Birdies
Birdies are frequencies your scanner uses when it operates. These
operating frequencies might interfere with broadcasts on the same
frequencies. If you program one of these frequencies, you hear only noise
on that frequency.
If the interference is not severe, you might be able to turn SQUELCH
clockwise to cut out the birdie. The most common birdies to watch for are
listed below.
Birdie Frequencies:
31.05 MHz 124.20 MHz
41.40 MHz 134.55 MHz
51.75 MHz 144.90 MHz
113.85 MHz 155.25 MHz
Reception Notes
Reception of the frequencies covered by your scanner is mainly “line of
sight”. That means you usually cannot hear stations that are beyond the
horizon. During the summer months you may be able to hear stations in the
30-50 MHz range located several hundred or even thousand of miles away.
This is because of summer atmospheric conditions. This type of reception
is unpredictable but often very interesting!
One very useful service is the National Weather Service’s continuous
weather broadcast. These broadcasts contain weather forecasts and data
for the areas around the station, plus bulletins on any threatening
weather conditions. These stations use three frequencies – 162.40,
162.475 or 162.55 MHz. In most areas of the country, you can receive one
of these frequencies.
A Guide To The Action Bands
With the right frequencies programmed into your PRO-Series Scanner, you
can monitor exciting events. With a little investigation, you can find
active frequencies in your community. We can give you some general
pointers, and you can take it from there. Please use caution and common
sense when you hear an emergency call. Never go to the scene of an
emergency. It could be very dangerous.
Find out if there is a local club that monitors your community’s
frequencies. Perhaps a local electronics repair shop that works on
equipment similar to your scanner can give you frequencies used by local
radio services.
A volunteer police department or fire department can also be a good source
for this information.
As a general rule on VHF, most activity is concentrated between 153.785
and 155.98 MHz and then again from 158.73 to 159.46 MHz. Here you find
local government, police, fire and most such emergency services. If you
are near a railroad yard or major railroad tracks, look around 160.0 to
161.9 MHz for signals.
In some larger cities, there has been a move to the UHF bands for
emergency service. Here, most of the activity is between 453.025 and
453.95 MHz and between 456.025 and 467.925 MHz.
In the UHF band, frequencies between 456.025 and 459.95 MHz and between
465.025 and 469.975 MHz are used by mobile units and control stations
associated with base and repeater units that operate 5 MHz lower (that is,
451.025 to 454.950 and 460.025 to 464.975 MHz). This means that if you
find an active frequency inside one of these spreads, you can look 5 MHz
lower (or higher) to find the base station/repeater for that service.
Typical Band Usage
The following is a brief listing of the typical services that use the
bands you scanner can receive. This listing helps you decide which ranges
you would like to scan.
These frequencies are subject to change, and might vary from area to area.
For a more complete listing refer to the Police Call Radio Guide available
at you local RadioShack store.
Abbreviations:
Affiliate Radio System: ……………………………………… Mars
Amateur: ……………………………………………………. Ham
Automobile Emergency: ………………………………….. Auto Emer.
Broadcast Remote: …………………………………………… BC.R
Bureau of Reclamation: ………………………………….. Bur.Recl.
Civil Air Patrol: ……………………………………………. CAP
Department of Agriculture and Forestry: ……………….. Agr. And For.
Fire Department: ……………………………………………. F.D.
Forest Products: ……………………………………….. For.Prod.
Forestry Conservation: …………………………………. Fors.Cons.
Government: ……………………………………………….. Govt.
Highway Maintenance: ………………………………………… Hwy.
Land Transportation: …………………………………….. Land Tr.
Local Government: ………………………………………… L.Govt.
Manufacturers: ……………………………………………… Mfg.
Military: …………………………………………………… MIL
Mobile Telephone : ………………………………………. Mob.Tel.
Motion Picture: …………………………………………… Mot.P.
Motor Carrier: ………………………………………. Buses.Trucks
National Parks: …………………………………………. Nat.Park
Petroleum: …………………………………………………. Pet.
Police: ……………………………………………………. P.D.
Power Utilities: …………………………………………… Power
Radio Paging: ………………………………………………. Page
Railroad: ………………………………………………….. R.R.
