3 Best Radio Scanners for Beginners Reviewed

Scanners allow a keen radio user to listen to all types of broadcasts beyond what is available on a standard radio set, which is just commercial stations.

There are lots of different radio scanners available from analogue to digital and from those designed for home usage or those designed to be portable for when you are out and about.

Beginner enthusiasts need a radio that offers value for money to explore their new hobby and just the right amount of tech. Usability and ease of operation are essential.

This guide explores the three best radio scanners for beginners, looking at features, performance and cost to help you make an informed choice. 

	EDITOR'S CHOICE
	UNIDEN UBC-125XLT	WHISTLER WS1010 ANALOG	UNIDEN UBC-355CLT
Type	Handheld	Handheld	Desktop
Frequency Range	25-960MHZ	29-512 Mhz	25-960Mhz
Digital mode	Analog	Analog	Analog
Channel Memory	500	400	300
UK Band Plan	No	No	No
	VIEW PRODUCT	VIEW PRODUCT	VIEW PRODUCT

1. Uniden UBC-125XLT 25-960MHZ HANDHELD SCANNER

The Uniden UBC 125XLT is a quality and stylish handheld scanner that is both compact and robust for easy portable use. This scanner is hugely versatile, designed for indoors and outdoors.

It has programmed channels grouped into ten banks with 50 channels each, making it very easy for a beginner to use. It has Close Call and ten preset bands with CB channels, air traffic control and maritime frequencies.

With essential features like manual scan stop and skip to the next active channel, this scanner pitches it just right without too much irrelevant tech to baffle a new user. Add tags to frequencies for easy customisation.

2. WHISTLER WS1010 ANALOG HANDHELD SCANNER

This affordable and travel-friendly scanner provides access to the most common frequencies, including FM, police (US only) marine, fire departments, air, ham and weather transmissions (US only), all offered via a quick search button.

You can store all your favourite frequencies in 10 storage banks. The LCD screen is backlit, making it easy to view and program in low-light situations. A key lock function makes it impossible to accidentally change the channel or programming when you are on the move.

The ergonomic design makes this scanner portable and easy to use. A flexible antenna provides reception for strong local signals, along with a quick connect-disconnect function thanks to the BNC Connector. It is also possible to connect an external antenna to improve your reception of distant or weak signals. A handy scan delay will wait two seconds before searching for new channels.

3. UNIDEN UBC-355CLT 25-960MHZ DESKTOP SCANNER

The Uniden UBC 355CLT, designed and manufactured in Japan, is a quality mobile and base scanner in a stylish cabinet with a large speaker for excellent sound. It offers some unique features compared to other entry-level radio scanners.

You can hit the ground running as the fixed channels, placed in 8 banks, offer seven pre-programmed channels for popular frequencies like air and maritime. The handy Close Call function is also excellent for picking up other radio hams nearby using unique TM RF Capture technology.

The spec is high with a DC power cord, cigarette light, window mount, telescopic antenna, and mounting bracket. There is a backlit LCD for use in poor light conditions. The comprehensive instruction booklet is straightforward and easy to follow.

What Beginners Should Look for in a Radio Scanner

Type of Scanner

Scanners come in two main types, handheld and base/mobile, although PC-based units are also available. Working out which one will suit you best is simply a case of deciding where you will use the radio most.

Radio scanners are sometimes still referred to as police scanners in the US, as the early models were commonly used to listen in to local police station transmissions during the 1980s. A police scanner is the same as a radio scanner.  In the UK police transmissions are now encrypted so you can no longer listen to UK police transmissions on a radio scanner. 

If you are just using the radio at home, then a base unit is the better option. If you plan to head out and about and use a radio on the move, then a handheld version will suit you better.

If you are unsure and want to keep your options open, buy a handheld scanner, which will give you the ultimate flexibility.

Step Size

Scanners usually have various step sizes. Older scanners don’t, and the step sizes are often locked.

Step sizes determine the amount that you want to search by when scanning. It is essential to choose the right step size for efficient search so that you don’t skip any frequencies. When the scanner does stop, you also want it tuned accurately for the frequency.

Typically, these will range from 5/6.25/8.33/10/12.5/25/50khz steps. A good general guide for beginners is to stick to 6.5 and 12.5 kHz for VHF and UHF.

Scan Delay

Scan delay refers to how long the scanner will stop on a frequency before it starts scanning or searching again.

Scan delay is a handy feature as it allows time for a radio user to respond and stop the scanner from immediately moving on to search for another transmission.

The delay period varies from one scanner to another and is usually between two and thirty seconds, so check this feature carefully to suit your usage.

Lock Out

The lock-out feature lets you skip past transmissions that you don’t want to listen to and filters whilst you are searching.  

With the lock-out function, you no longer have to make the scanner continue manually. You can set it to automatic, and it will just ignore those transmissions.

This feature is helpful for transmissions you don’t want and some of your stored channels too. You can unlock locked-out channels at any time.

Hold 

Look out for a ‘hold’ button. It will arrest the scanner on the current channel or frequency, which can be handy for monitoring if something interesting is happening. The scanner will not move on until you press the hold button again.

Volume

Don’t assume that a physically large speaker will correspond with an impressive output level, as this is not always the case. User reviews act as a helpful guide, but some units do require the addition of a third-party speaker.

Close Call 

A Close Call function will allow you to pick up radio transmissions nearby, which is a great way to build a local scanning network.

Weather Alert System

In the US, a weather alert system is invaluable if you like to explore wild terrain with your radio scanner by your side. It alerts you to sudden weather changes or imminent and severe conditions.

The S.A.M.E system (Specific Area Message Encoding) is a feature to look out for when purchasing a scanner. It will alert you based on the code of your location.

Please note that the Weather Alert System is a function that is available in the US only. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Choose a Radio Scanner?

Before choosing a radio scanner, consider where you'll use it most. Handheld scanners are portable and versatile, perfect for on-the-go. Base scanners, used primarily at home or in a fixed location, offer robust features and stronger reception, and mobile scanners are well suited to vehicles.

What Specs Should I Look for in a Radio Scanner?

Start by looking for a scanner with a broad frequency range and adequate channel memory for storing frequencies. Also, think about scan speed, which is crucial for capturing transmissions quickly, and step size, which affects scanner tuning precision.

Conclusion

Scanners let you scan the airwaves and find out what’s happening in your local radio community.  If you are by the sea you can listen to the local harbour master directing shipping vessels. If you are by an airport or on a flight path you can listen to the pilots communicate to ground control. Or maybe you just want to listen in to the local security team patrolling your local supermarket.  You will be amazed by the level of radio communication that you can listen to across the airwaves. 

With so many options for scanners, it’s never been easier to listen to the rest of the planet — and there’s never been a more critical time with so much happening worldwide. An entry-level radio scanner will open up a whole new world of communications.

At Moonraker, we are a leading supplier of communications technologies for amateur and professional users in the radio community. Shop our selection for reliable, quality radios, scanners, and accessories.