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Where Can I Find Frequencies? (Read 1135 times)
May 13th, 2009 at 10:29pm
Triple_7   Ex Member

 
I was lucky enough to be given a hand held multi-band radio a couple days ago and finally got around to making use of it tonight.  Picks up on the Weather, Police, Air, CB, TV1, and FM.

I tuned into the Air band to see if I could pick anything up.  So far I've only found one frequency range that seems to have anything.  I've heard a couple of flights loud and clear while most are pretty distorted with static.  One was still over Ohio, American 363 from New York to Chicago was the last one I could hear clearly. 

So I'm curious, where might I find a list of frequencies in the area so I know an area to tune into them a little easier.  Its not a digital readout so I have to play with a range till somebody talks.  Right now I'm somewhere between 125MHz and 136MHz.  Closer to 136.  Kind of interesting to listen in, especially if I get the chance during the day when the sky above is really busy.  Right now half the problem is severe storms that are approaching causing a lot of static while tuning in anything from the west.
 
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Reply #1 - May 13th, 2009 at 11:14pm

BFMF   Offline
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You could get an aeronautical chart or airport/facility directory... Wink
 
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Reply #2 - May 14th, 2009 at 12:07am

Mictheslik   Offline
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Have a trawl of the internet.....Wink

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Reply #3 - May 14th, 2009 at 12:12am
Triple_7   Ex Member

 
Will see what I can find, I only ask because I haven't been able to find much as of yet Smiley

Seems though I managed to tune into a Chicago frequency.  Picking up all kinds of interesting communications, according to FlightAware there is about 7+ flights in a holding patter just north of my town right now thanks to Chicago getting hammered by storms.  

What I would give to be able to take a trip to Fort Wayne in the morning to catch departures.  Seems like a few flights are diverting.  There's a JetBlue ERJ-190 that just landed there 15 minutes ago that was flying from JFK-ORD.  Judging by the radar there will be a few more interesting birds landing there shortly...FWA is usually quiet at night, but not now Shocked  So far there's 2 flights that originated in New York heading for ORD that have touched down at FWA.  Edit that...there's now a flight from Charleston, West Virginia just turned around and heading this way Tongue  Edit again, add a Wichita, Kansas flight inbound as well Shocked  FWA isn't this busy even at the peak hours of the day Shocked  Keeps this up I just might schedule a road trip at sun up Roll Eyes

Given the wind is picking up something fierce here its going to be a bad night when all this hits.  The main line of storms is still in Illinois but the wind is gusting over 40mph right now Shocked  Worst kind too, hot and humid, these storms look to be hitting us hard in a couple hours Sad
 
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Reply #4 - May 14th, 2009 at 1:10am
U4EA   Ex Member

 
I'm a huge scanner geek!  We were using scanners at races when they were still relatively big (think Motorola P50) and people looked at ya funny for using headphones......now they're literally everywhere.

Methinks 121.500 is the universal emergency freq.  Aside from that, when ya got some freetime, and it's "rush hour" at your local aerodrome(s), and your scanner has a progammable freq search feature........

......118.000 for your low limit, 136.9875 for your high limit....

Then you can pause on 'hits' and either use the auto-program feature, if thusly equipped, or jot down the actives you find to input after your listening session.

Hope dis helps!
 
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Reply #5 - May 14th, 2009 at 1:16am

BFMF   Offline
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I've been wanting a scanner for years, but never got around to it. What's a good handheld scanner that can pick up a wide range of frequencies?
 
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Reply #6 - May 14th, 2009 at 1:46am
U4EA   Ex Member

 
BFMF wrote on May 14th, 2009 at 1:16am:
I've been wanting a scanner for years, but never got around to it. What's a good handheld scanner that can pick up a wide range of frequencies?


Uniden makes some excellent models.  But I've gone thru two in the last 12 or so years.  Both of them started eating batteries at ever increasing rates

So my newest (last summer) is Radio Shack's "Race 1000".  10 banks of 100 channels each, easy search-scan programming, easy manual programming, 8 pre-programmed search banks of popular freqs(CB, air, marine, ham, FRS/Gmrs...etc.) 

Figured I'd try another Radio Shack unit due to the fact that my first scanner, a 60 channel jobber, is still going strong with the ORIGINAL four rechargable AA batteries(also Radio Shack)!  It amazes me that this puppy still works, despite countless drops, mishaps, wet a time or two.....

The "Race 1000" is small-ish, but very feature-packed, and equals the Unidens I've had to 'retire'.

There's all kinds out there.  BUT, you DO get what you pay for!  You want a nice scanner? Probably $149 to $200.

 
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Reply #7 - May 14th, 2009 at 1:57am

beaky   Offline
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Try this:

http://skyvector.com/

...you might also find frequencies appropriate for traffic in your area by looking up the airports here:

http://www.airnav.com/
 
...
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Reply #8 - May 14th, 2009 at 8:25am

Brett_Henderson   Offline
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Scanners are a blast !  Cheesy

I've owned several over the years, and have also found that Radio Shack's house brand (most likely made by Uniden), are the best deals. They just don't wear out and are priced reasonably.