Relay Press: ………………………………………………. Press
State Police: ……………………………………………. St.P.D.
Special Emergency: ………………………………………. Sp.Emer.
Special Industry: ………………………………………… Sp.Ind.
Taxicab Radio: ……………………………………………… Taxi
Telephone Maintenance: …………………………………. Tel.Maint.
U.S. Coastal and Geodetic Survey: ……………………….. U.S.C.G.S.
U.S. Navy: ………………………………………………….. USN
U.S. Weather Bureau: …………………………………….. U.S.W.B.
ATTENTION: Your scanner may not be able to receive all frequencies and/or
modes of reception that are contained within this document.
For complete information of your scanner’s capabilities, be
sure to read your owner’s manual completely.
Guide To Frequencies
National Weather Frequencies:
1) 161.650 5) 162.440 9) 162.525
2) 161.775 6) 162.450 10) 162.550
3) 162.400 7) 162.475 11) 163.275
4) 162.425 8) 162.500
Ham Radio Frequencies
Ham operators often transmit emergency information when other
communication methods break down. The following chart shows some of the
frequencies that Hams use.
Wavelength Frequency
(Meters) (MHz)
10-meter 28.000-29.700
6-meter 50.000-54.000
2-meter 144.000-148.000
70-cm 420.000-450.000
The following are the channels and frequencies of the Citizens Band:
1) 26.965 21) 27.215
2) 26.975 22) 27.225
3) 26.985 23) 27.255
4) 27.005 24) 27.235
5) 27.015 25) 27.245
6) 27.025 26) 27.265
7) 27.035 27) 27.275
8) 27.055 28) 27.285
9) 27.065 29) 27.295
10) 27.075 30) 27.305
11) 27.085 31) 27.315
12) 27.105 32) 27.325
13) 27.115 33) 27.335
14) 27.125 34) 27.345
15) 27.135 35) 27.355
16) 27.155 36) 27.365
17) 27.165 37) 27.375
18) 27.175 38) 27.385
19) 27.185 39) 27.395
20) 27.205 40) 27.405
Guide To The Action Bands
United States Broadcast Bands
In the United States, there are several broadcast bands. The standard AM
and FM bands are probably the most well known. There are also four
television audio broadcast bands-the lower three transmit on the VHF band
and the fourth transmits on the UHF band.
Frequency Range Allocation
54.0 – 72.0 MHz ……………………………………. VHF Television
76.0 – 88.0 MHz ……………………………………. VHF Television
88.0 – 108.0 MHz ……………………………………… Standard FM
174.0 – 216.0 MHz ………………………………….. VHF Television
470.0 – 805.75 MHz …………………………………. UHF Television
International Broadcast Bands
Several short-wave bands are allocated for international broadcasting
because of the nature of propagation of high frequencies. The bands are
sometimes identified according to the approximate wavelength of the
signals in meters. Your scanner may receive the 11-meter band, from
25.6 – 26.10 MHz.
Typical Band Usage
HF Band (3.0 – 30.0 MHz):
Mid Range: ……………………………………… 25.00 – 28.63 MHz
10-Meter Amateur Band: …………………………… 28.00 – 29.70 MHz
High Range: …………………………………….. 29.70 – 29.90 MHz
VHF Band (30.00 – 300.0 MHz):
Low range: ……………………………………… 30.00 – 50.00 MHz
6-Meter Amateur: ………………………………… 50.00 – 54.00 MHz
FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band: …………………. 54.00 – 72.00 MHz
FM Radio Broadcast, Wide Band: …………………… 88.00 – 108.00 MHz
Aircraft: …………………………………….. 108.00 – 136.00 MHz
U.S. Government: ………………………………. 138.00 – 144.00 MHz
2-Meter Amateur: ………………………………. 144.00 – 148.00 MHz
High Range: …………………………………… 148.00 – 174.00 MHz
New Mobile Narrow Band: ………………………… 220.00 – 222.00 MHz
1.3-Meter Amateur: …………………………….. 222.00 – 225.00 MHz
Military Aircraft: …………………………….. 225.00 – 287.80 MHz
UHF Band (300.00 MHz – 3.0 GHz):
Military Aircraft: …………………………….. 311.00 – 384.00 MHz
U.S. Government: ………………………………. 406.00 – 470.00 MHz
