Computer Based Radio

I just bought my husband the Grace Digital Ecorox Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker. from Costco. It sounds pretty nice for a small speaker. I still want to buy the Bose Soundlink for me. :)

You can buy blue tooth transmitters and receivers for around $25. I have a BT transmitter hooked to my directv receiver via RCA connectors and transmit to my bose BT speakers. Works awesome. Can also use my iPhone via BT to connect to bose system. You could use the BT transmitter with your laptop via the audio jack. BT sounds way better than modulated fm transmitters. My bose BT speaker also has a rechargeable battery built in so I can take it anywhere in the house and even on the patio or garage.

Here is what I got.
Blue tooth transmitter


And Bose

Ah for the good old days when Detroit Police actually published instructions on how to listen in to their brand new radio system....

Short story
Bank robbery
Michigan State Police radio was not yet licensed. (FCC refused to license)
Stuff left out
Troopers were dispatched to blockade points the old fashion way (not by radio)
"Dispatcher" Got on the radio and "Disptached" troopers to primary blockade positions (NO troopers went to those since they got their orders differently)

Robbers heard the radio transmission so took a secondary route.. Which took them .... straight to the pokey with Smokey cause that was where the troopers were.

License arrived 2 days later by express mail.

Lukas123 wrote:

bcsdguy wrote:

RoyB wrote:

I also use the internet for a radio scanner now. All of the local police went digital and all of my older scanners don't work anymore. So now i listen to the locals and anywhere else I used to live at and keep tabs on what is going on POLICE wise.

Roy Ken

Is there an app for that or a website for finding scanner info?

There are a ton of scanner apps out there but I'd recommend Police Scanner +. Here is an article about it - http://www.zipscanners.com/resources/best-police-scanner/#15

You can also pick up digital signals on a police scanner - you just need a digital scanner (not an analog or trunked scanner), which will run you $400-$500, to get them.

that's the APCO25 protocol, but it doesn't mean that you can pick up encrypted transmissions, and unfortunately a large number of police and fire departments are going that way.

bcsdguy wrote:

RoyB wrote:

I also use the internet for a radio scanner now. All of the local police went digital and all of my older scanners don't work anymore. So now i listen to the locals and anywhere else I used to live at and keep tabs on what is going on POLICE wise.

Roy Ken

Is there an app for that or a website for finding scanner info?

There are a ton of scanner apps out there but I'd recommend Police Scanner +. Here is an article about it - http://www.zipscanners.com/resources/best-police-scanner/#15

You can also pick up digital signals on a police scanner - you just need a digital scanner (not an analog or trunked scanner), which will run you $400-$500, to get them.

I use a little battery-powered FM transmitter (about $14.00) that simply plugs into the audio headphone jack, and transmits the audio to any FM radio in the vicinity. Available at Amazon, Radio Shack, eBay, etc.

bcsdguy wrote:

RoyB wrote:

I also use the internet for a radio scanner now. All of the local police went digital and all of my older scanners don't work anymore. So now i listen to the locals and anywhere else I used to live at and keep tabs on what is going on POLICE wise.

Roy Ken

Is there an app for that or a website for finding scanner info?

yup, several. just do a search for 'police scanner' in the app store or wherever android apps are kept. I have a couple that were free.

RoyB wrote:

I also use the internet for a radio scanner now. All of the local police went digital and all of my older scanners don't work anymore. So now i listen to the locals and anywhere else I used to live at and keep tabs on what is going on POLICE wise.

Roy Ken

Is there an app for that or a website for finding scanner info?

Well, depending on your setup, you may NOT need to go wireless.

If your sound system or radio has audio inputs (usually AUX), you can use the headphone jack of your laptop to connect to that with a simply "Y" connector. It'll only cost you a few bucks at radio shack.

5thwheeleroldman wrote:
I'm the original OP. Thanks, sounds like some of this should work. My problem is I barely understand the language you all are talking. How do I know if my notebook (HP Pavilion dv6-2162hr) is bluetooth compatible? I guess some of these things don't require bluetooth, though?

I'm the original OP. Thanks, sounds like some of this should work. My problem is I barely understand the language you all are talking. How do I know if my notebook (HP Pavilion dv6-2162hr) is bluetooth compatible? I guess some of these things don't require bluetooth, though?