In theory, the portable versus mobile/base scanners should be the same as far as reception quality, however, the mobile/base units often have the better or more powerful audio output but the electronics are essentially the same when it comes to reception of signals. The same antennas may be used between the portables and mobiles/bases in general.
Really, it all depends on what you want. If you don't really care to carry your scanner around a mobile/base would be fine. Some people buy the DIN (car radio dash size standard) sized scanners and install them nicely in their vehicles where a portable user would sit it in a seat, cup holder, or buy some type of mount for car use.
With the paragraph above, the difference between portable and mobile/base scanners boils down to mobility preferences. You are also less likely to repeatedly drop and break your mobile because it is more likely to stay in one place; however, you can buy a rugged case for your portable scanner. The mobile/bases are generally easier to read and control since there is more room for more buttons (less function calls as with a portable) and more room for a larger display. Even with the Bearcat radios there are remote control head kits available (I think GRE's have this option as well?). Another neat thing about the portables, they tend to have a frequency counter/capturer for near field transmissions and so might the mobile/base but you can get places your car can not get with a portable.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Handheld Mobile Scanner.
The company is the world’s best Medicine Scanner Online supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
You can get an analog VHF/UHF handheld radio that is less expensive than a scanner, and since you have a general license, you can talk on that radio as well. Heck, some of those radios are around $25. You could get 2 of them for ~$50, and have each one scan different frequencies.
Personally, I, myself, would not buy a brand new handheld analog scanner. For a couple reasons.
1) You can find used analog scanners at garage sales and online marketplaces for as little as $1. I just bought a Radio Shack Pro-2017 for $1 at a garage sale last week; and I bought a Uniden BCT-15X for $40 on FB Marketplace last week also. People get rid of used analog scanners for dirt cheap because most places have moved over to digital radio systems, and these casual scanner listeners don't think their analog scanners are worth anything if they can't hear police and fire departments.
2) A lot of places have switched to digital radio systems, and an analog scanner is not capable of receiving those systems. If your county isn't digital, one of your neighboring counties probably are, and if you bought a digital handheld scanner you could potentially listen to them when you travel there.
In closing, unless there are specific needs for wanting a brand new handheld analog scanner, there are likely more-capable options available for less money.
For more information, please visit Nfc Door Access Control.