ScanIntr.txt The following is a guide to the hobby of monitoring the Public Service bands, and some general tips for beginners to the hobby. This guide is broken down into 3 parts: (1) EQUIPMENT (2) SCANNING TIPS (3) SECTION 605, ECPA OF 1986, RESPONSIBILTY EQUIPMENT --------------------------------------------------------- SCANNER TYPES: tunable, crystal, programable Tunable: Many types of tunable recievers are available to the scanner user. most of these have poor image rejection and were low-end units or mutiband type radios. These were subject to intermod and are only good for a few very strong signals and local coverage. Poor choice. Crystal: Crystal-controlled scanners have been around since the 60's. These radios very from 1 channel to as many as 16 and are very good performers. They allow a set, 1 frequency- 1 channel capability, and have good image rejection and filtering. These radios allow the first time user to sample frequencies at relativly low cost per channel, about 5 dollars per crystal. Crystal controlled recievers are also good for professional users as the cost is low and most Public Service users only need to monitor a few set interim channels. Programable: These are by far the best for the serious scanner hobbiest. Programable recievers have good S/N figures, good image rejection, and for the most part very little intermodulation. They also allow greater flexability by allowing the user to change channels without spending money for crystals. Most all of the programable radios have LED or LCD readouts that give frequency, channel number, and other user information. All have memory backup to retain the contents of what has been programed. Programable recievers are by far the best cost per dollar units. These radios use to cost 300 to 700 dollars a few years ago but with computer technology, low IC cost , they now can be had for a little over 100.00. The main compromise in price these days for a programable scanner, is channels, frequency coverage, and special features. A minimum setup would be 20 channels, and the 118-136 Mhz aircraft band. 150.00 for this setup. * Scanner Tips * Now that the radio is sitting there, how do you know what frequencies to enter ? Most manuals that come with scanners have a spectrum breakdown to help new users find a ballpark area of interest. Frequency Spectrum Breakdown 30Mhz to 512Mhz 30 to 50 low-band VHF military,police,fire,business, new cordless phones 46-49mhz mostly older systems in rural areas,mobile phone(not used in larger areas.paging systems used extensivly.Subject to long range skip conditions and solar activity. 50 to 54 Mhz Amateur 6 meter band 54 to 72 MHz TV Ch. 2-6 72 to 88 Mhz low power industrial 88 to 108 Mhz FM Broadcast Band 108 to 136 MHz (AM) Aircraft band,Tower frequencies start at 118.000 136 to 144 Mhz land mobile Military, Fed Govt. 144 to 148 Mhz Amatuer 2 meter band 148 to 150.6 Mhz Military, Fed Govt. 150.6 to 152 Mhz Business 152 to 153 Mhz RCC mobile phones and taxi cabs 153 to 154 Mhz Public Transportation 154 to 155 Mhz fire depts. 155 to 156 Mhz State police 156 to 157 Mhz Marine Band,ship to coast,ship to ship, Coast Guard, Bridges, toll Booths, Locks, inter-coastal waterways. 157 to 158 Mhz Marine operations, Coast Guard. 156.800, Distress,Calling 158 to 160 Mhz State Police 160 to 162 Mhz Marine phone, various users 162 to 174 Mhz Fed Govt. including all agencies 174 to 220 Mhz TV Ch.7-14 220 to 225 Mhz Amatuer radio 225 to 400 Mhz UHF Aircraft (Military), Satellites, Experimental Work 400 to 406 Mhz Wx Satelittes 406 to 420 Mhz Fed Govt land mobile 430 to 440Mhz Fixed, Amateurs 440 to 450 Mhz Amatuer 70cm Band 450 to 453 Mhz Business, Power co.'s 453 to 454 Mhz Local Police Depts. 454 to 455 Mhz RCC Mobile Phone 455 to 456 Mhz TV News Teams,Rebroadcasts 456 to 458 Mhz Public Transport,Business,etc. 458 to 460 Mhz Local Police Depts. 460 to 460.5 Mhz Local Police Depts. 460.5 to 461 Mhz Local Fire Depts. 462 to 463 Mhz Business,GMR Service,REACT Teams 463 to 464 Mhz Fire Dept. (Med Ch's) 464 to 470 Mhz Public Safety,Industrial,Land Transportation 470 to 512 Mhz Broadcasting,Shared With Local Public Safety and other users. As you can see there is a lot of ground to cover or monitor. Antennas: Most of the antennas that come with these radios are sufficient for local area coverage up to 75 mile radius from the listening post. If you can put up and external antenna, your range can be up to 200 miles or more depending on the antenna type. External antennas: Omni: omnidirectional, 360 degree radius signal pickup. Yagi: directional, high gain beam: high gain, highly directional discone: high gain, wide bandwith, omnidirectional Your choice of external antennas depends on what services you are looking to hear most. Beam antennas are good for long range, single frequency coverage. Omni's pull in many signals, where