Many factors can be considered when attempting to receive signals.
1. The area you are scanning: Is it a big metropolitan city? Are you trying to receive Law Enforcement or Fire frequencies? Many of the bigger cities have now adopted APCO25 Digital Trunking and this particular model will not receive these signals.
2. Should you be in a Rural area there may not be much going on anyway. It may also help to have a bigger antenna located outside as high as you can mount it.
3. Try scanning the Amateur Radio bands 144-148, or 440-450. There is bound to be some activity there.
4. Try obtaining a frequency guide or search the net for frequencies in your area. Try the site link below and click the Reference database button.
www.radioreference.com
You may want to be patient when scanning as waiting proves to be a futile effort, I like to listen to the scanner secondary to what I am doing. Waiting for something to happen will drive you nuts! LOL :o)
Hope this tip prove helpful.
JTRadiojunkie