To really enjoy a scanner for aviation listening.. you need to be near an airport.. else you only hear one side of the conversation. When I'm in Columbus, I like to go down to the big airport (KCMH) and listen to the tower, ground and clearance channels. Writing down clearances, and pretending to read them back, is great practice for real pilots.

Also.. go to www.flightaware.com and check out arriving departing flights, for any interesting aircraft. You don't wanna be caught off guard when, "Northwest 3447" turns out to be a Bae-146, and your camera is out of reach  Cheesy
 
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Reply #9 - May 14th, 2009 at 8:41am

Fozzer   Offline
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This is what I have running in the background during my sim flights...

Live ATC from selected Airports:

http://www.liveatc.net/feedindex.php?type=all#klax

Brings the flight to life!.. Grin...!

Paul...B-BPLF... Cool...!

...a good example of just how confusing Air Traffic Communication can sometimes be in real life... Shocked...!
 
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Reply #10 - May 14th, 2009 at 12:01pm

BFMF   Offline
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I've been thinking about getting this kit to build, but I'm hesitent on spending $50 for a kit, and mess up and it not work

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=AR1C
 
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Reply #11 - May 14th, 2009 at 12:21pm

Brett_Henderson   Offline
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BFMF wrote on May 14th, 2009 at 12:01pm:
I've been thinking about getting this kit to build, but I'm hesitent on spending $50 for a kit, and mess up and it not work

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=AR1C


That would be a lot of fun.. and good learning  Smiley  It would be a great, secondary monitor.. but you'd find it tiresome, trying to switch channels while following a jet from clearance delivery, to ground, to tower, to departure.. and of course not being able to scan several channels between "action".

Of course.. at a busy airport, there's plenty to listen to, one channel at a time  Cool
 
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Reply #12 - May 14th, 2009 at 12:45pm

Fozzer   Offline
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I've thought about getting an Air Band Receiver in the past....

...but having experienced the ATC Chatter between the Tower and the Aircraft, using...>>>

http://www.liveatc.net/feedindex.php?type=all#klax

..I find that following the silence, whilst studying my gauges and peering out of the windscreen for any dangers, and suddenly experiencing a burst of incomprehensible Radio Chatter invading my sensitive ears, followed by total silence again, and not being to understand a single word spoken.... Shocked....

I rapidly gave up that idea!...Wink... Wink...!

I just wish that they would either tap, or blow on the Microphone in advance, to give me prior warning that something is about to be said, so that my concentration will be transferred to "listening" to what is being said, (instead of me wondering; "....what on Earth was that all about?... Shocked....)...... Grin...!

The Flight Sim ATC is a dream in comparison... Kiss...!

Paul...G-BPLF...."Would you repeat that again, please?"

.... Grin....!
 
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Reply #13 - May 14th, 2009 at 12:52pm

BFMF   Offline
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Brett_Henderson wrote on May 14th, 2009 at 12:21pm:
BFMF wrote on May 14th, 2009 at 12:01pm:
I've been thinking about getting this kit to build, but I'm hesitent on spending $50 for a kit, and mess up and it not work

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=AR1C


That would be a lot of fun.. and good learning  Smiley  It would be a great, secondary monitor.. but you'd find it tiresome, trying to switch channels while following a jet from clearance delivery, to ground, to tower, to departure.. and of course not being able to scan several channels between "action".

Of course.. at a busy airport, there's plenty to listen to, one channel at a time  Cool


True, and if it doesn't work, i'm out $50, and then I would end up buying a scanner. Or I could get a scanner and be able to pick up a wider range of frequencies

I saw this on radio shack's website. I wonder if it's any good?

PRO-164 1000-Channel Handheld Scanner
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2970547

This site has more information
http://www.scannermaster.com/RadioShack_PRO_164_Police_Scanner_p/22-501222.htm
 
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Reply #14 - May 14th, 2009 at 5:31pm
U4EA   Ex Member

 
Here's the one I currently have.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2963186

The thing I REALLY like about it is the "Alpha-Tagging" feature.  Using this, you can input alpha/numeric 'labels' to each stored freq. 

Very helpful if you live in a metro area and don't want to memorize all the freqs you have stored so you know what city/municipality/agency/airport pops up.  You can also label the banks.  Mine has NASCAR for 1 & 2, CB/FRMS on 3, ham on 4, air on 5, local law and EMA on 6, city/suburb agencies on 7 & 8, and 9 for temporary stuff. 

Some freqs are really helpful!  Like the 2-meter hams!  Most all the local stormspotters and weather related EMAs are in the 140s.
Bad weather hits, just flip the scanner on and listen to the spotters and EMA managers and you WILL know exactly where, what and how bad the current conditions are.

At 100 channels per bank, methinks you could come close to filling it in maybe NY or LA......but I haven't come close to even 500 yet!
 
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