would need.
  • 1 - Uniden BC92XLT Scanner (200 Channels)​
  • 2 - RACING RADIOS Scanner Intercom Headsets (24db Noise reduction)​
  • 1 - Tote Bag (Holds headsets, scanners, tickets, keys, etc. - Track Legal)​
  • 1 - Leg Strap (Free your hands, keeps the scanner secured and visible)​
  • 1 - Stubby Race Antenna (Perfect for track use)​
  • 1 - Nascar Frequency Guide (Nascar Cup, Busch and Truck Channels)​
Click to expand...

We have a very similar setup from Radio Shack. IMO the intercom is WELL worth the expense. And yes 200 channel is a must especially if you do local tracks too, you won't have to reprogram so much all the time.
 
Eagle1 said:
We have a very similar setup from Radio Shack. IMO the intercom is WELL worth the expense. And yes 200 channel is a must especially if you do local tracks too, you won't have to reprogram so much all the time.
Click to expand...

We bought our scanner setup from Racing Electronics and I'd had no problems save just one and that was the battery pack that my scanner uses. We were at one of the night races at Richmond and after the first lap, the scanner beeped and went dead. I turned it back on and again, it beeped and turned off. Said the battery was dead. My wife looked at me and I was dead as well. I wanted to quickly find another battery for my scanner, but all of the haulers that sold them were outside the fence and I wasn't even going to try and go out and get back in again. After the race, I stopped by the Racing Electronics hauler and bought a spare battery. The woman there said, "Why are you buying this now, the race is over?" I replied, "Because the battery I now have is dead and I don't have a replacement and I don't want that to happen again." The wife thought that I had forgotten to recharge the battery, but it turned out that the battery was just dead. I've since found a way around this (TRL if you want to find out how you can work around this, PM me) and I've vowed that the next scanner I buy will work on four AA batteries that can be purchase anywhere.

I also just recently purchase a pair of Radio Shack intercom headphones at eBay and they work great. I don't really care for the extra little box that is needed, but they are a Godsend. I paid $150 for those intercome headphones complete with the box and scanner cable. What a steal, and they don't make them any more. :(
 
I just bought these for $129.95 on ebay last night. My scanners are from Radio Shack, 200 channels.
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That's exactly the ones we have, we love them.

Yes Buck I understand the battary problems, we swithched and got the radio shack scanner so we use 4 AA battaries. I carry plenty of spares, get the big Energizer paks from Sam's.
 
I'm tired of having to yell at the hubby when I want to just tell him something. I've wanted to get a set of those ever since I bought the first scanner, but just never did. But, when buck posted the link to his "If I had to do it all over again" from ebay, I went searching for those. I didn't think the price was too bad either. Now, I have 2 extra headphones! :D

Oh, and before I forget, my scanners use 4 AA batteries. And, I do just like you do Eagle. Buy a big package of batteries.
 
majestyx said:
I just bought these for $129.95 on ebay last night. My scanners are from Radio Shack, 200 channels.
26_2.JPG
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Those are the ones that we bought as well. Good price. One thing I've found with these are that the ear pieces aren't covered with cloth like our other ones are and can then get pretty sweaty. The wife likes these better though for some reason. Also, it doesn't matter who pushes the talk button, the mike is open for all mikes.

Too bad Radio Shack doesn't make these any more and for anyone who is wanting to purchase them, I'd advise you to find them on eBay and snap them up.
 
majestyx said:
I'm tired of having to yell at the hubby when I want to just tell him something. I've wanted to get a set of those ever since I bought the first scanner, but just never did. But, when buck posted the link to his "If I had to do it all over again" from ebay, I went searching for those. I didn't think the price was too bad either. Now, I have 2 extra headphones! :D

Oh, and before I forget, my scanners use 4 AA batteries. And, I do just like you do Eagle. Buy a big package of batteries.
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Maj, we used 2 regular headsets when we took inlaws with us to a race, they couldn't talk to us :)bounce: ) but we could talk to them and they got to hear the radio chatter. They sat right behind ud so all the regular cables worked.
 
Eagle1 said:
Maj, we used 2 regular headsets when we took inlaws with us to a race, they couldn't talk to us :)bounce: ) but we could talk to them and they got to hear the radio chatter. They sat right behind ud so all the regular cables worked.
Click to expand...

We too have allowed others to use our other headphones and they loved so much that they went right out and bought a scanner and headphones. Not sure if they got intercom phones though.
 
Hey Canadian GP. Have you considered just renting one for a race to see if you like it? Not everyone does. And there's nothing wrong with that. :)
 
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