I have been into radio scanners for about 15 years now, and have enough knowledge compiled that I feel it's time to share some of what I know.(btw, sorry for any typo's , I wrote this fast)
Warning: The Electronics Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (ECPA). Under this act it is illegal to monitor or listen into cellular telephones, point-to point microwave and any encrypted or scrambled communications. Other than those listed above you have every right to listen to any other clear voice transmissions.
In addition, the Communications Act of 1934 places restrictions on divulging the contents of ANY transmission to ANYONE not a party to the transmission and or gaining profit from or receive any personal gain from their reception.
Aside from that all else is legal.
There is a lot you can listen to that is transmitted over the air on radio frequencies. For instance, I has heard foreign stations from around the world on my short wave radio (HF). I have also listened to other domestic transmissions from 0.100 MHz to 1300.000 MHz. Some of the Agencies and organizations I have personally received and/or monitored include:
FAA
United States Secret Service (yes the secret service)
NASA
Blue Angels
United States Border Patrol
NWS
NOAA
USCG
INS
USN
NIS
USMC
FBI - (yes the FBI)
Railroads
Department of Forestry
Civilian/Military Aircraft
as well as local fire & police
State Police
various civil services (water, power, telephone, roads)
and thousands of other commercial and industrial transmission
How is this all possible?
Very simple. I own a quality scanner that receives an amazing frequency range.
What is a scanner? A scanner is a radio reception device that receives multiple frequencies and scans those frequencies, programmed or crystal controlled, for active transmissions. What am I saying? In english I mean that I have several radios that not only pick up AM and FM stations but other bands of frequencies as well. I saved lots of money to buy the nicest programmable scanner on the market (Actually there are commercial grade scanners such as the R-9000 that picks up everything in all modes from a to z ,but for here I'm talking about your normal everyday scanner). I spent about $389 at radio shack and bought me the top of line scanner they had at the time, the PRO-2005. it receives most frequencies down to 25 MHz on up to 1300 MHz minus cellular which WAS blocked out and some frequencies in the upper UHF TV band (which I didn't care about).
So I had my scanner, now what? I started programming in frequencies. What is a frequency? a frequency with out getting too technical is "like" a channel on the TV or a Station on the AM/FM radio (actually AM/FM Radio uses the frequency you dial in ex.102.9 FM is 102.900 MHz in Wide Band FM and 1090 AM is really 1.090 MHz AM, TV uses a similar method of transmission). So if I wanted to hear the local police, I would program their Assigned frequency into my scanner and thets it I am now listening to my local police just as if I had a police radio (without a microphone).
Ok now let me answer a few questions you might have. First you want to know how to find the frequencies right? Well I'll get to that in the next paragraph. But for now let me tell you what AM and FM really mean. When we think of AM or FM we think of the radio we listen too. They really stand for something completely different. AM was the original medium of transmission. AM stands for Amplitude Modulation. AM is a method of modulation (changing it from sound we hear into radio frequency) in which the frequency of the transmitted carrier wave is varied according to the changing levels of power in the signal waveform to impose sounds on the signal. Ouch that was really technical but if you memorize it you can impress your friends , or really sound like a dork. Fm stands for Frequency Modulation and is a method of modulation in which the frequency of the transmitted carrier wave is varied according to the input signal. Ouch again! Ok enough tech talk. Now how do you find a frequency.
There are several ways to find frequencies. I use many sources. First of which is the hardest and most exciting. Simply scanning a range of frequencies noting the ones that are active with voice communications. Those I hear with voices I write down for later. Later when I have a good list I might want to listen to just one of those frequencies I discovered, and try to figure out what they are talking about and hopefully who is using that frequency. Another method to find frequencies is to buy a manual that lists frequencies for your area. There are many out there. Radio Shack is a good place to start looking they carry some frequency manuals. When I bought my PRO-2005, they gave me a list of local frequencies that I quickly put into my scanner. So ask the sales person who sells you your scanner if they have a list like that. As the hobby gets more involved, you might want to buy specialty books that contain certain frequencies such as Government, Railroads, Aircraft, Local, etc.... Lately, I bought a CD-ROM that contains almost ALL of the non-federal FCC allocated frequencies. With this tool I can look up frequencies by town, state , class of service, latitude and longitude and by name. It has helped me identify many more frequencies that are not listed in some books.
Some local radio systems such as fire and police or even local businesses are turning to trunking. Trunking is a bit like a local PBX for a telephone. Say a Police station uses their radio every 3 minutes or so and the fire too. Well they may pool their efforts into having a small group of frequencies that are used in order like a lines on a PBX. If one is being used the next available is then activated and the radio's are programmed to coordinate with each other and the main control computer. In this way the amount of frequencies , especially in lager metro areas is reduced, freeing up others for use.
How would you scan for these? Usually they are in an order for example 460.1, 461.1 462.1 & 463.1.
In my next text on radio scanning, I will include frequencies and other data from my years as a monitor.
My stories:
Without giving you specifics let me tell you some things I�ve heard on my scanner. I have listened to the secret service (non-scrambled). I have heard both FBI and local undercover operations, including one where they were following a suspect all over town. I have heard all kinds of local police and fire activity. I have heard local media talking about newscasts before they air. I have listened to mall security and my local theme park. All of these have been very interesting, seeing how they operate and how their systems work. I've been to airshows and listened to the crew while I flew across country. I have heard fleet satellite communications (non-encrypted) as well as local trains. All of this can teach you a lot about where you live and when the action happens, like a fire, flood, bank robbery or whatever, you can be there too!
Be Safe and Don't interfere with any government agency or you could endanger your life as well as others (TRUST ME!).
linetech@telehack.net
fall 1998