0.6-Meter Amateur: …………………………….. 420.00 – 450.00 MHz
Low Range: ……………………………………. 450.00 – 470.00 MHz
FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band: ……………….. 470.00 – 806.00 MHz
Conventional Systems: ………………………….. 851.00 – 856.00 MHz
Conventional/Trunked Systems: …………………… 856.00 – 861.00 MHz
Trunked Systems: ………………………………. 861.00 – 866.00 MHz
Public Safety: ………………………………… 866.00 – 869.00 MHz
Common Carrier: ……………………………….. 869.00 – 894.00 MHz
Private Trunked: ………………………………. 935.00 – 940.00 MHz
General Trunked: ………………………………. 940.00 – 941.00 MHz
Primary Usage:
As a general rule, most of the radio activity is concentrated on the
following frequencies:
VHF Band:
2-Meter Amateur Band: ………………………… 144.000 – 148.000 MHz
Government, police, and Fire: …………………. 153.785 – 155.980 MHz
Emergency Services: ………………………….. 158.730 – 159.460 MHz
Railroad: …………………………………… 160.000 – 161.900 MHz
UHF Band:
.6 cm Amateur Band FM Repeaters: ………………. 440.000 – 450.000 MHz
Land Mobile “Paired” Frequencies: ……………… 450.000 – 470.000 MHz
Base Stations: ………………………………. 451.025 – 454.950 MHz
Mobile Units: ……………………………….. 456.025 – 459.950 MHz
Repeater Units: ……………………………… 460.025 – 464.975 MHz
Control Stations: ……………………………. 465.025 – 469.975 MHz
NOTE: UHF remote control stations and mobile units typically operate at 5
MHz higher than their associated base and relay repeater units.
Specified Intervals
Frequencies in different bands are accessible only at specific intervals.
For Example:
VHF, HAM, and Government: ……………………………. 5.0 kHz steps
All Others: ……………………………………….. 12.5 kHz steps
Aircraft: …………………………………………. 25.0 kHz steps
Note: Your scanner rounds the entered frequency to the nearest valid
frequency. For example, if you try to enter 151.473, the scanner
might accept this as 151.470.
Band Allocation
To help you decide which frequency ranges to search, use the following
listing of the typical services that use the frequencies your scanner
receives. These frequencies are subject to change, and might vary from
area to area. For a more complete listing, refer to the “Police-Call Radio
Guide including Fire and Emergency Services”, as well as “Beyond Police
Call”, “Aeronautical Directory”, “Nautical Directory” and “Now you’re
Talking” texts available at your local RadioShack store.
Abbreviations
AIR: …………………………………………………… Aircraft
BIFC: ……………………………. Boise (ID) Interagency Fire Cache
BUS: …………………………………………………… Business
CAP: ……………………………………………. Civil Air Patrol
CB: ……………………………………………….. Citizens Band
CCA: ……………………………………………… Common Carrier
CSB: ………………………………………… Conventional Systems
CTSB: ………………………………… Conventional/Trunked Systems
FIRE: ……………………………………………. Fire Department
HAM: …………………………………………. Amateur (HAM) Radio
GOVT: …………………………………………. Federal Government
GMR: ………………………………………… General Mobile Radio
GTR: …………………………………………….. General Trunked
IND: …………………………………………. Industrial Services
MARI: ……………………………………… Maritime Limited Coast
MARS: ……………………………… Military Affiliate Radio System
MED: …………………………………… Emergency/Medical Services
MIL: ………………………………………………. U.S. Military
MOV: ………………………………… Motion Picture/Video Industry
NEW: …………………………………………… New Mobile Narrow
NEWS: ……………………………………………….. Relay Press
OIL: ………………………………………. Oil/Petroleum Industry
POL: …………………………………………… Police Department
PUB: …………………………………………….. Public Services
PSB: ………………………………………………. Public Safety
PTR: …………………………………………….. Private Trunked
ROAD: ………………………………….. Road & Highway Maintenance
