A digital trunking scanner allows you to follow the traffic on multiple channels by stopping on each one that has activity. This works much in that rather than have a single frequency for each entity, there is a “block” or group of frequencies that is used by all and a transmission on one may get a reply on another. This means that that it is constantly changing and the proper scanner is necessary to listen in with.

A trunking radio system lets a town use a single block of frequencies for all of its public service groups. Instead of 20 separate frequencies needing to be set aside for a single city, they may be able to use 10 and have what are known as “talkgroups.” A digital trunking scanner will allow you to follow all of the action, no matter where it moves to.

There is a control channel on each system that monitors the exact user group that has the radio in operation. Each time a person keys their microphone, a signal is sent the specific people in that user’s group. This then alters the radio in use to one of the available frequencies that is free of traffic.

This continuously changes from transmission to transmission. There is no way to follow a communication unless you have a trunking scanner. The initial transmission to the dispatcher may be on one frequency and the reply on a totally different one and a digital trunking scanner will follow this.

A trunking scanner is the only way to follow all of the action going on without the need to wait for the morning paper. This lets you stay up to date on what is happening in your area and is particularly useful for volunteers or emergency response personnel. These are all available online from a myriad of manufacturers and suppliers.