Scanners

Having a scanner is a good way to gain valuable intelligence for any emergency or even non-emergencies.

In Hawaii having a Scanner that you can hear the Police and Fire is currently not available.  The Honolulu system is over 20 years old and is called Enhanced Digital Access Communication System, or EDACS. A scanner is not made that can decode these EDACS systems.

Honolulu is moving to a system called Project 25. This is a system that the Federal Government, Homeland Defense, would like all City and Counties to use so they will be compatible for any other agencies that came in to HELP in times of emergencies. They would be able to use the radio they use everyday, just reprogram the Honolulu Frequencies.  Honolulu believes it will take them about 3 years to transition over to Project 25. The ability to communicate with all first responders and any other agency allowed to patch into the system is called inter-operability.

“If we are inter-operating with other radio systems, it will all be based on the same standard (P25)."

The transition will not come cheap.  The move to upgrade all 18 communication towers and attached buildings will cost an estimated $86 million. Then the mobile radio units will come with a $45 million price tag. The biggest cost of the new system is to make sure all 18 towers can withstand Category Four hurricane winds of up to 156 miles an hour.

I currently have two scanners. One is an old Radio Shack scanner that can scan Air Traffic, Ham and Marine Frequency. It has Fire and Police but can't scan EDACS.  I recently bought a used Uniden Homepatrol Scanner. LINK Here. 

The Scanner receives good reviews as the easiest scanner to use. I must say that I agree. It comes out of the box ready to go. You can plug it into your computer and update software or firmware but all the frequencies are in the system. You can also download any new frequencies as well. So when Hawaii gets set up on Project 25, those freqs will be available for download. A bonus is this scanner is portable. It comes with a cigarette lighter plug adapter so you can put it in your vehicle and monitor on the go.  

Hawaii Scanner Freqs.
Aircraft Freqs.
HAM Freqs.

You can also listen to the Amateur Radio Operators (Hams) who are very active on Oahu, especially when something is going on. 


Most scanners also have weather channels and alerts as well.
The National Weather Service has seven radio channels, frequency modulated (FM) voice and data:
162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550.

I can currently listen to the Military Police, Federal Fire Fighters, Taxi company, bus companies, Security at hotels or malls and several others. 

Think about getting a scanner for your home. It can be a good piece of intel to have around. Once Hawaii goes to Project 25 then it will be even better.

LINK to news Article.

Be Ready, Be Prepared!

UPDATE: I used the scanner during the recent Hurricane Ana that skirted the Hawaiian Island to the South. I heard the Bus Dispatchers and the Taxi Drivers giving good updates on the conditions of the roads and oceans.