RTV: ……………………………… Radio/TV Remote Broadcast Pickup
TAXI: ……………………………………………… Taxi Services
TELBL: ………………………………………….. Mobile Telephone
TELC: ………………………………………… Cordless Telephones
TELM: ………………………………………. Telephone Maintenance
TOW: …………………………………………………. Tow Trucks
TRAN: …………………………………….. Transportation Services
TSB: …………………………………………….. Trunked Systems
TVn: ……………………………………….. FM-TV Audio Broadcast
USXX: ………………………………………. Government Classified
UTIL: …………………………………….. Power & Water Utilities
WTHR: …………………………………………………… Weather
High Frequency (HF)-(3 – 30 MHz):
High Band – (25.00 – 27.36 MHz):
25.020 – 25.320: …………………………………………….. IND
25.870 – 26.470: …………………………………………….. RTV
26.62: ……………………………………………………… CAP
26.966 – 27.405: ……………………………………………… CB
27.430 – 27.630: …………………………………………….. BUS
10-Meter Amateur Band – (28.0 – 29.7 MHz):
28.000 – 29.700: …………………………………………….. HAM
Very High Frequency (VHF) – (30 – 300 MHz):
Low Band – (29.7 – 50 MHz – in 5 kHz steps):
29.700 – 29.790: …………………………………………….. IND
29.900 – 30.550: ……………………………………….. GOVT, MIL
30.580 – 31.980: ………………………………………… IND, PUB
32.000 – 32.990: ……………………………………….. GOVT, MIL
33.020 – 33.980: ……………………………………. BUS, IND, PUB
34.010 – 34.990: ……………………………………….. GOVT, MIL
35.020 – 35.980: ………………………………. BUS, PUB, IND, TELM
36.000 – 36.230: ……………………………………….. GOVT, MIL
36.250: ……………………………………….. Oil spill clean up
36.270 – 36.990: ……………………………………….. GOVT, MIL
37.020 – 37.980: ………………………………………… PUB, IND
38.000 – 39.000: ……………………………………….. GOVT, MIL
39.020 – 39.980: …………………………………………….. PUB
40.000 – 42.000: ………………………………….. GOVT, MIL, MARI
42.020 – 42.940: …………………………………………….. POL
42.960 – 43.180: …………………………………………….. IND
43.220 – 43.680: …………………………………… TELM, IND, PUB
43.700 – 44.600: ……………………………………………. TRAN
44.620 – 46.580: ………………………………………… POL, PUB
46.600 – 46.990: ………………………………………. GOVT, TELC
47.020 – 47.400: …………………………………………….. PUB
47.420: ……………………………………….. American Red Cross
47.440 – 49.580: ………………………………………… IND, PUB
49.610 – 49.990: ……………………………………….. MIL, TELC
6-METER Amateur Band (50-54 MHz):
50.00 – 54.00: ………………………………………………. HAM
FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band (54-72 MHz):
59.750: …………………………………………………….. TV2
65.750: …………………………………………………….. TV3
71.750: …………………………………………………….. TV4
Land Mobile Service Band (72-76 MHz):
FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band (76-88 MHz):
81.750: …………………………………………………….. TV5
87.750: …………………………………………………….. TV6
FM Radio Broadcast, Wide Band (88-108 MHz):
Aircraft Band (108-136 MHz):
108.000 – 121.490: …………………………………………… AIR
121.500: …………………………………………… AIR emergency
121.510 – 136.000: …………………………………………… AIR
U.S. GOVERNMENT BAND (138-144 MHz):
137.000 – 144.000: ……………………………………… GOVT, MIL
VHF-Hi BAND (148-174 MHz):
148.050 – 150.345: …………………………………. CAP, MARS, MIL
150.775 – 150.790: …………………………………………… MED
150.815 – 150.965: …………………………………………… TOW
150.980: ………………………………………. Oil spill clean up
150.995 – 151.130: ………………………………………….. ROAD
151.145 – 151.475: …………………………………………… POL
151.490 – 151.955: ………………………………………. IND, BUS
151.985: …………………………………………………… TELM
152.030 – 152.240: ………………………………………….. TELB
152.270 – 152.465: ……………………………………… IND, TAXI
152.480: ……………………………………………………. BUS
152.510 – 152.840: ………………………………………….. TELB
152.870 – 153.020: ………………………………………. IND, MOV
153.035 – 153.175: …………………………………. IND, OIL, UTIL
153.740 – 154.445: ……………………………………… PUB, FIRE
154.490 – 154.570: ………………………………………. IND, BUS
154.585: ………………………………………. Oil spill clean up
