The 8 Best vehicle Police Scanners (2023 reviews)

If you often find yourself scrambling for good scanner, this should be your first option for buying. There are so many features that take your time and watch a lot of YouTube videos to get the most out of the scanner. It will work with Hytera XPT, MotoTRBO Capacity + and Connect + and DMR Tier III. It does have options for the armature to do the closest search using gps and zip code.

This radio is easy to use right out of the box, you can enter your zip code and it starts scanning. Your scanner’s Replay feature will instantly replay the transmissions you’ve just heard. It picks up both digiTAL AND ANALOG. The display is very good and readable, and the color clearly makes a large number of fields understandable. It takes a lot of knowledge to make it function at its best.

Why We Like This:

Gets severe interference in urban and dense radio signal environments
Simple to set up and get going
Nice large screen size and can program color display
Customizable 8 khz sample rate µ-law logging recorder replays audio and display data

Best With internal speaker: Uniden Nice Scanner

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The uniden nice scanner is capable of outshining several other products featured in this list in overall features in its price range. Uniden's BCD996p2 digital base/mobile scanner is a full-featured design with the serious hobbyist in mind. This mobile scanner radio offers 25, 000 channels with an advanced dynamic memory system, trunktracker v technology, and more. It has a.c. plug and cord that comes with it. The sound quality is outstanding and it's a very nice looking unit to boot.

This is really easy to program when using the programming software that you must download from the Uniden website, but it is money well spent. The scanner comes with some channels programmed, which you can use or discard, at your pleasure. It's a feature packed receiver.

Why We Like This:

Computer program makes it easy to load frequencies
External outside antennas also add to user's ability to pick up distant broadcasts
Good brand reputation

Best For North America: Uniden USB Cable

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Uniden has been making great scanner for years, thanks to a combination of clever design and appropriate materials. The Sentinel software comes with the device and is also the means of updating the national database as often as weekly. It will act as a removable device in windows. It comes with software that allows you to program any frequencies into any new or existing favorites list including text description etc. There is the ability to save specific channels to a custom bank, as well as the ability to manually enter specific frequencies. It will run on house current IF you have an AC to USB adapter.

Love this thing, all you could ask for and more, Easy setup, Works great. It is compatible with windows, and the software is required for proper functioning of the device. A selection bar lets you set the range in 2 mile increments.

Why We Like This:

Excellent, interface means novice can use and then progress in usage sophistication
Easy to use, intuitive menu system, attractive screens
Has a large national database that you can update with home patrol sentinel software
Great no problems at all listen to all the action

Best For Railroad: Uniden Ham Radio

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The uniden ham radio is capable of outshining several other products featured in this list in overall features for the price point. This sophisticated scanner has 300 user users. It looks really nice and comes with an ac adapter. It is a must buy for scanner fans. It is a compact handheld scanner that is ideal for listening to events as they unfold. It features, the orange backlight display is easy to read, even in low light conditions. The single knob is also the squelch adjustment. It can also be downloaded for easier reading. It does a great job for weather news.

Why We Like This:

You can scan for transmissions on the stored channels
Nice blacklight to see display at night
Excellent scanner at a low cost
Programable channels in a convenient compact design with loads of features

Best For price: Uniden Good Scanner

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The uniden good scanner is capable of outshining several other products featured in this list in overall features for the price point. This pre-programmed search makes it easier to find active frequencies and helps you stay on top of local happenings and emergencies in your area. It lets you lock out frequencies that have continuous or uninteresting communications so that searching is faster. The unit works very well with the telescoping antenna and its compact size is a big plus.

The Bc355n comes complete with a backlit display, making it easier to read in low light conditions, along with ac adapter, a dc power cable and an automotive power outlet plug, giving you more options for supplying power at home or in your car. The solid antenna for indoor use works well. This is really a good scanner for it's size. The system works great and you can lock out what stations you do not want temp.

Why We Like This:

Easy to program to the frequencies you want
Great size, doesn't take up much room
Good investment for long term

Best With FM Radio: Uniden Digital Scanner

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The uniden digital scanner is capable of outshining several other products featured in this list in overall features in its price range. Location-based scanning automatically selects programmed systems based on your location when connected to a compatible gps receiver. It works, and its great and full featured, but there is certainly a learning curve. It has one antenna bnc connector on the rear. The bracket allows some tilt of the units face up and down to fit mounting applications. It is reasonably easy to program for your area using third-party computer software and online radio data sources.

The unit can be manually a set for steps from 5.0 kHz to 100.0 kHz. The controls are easy to operate. It is well organized, so you can group channels easily, and edit properties of individual channels. It is a free download and will allow you to program your scanner a lot more easily and most importantly for FREE.

Why We Like This:

Receives well and has good audio
Computer programing is the easiest way
One of the new comers and featured product

Best For cell phone: Uniden Mobile Scanner

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Next on the list, we've got yet another product that manages to win our hearts. It's the uniden mobile scanner and it's widely considered as one of the best convenient products you can buy. The home Patrol is easy to set up and works for all of the police across the usa and the EMS and much more. The BCC355c features close call rf capture technology, which allows it to instantly tune to signals from nearby transmitters, so you can stay on top of what's going on in your vicinity. It allows you to program up to 300 channels, including police, ambulance, fire, amateur radio, weather and more. The fact that it includes a mounting bracket and antenna for your auto is another nice feature making it easy to go from home to a vehicle,(check your local laws) overall a nice scanner.

The included modile antenna is a nice touch. The scanner comes with an ac wall wart type adapter, a mounting bracket, and a dc power cable for mobile use. This feature lets you lock out frequencies that have continuous or uninteresting communications, allowing faster access to your favorite channels. The mobile antenna helps you get clear reception while moving.

Why We Like This:

Comes with auto power plug for your car
, great item, easy to mount in vehicle
Easy to operate, easy to program only what you want to hear and
Receives the emergency channel which dispatches fire ambulance, etc

Best With Emergency calls: Uniden Bearcat Handheld Radio Scanner

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Compared with other products by Uniden, the uniden bearcat handheld radio scanner has a convenient design. To find a multi-band scanner which has aviation frequencies, is portable and inexpensive, this one can't be beat. This feature separates multiple frequencies into 10 categories which can then be turned on or off of scanning. It can also pick up police, emergency services, marine, racing, family radios,etc and more.

From a usability and quality perspective, this is a great scanner. It feels solid like a quality made product. This allows you to choose only those services which you're interested in, and removes scanning of frequencies to speed up what do you hear. The radio can recharge these while installed, and it has a switch inside depending on which you use. It also has the abilty to lock out channels on a temporary basis as well as be able to scan for nearby signals.

Why We Like This:

Great little scanner, nice features, very clear audio
Works great, easy to program, and sound is clear
Comes with radio, computer interface cable, owners manual, and two rechargeable batteries
Scans all the frequencies you could dream of