RadioBanter - View Single Post - Can a FRS radio "fry" a scanner? Motorol vs RadioShack FRS channels

February 23rd 06, 02:14 AM posted to rec.radio.scanner

On 22 Feb 2006 09:12:10 -0800, wrote:

My family often uses Motorola Talkabout and Radio Shack FRS radios.
Once my daughter pressed on the PTT button while standing within 6-7
feet of me. After this, the channel I had been using on my reciever
was broken (although all the other channels worked just fine).

I have now aquired a Radio Shack PRO-97 scanner which I use for, among
other things, monitoring my kids playing outside. Is there a risk that
a close-distance transmission from my kids could "fry" my scanner or,
at least, one of its frequencies/channels?

I regularly run 30 watts with my scanner turned on (with the internal
antenna inside the car and the transmitting antenna outside the car).
You'll find that many people and even public service departments and
media organizations do the same. Would I put my scanner near my
transmitting antenna? No. But I checked out the Close Call function
of my BCD396T with a 5 watt portable about 2 feet away.

BTW, the only way to "break" a single channel in a scanner would be if
it were crystal controlled and the crystal broke. You might knock out
a band, or a group of bands, but not just one channel. If the scanner
was programmable maybe you should have tried reprogramming it.