I was cleaning the closet the other day and ran across my old radio logbook for listening to the police scanner. I haven’t logged in a long time—but it is a great idea! One that I need to do more of. But, I am excited about the idea of carving out more time to actively listen and log the calls of the El Paso Area.
1. Record of the Calls
The first reason to keep a logbook is to recording the calls that I hear. This provides a record for me to go back days, if not years and relive some of the action that I heard. It preserves the call in a different form that would be kept in the police records; this would invariably contain context and commentary of my interaction with what I am hearing.
2. Improve Listening Skills
Keeping a regular log book also improves listening skills. If I am listening to copy down what I hear, I will pay attention much more. Logging is a simple way to force this improvement. It would also help the enjoyment of the hobby by actively listening to what is going on instead of passively listing and not getting the full picture.
3. Focused Listening Enjoyment
The final reason to keep a regular scanning logbook is to get the most out of the hobby. There are many times that I will listen to the scanner while I am getting ready for bed or getting ready for the day. Although I enjoy listening, this is not the way to get the most from the hobby. To get the most from this hobby, it is best to set aside time to listen and process what is going on. It is important to unfold a map or find on online to get down to the streets where the action is taking place. More and more maps are harder to find—but I’ve always enjoyed having a map handy to follow the calls as they come across the scanner.
These are three simple reasons, but I think the last one is the most important. I have always sought to have a great police scanner. I keep it up-to-date with the latest frequencies. I put much work into getting exactly what I want to listen to—this much work deserves to be recorded. Maybe I’ll start tonight.
Do you have a Radio Scanning Logbook? Why do you record what you listen to? Feel free to leave a comment and join the conversation!