154.600 – 154.625: …………………………………………… BUS
154.665 – 156.240: …………………………….. MED, ROAD, POL, PUB
165.255: ……………………………………………………. OIL
156.275 – 157.425: ………………………………………….. MARI
157.450: ……………………………………………………. MED
157.470 – 157.515: …………………………………………… TOW
157.530 – 157.725: ……………………………………… IND, TAXI
157.740: ……………………………………………………. BUS
157.770 – 158.100: ………………………………………….. TELB
158.130 – 158.460: ……………………….. BUS, IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL
158.490 – 158.700: .. ……………………………………….. TELB
158.730 – 159.465: …………………………………. POL, PUB, ROAD
159.480: ……………………………………………………. OIL
159.495 – 161.565: ………………………………………….. TRAN
161.580: ……………………………………………………. OIL
161.600 – 162.000: ……………………………………… MARI, RTV
162.0125 – 162.35: ………………………………… GOVT, MIL, USXX
162.400 – 162.550: ………………………………………….. WTHR
162.5625 – 162.6375: ………………………………. GOVT, MIL, USXX
162.6625: …………………………………………………… MED
162.6875 – 163.225: ……………………………….. GOVT, MIL, USXX
163.250: ……………………………………………………. MED
163.275 – 166.225: ………………………………… GOVT, MIL, USXX
166.250: …………………………………………. GOVT, RTV, FIRE
166.275 – 169.400: …………………………………….. GOVT, BIFC
169.445: ………………………………………….. WIRELESS MIKES
169.500: …………………………………………………… GOVT
169.505: ………………………………………….. WIRELESS MIKES
169.55 – 169.9875: ………………………………… GOVT, MIL, USXX
170.000: …………………………………………………… BIFC
170.025 – 170.150: ………………………………… GOVT, RTV, FIRE
170.175 – 170.225: ………………………………………….. GOVT
170.245 – 170.305: …………………………………. WIRELESS MIKES
170.350 – 170.400: ……………………………………… GOVT, MIL
170.425 – 170.450: ………………………………………….. BIFC
170.475: ……………………………………………………. PUB
170.4875 – 173.175: ………………………. GOVT, PUB, WIRELESS MIKES
173.225 – 173.375: ………………………………… MOV, NEWS, UTIL
173.3875 – 178.5375: …………………………………………. MIL
173.5625 – 173.5875: ……………………….. MIL Medical/Crash Crews
173.60 – 173.9875: ………………………………………….. GOVT
FM-TV Audio Broadcast, VHF Wide Band (174-216 MHz):
179.750: ……………………………………………………. TV7
185.750: ……………………………………………………. TV8
191.750: ……………………………………………………. TV9
197.750: …………………………………………………… TV10
203.750: …………………………………………………… TV11
209.750: …………………………………………………… TV12
215.750: …………………………………………………… TV13
New Mobil Narrow Band (220-222 MHz):
220.000 – 222.000: …………………………………………… NEW
1.3-Meter Amateur Band (222-225 MHz):
222.000 – 225.000: …………………………………………… HAM
MILITARY AIRCRAFT BAND (237.9-287.8 MHz):
237.900: ………………………………. Coast Guard Search & Rescue
239.800: …………………………………………….. FAA Weather
241.000: …………………………………………………… ARMY
243.000: ………………………………………………. EMERGENCY
255.400: ………………………………………. FAA FLIGHT SERVICE
257.800: …………………………………………. CIVILIAN TOWERS
287.800: ……………………………………… Coast Guard Air/Sea
Rescue
Ultra High Frequency (UHF)-(300 MHz-3 GHz)
Military Aircraft Band (319.1 – 383.9 MHz):
319.100: ……………………………………… FAA Traffic Control
321.000 – 336.600: ……………………………………… Air Force
342.500 – 344.600: ……………………………………. FAA Weather
346.400 – 364.200: ……………………….. Air Force Traffic Control
381.800 – 383.900: ……………………………………. Coast Guard
U.S. Government Band (406-420 MHz):
406.125 – 419.975: …………………………………….. GOVT, USXX
70-cm Amateur Band (420-450 MHz):
420.000 – 450.000: …………………………………………… HAM
Low Band (450-470 MHz):
450.050 – 450.925: …………………………………………… RTV
451.025 – 452.025: ……………………………. IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL
452.0375 – 453.00: ………………………. IND, TAXI, TRAN, TOW, NEWS
453.0125 – 453.9875: …………………………………………. PUB
454.000: ……………………………………………………. OIL
454.025 – 454.975: ………………………………………….. TELB
