Does anyone know how to use one of those radio scanner thingies? I'm completely stumped by mine.

[Brickbat]

I'm trying to listen in on the railroad radio traffic (I know! GEEK!) and the thing is totally non-intuitive. The manual is worse than useless to people who have no idea what they're doing (that would be me) but just want to tune in on the radio traffic and hear people they know and try to figure out where the trains are (that would also be me).

I don't mean a police-type scanner, I mean a hand-held radio thingy. You know, one of those. I have the radio frequencies I need to be listening to; I just can't figure out how to make the radio listen to those frequencies. And I don't know what "trunking" is, either.

If anyone can walk me through it, I'd be grateful. I should probably just register on a train web site, but I'm too lazy.

[DBoon]

1. they are all different

I'm afraid the best bet is to read the manual. If you don't have it - see if the manufacturer has it online.

Programming these type of radios is pure hell.

[Brickbat]

2. I have to say I'm happy to hear that programming it is pure hell. I thought it was just me. Sigh --

maybe I'll just have to crack open a bottle of wine and sit down with the manual and the radio and try again. When, you know, I have like three hours to kill.