Versatile, compact, and easy to use, the Uniden BC72XLT handheld scanner offers a simple way to monitor the "action" bands, including police and fire channels (including rescue and paramedics), NOAA weather transmissions, business and industrial radio broadcasts, utilities, marine and amateur (ham radio) bands, air bands, and more. In short, the scanner keeps interested parties in the information loop. Of course, scanning the 32,000 available frequencies can be time-consuming and frustrating, which is why Uniden added such functions as Close Call capture technology, which instantly tunes to signals from nearby transmitters to help you detect and identify local signals, and a comprehensive memory that holds up to 100 programmed channels (10 per bank).The scanner also offers six preset service banks, with preset frequencies for police, fire/emergency, aircraft, ham, marine, and weather, making it easy to locate specific types of calls. And should you want to regularly monitor a few specific channels, you can designate them as "priority" channels. The BC72XLT will then check those channels every two seconds while it scans each bank, so you never miss an important transmission. Other scanning functions include 10 programmable search ranges for finding unlisted frequencies in your area and a two-second scan delay that lets you hear any replies to the original transmission before moving on.A scanner is fairly useless if you can't decipher the transmission, which is why the BC72XLT is outfitted with triple-conversion circuitry. The technology virtually eliminates any interference from IF images and clarifies the selected frequency, so you needn't strain to pick up certain words or phrases. And thanks to the key lock, you won't accidentally change the programming while carrying the scanner in your pocket. Add in a memory backup that preserves stored frequencies even if the scanner loses power and an easy-to-read, backlit display and you're ready for virtually any scanning situation.The scanner comes with a flexible antenna with a BNC connector, ensuring adequate reception in strong signal areas (a separately sold external antenna will further improve reception), along with an AC adapter. As an alternative, you can power the scanner using two AA alkaline or rechargeable batteries (the latter can even be recharged while in the scanner). The unit measures 2.75 by 4.5 by 1.25 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty. minimize