455.050 – 455.925: …………………………………………… RTV
457.525 – 457.600: …………………………………………… BUS
458.025 – 458.175: …………………………………………… MED
460.0125 – 460.6375: ……………………………….. FIRE, POL, PUB
460.650 – 462.175: …………………………………………… BUS
462.1875 – 462.450: ……………………………………… BUS, IND
462.4625 – 462.525: …………………………… IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL
462.550 – 462.725: …………………………………………… GMR
462.750 – 462.925: …………………………………………… BUS
462.9375 – 463.1875: …………………………………………. MED
463.200 – 467.925: …………………………………………… BUS
FM-TV Audio Broadcast, UHF Wide Band (470-512 MHz):
(Channels 14-69 in 6 MHz steps):
475.750: ……………………………………………… Channel 14
481.750: ……………………………………………… Channel 15
487.750: ……………………………………………… Channel 16
805.750: ……………………………………………… Channel 69
Note: Some cities use the 470-512 MHz band for land/mobile service.
Conventional Systems Band – Locally Assigned
851.0125 – 855.9875: …………………………………………. CSB
Conventional/Trunked Systems Band – Locally Assigned
856.0125 – 860.9875: ………………………………………… CTSB
Trunked Systems Band – Locally Assigned
861.0125 – 865.9875: …………………………………………. TSB
Public Safety Band – Locally Assigned
866.0125 – 868.9875: …………………………………………. PSB
Common Carrier
869.010 – 894.000: …………………………………………… CCA
Private Trunked
935.0125 – 939.9875: …………………………………………. PTR
General Trunked
940.0125 – 940.9875: …………………………………………. GTR
Frequency Conversion
The tuning of a station can be expressed in frequency (kHz or MHz) or in
wavelength (meters). The following information can help you make the
necessary conversions.
1 MHz (million)=1,000 kHz (thousand)
To convert MHz to kHz, multiply by 1,000:
9.62 MHz x 1000 = 9620 kHz
To convert from kHz to MHz, divide by 1,000
2780 kHz / 1000 = 2.780 MHz
To convert MHz to meters, divide 300 by the number of megahertz
300 / 7.1 MHz = 42.25 meters
A Note on Image Reception
Radios work by simple mathematics. For example, most tune to a frequency
by mixing that frequency with another (local oscillator) frequency which
is slightly different. This mixing process primarily gives us the two
original frequencies, their sum, and their difference. Well, the radio’s
Intermediate Frequency (I.F.) filter normally passes either the sum or
difference frequency, and this is then processed into the sound we hear.
Because nothing is perfect, certain “harmonics” will also get through if
they are strong enough. For example, if a radio’s I.F. is 10.7 MHz, we
might be able to tune to a frequency 21.4 MHz (2 x I.F.) above (or below,
depending on the radio’s design) a strong signal and hear it! This is more
evident in a double-conversion radio than a triple-conversion radio,
because the triple-conversion radio’s 1st intermediate frequency is quite
high. This causes the image to be so far off frequency that it is easy to
effectively filter it out.
So remember that just because a radio doesn’t receive something which
another does is not necessarily an indication of a problem. The one radio
may simply not be “tricked” into picking up an image! This rejection of
undesired signals is one reason that a triple-conversion receiver costs
more than a similar dual-conversion model.
You might be interested in finding more out about radio. One good
location to start looking is your local public library. You might also
wish to contact the A.R.R.L., as they are an excellent source of
informative texts on the subject.
Contact:
Amateur Radio Relay League
225 Main St.,
Newington, CT 06111-1494
USA
(CD EB 2/22/00)