Scanner Listeners Shell Out Big Bucks to Keep Their Connection

Police scanner addicts prepare to replace the little black boxes that connect them to their community. The St. Joseph Police Department is moving to a digital system that will speed up communication with other emergency responders. The new technology has scanner bugs coughing up cash for digital upgrades. Avid scanner listeners Sharon and Chuck Matt speak scanner chatter because they`ve been tuning in since childhood. Sharon Matt said, "My daddy was a sheriff so he always had his on." Chuck Matt said, "My mom always had one around the house." The couple says their frequency-following addiction is fueled by concern for their kids. Sharon said, "We have 18 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren." One scratchy radio report hit close to home. "My daughter was involved in a very bad accident and we beat her to the hospital and we didn`t know if she was dead or alive." Their daughter survived and their love of listening grew. The kitchen, the living room, the entertainment room, and the car are all hot spots to hear what`s happening in St. Joseph. When they got word that their prized possessions are going to be phased out by digital 800 megahertz scanners they rushed to get an upgrade. Sharon said, "It`s second nature to me and I don`t want to do without it. It`s like I need this a lot of the things you here on the scanner you don`t read it in the newspaper." Police say the 27-year-old equipment was almost obsolete making it hard to repair. Police say the new computer-generated equipment will speed up report and response times. Commander Jim Connors said, "It allows us more flexibility and it allows us to handle more units in a smaller amount of spectrum space which is radio lingo for the amount of channels we`ll use. It also allows us to operate so you can have order out of the chaos." They say they can`t rebroadcast on old frequencies for analog scanners. Something some scanner junkies requested. "Part of our upgrade is a move to mobile data. We will be using our old radio frequencies so they won`t be available to use them because they`ll be tied up using data." Scanner fans will have to pay the price to stay connected. The Matt`s wait to test out their new equipment. "We just try to keep on top of it and we do what we can to help. It`s just part of my life." Digital scanners can cost more than $400 dollars but the Matt`s bought one for $150 bucks. Police expect the new digital radio system to be ready by October.