discone and yagi's tend to have higher gain and wider bandwiths. A good compromise to all these antennas is the Discone, with wide coverage and good signal puling power. Once you have your radio and antenna set up, keep in mind these tips: keep your squelch control at a low theshhold level, you will hear more. Weak stations can sometimes be improved by re-orienting your antenna. Use NOAA Wx. stations for your area, when aligning your antenna or testing. These stations are continuous broadcast and can gauge reciever/antenna performance. Strong carriers can either be real signals or harmonics caused by other equipment, computers, printers, clocks, TV's, etc. Reorienting the scanner antenna sometimes will keep these signal from locking up the scanner. If the area you are in is really bad, you can buy filters that lock out these adjacent signals. Some phantom signals are caused by the radio itself. These are called "intermod" and "birdies", Intermod is caused by two internally generated signals causing a third order harmonic that locks up the scanner. "Birdies" are caused by clock and timing signals in microprocessor controlled radio's, most of these occurr at only a few frequencies over the entire range of the radio and can not be locked out. Most makers of scanners have installed filters to keep this from happening. SEARCH SCANNING: Searching for new frequencies with a programable scanner is accomplished by entering "upper and lower" frequency limits. A word of note, only enter a 1 megahertz search area. The reason for this is, the smaller the search area the more likelyhood of finding new frequencies .I.E 155-156 mhz. Another tip is to put the delay function on during search mode. This allows you to note the frequency and also allows for a reply. When monitoring a transmission, take notes as to ID codes and or FCC call letters. Most public service users are required to ID their station at least once every 5 minutes. OTHER TIPS: Inclement weather, storms, major events etc. have a tendency to increase radio traffic. During storms, monitor local road crews, rescue services, and other public service bands. The local officials generally are the people " out in the thick of it", and you can gleen much info on area road conditions or detours etc. from this monitoring. MOBILE INSTALLATIONS: Check first your local laws covering radios capable of monitoring police frequencies in a vehicle, before installing a scanner in your car. The city of Philadephia at one time had a law making it illegal and a 1st offense punishable by a 500.00 dollar fine and confiscation of the equipment. Most radios today have a 12 volt DC negative ground option or jack for modile use. Once a suitable location and power requirements are met, all that is left is mounting the unit and running the antenna. These instructions are generally included in the owners manual. **** SECTION 605, ECPA, AND RESPONSIBILITY **** As a hobbiest, it is important to observe a few rules pertaining to the scanner hobby. First use of information overheard via a scanner for personal gain, criminal purposes, or interference with public safety, is not only illegal but strongly enforced. Chasing ambulances, fire trucks etc. will cause you to quickly loose your licence and may get you arrested. Other responsibilty falls into one important category: Restraint. If you happen to stumble across a set of frequencies used by local or federal law enforcement officials, keep in mind that disclosure of any information you may hear could interfere with a drug stake-out, hostage situation, or other life threatening senario. There are situations where news media people, in their zeal to cover a story have caused the deaths of hostages after showing up on a scene after overhearing the operation on their scanners. Police, Fire and Goverment officials have jobs to do, and don't need interference from the public. Keep what you hear to yourself. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 This bill which is a bill designed by the cellular lobby (and others) to restrict what you can and cannot listen to. In it's present form it makes it illegal to "willfully" monitor any two-way communication primarily seen as closed to the public. This includes mobile phone, STL links, SCA services, and certain other services, this law is seen by the FCC and the Justice Dept. as being unenforcable, but as with any bad law it will no doubt have to be tested in court before it is reformed or rewritten. Footnote: Scanning can be and enjoyable hobby and give the listener a better insight into where his/her tax dollars are being spent. Public servants are there for helping the people and enforcing the laws. The United States is one of the few countrys in the world where monitoring is allowed, It is a privilage that few other countries show their citizens. Be responsible and enjoy!