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- PART XI. THE 40-50 MHZ CELLULAR SCANNER
-
-
- The cellular phone freqs. occupy the UHF spectrum previously assign
- to commercial TV stations. Since a TV channel occupies a Bandwidth(BW) of 6
- MHZ and each cellular channel requires 24 KZ (for a plus and minus 12 KHZ
- signal) and a 3KHZ guard band for each audio signal (thus the 30KHZ spacing).
- 200 cellular channels can fit into one UHF TV channel. Thus, with a little
- fine tuning, and old TV set with variable VHF tuning can tune in all
- cellular freqs. between 824 and 890 MHZ.
-
- UHF TV tuners ares designed to convert these UHF freqa. to intermediate
- (difference) freqs. between 41 and 47 MHZ. Thus, by purchasing a commonly
- available UHF tuner (check sith a TV shop and try to get a copy of the
- SAMS for powering the AFC info, and avoid those with tubes). Tuner voltage
- is usually 8-24 volts, and must be correctly connected up. You should also
- remove with the tuner, the TV's channel select and fine tuning controls
- for ease of use - and they should be in good condition.
-
- Once you have the tuner, you can then wire it between a 30-50 MHZ scanner and
- a UHF antenna (highly directional yagi type is preferred). Since the tuner
- will probably have a 300 ohm input impedance, a twin antenna cable is
- preferred (Yes Radio Shack has 'em). If you are into directional-finding,
- the UHF antenna should NOT have AGC (automatic Gain Control) as those with
- active AGC will amplify reflections, resulting in readings from so many
- directions that the target will be lost. Because of the use of inconspicuous,
- commonly available, inexpensive, high-gain UHF antennas, using a good UHF
- tuner to scan cellular channels is a good method of doing it.
-
- Tuner output is usually through an RCA-type plug. CAUTION: BE SURE TO COUPLE
- YOUR SCANNER TO THE UHF TUNER WITH A 0.01-0.1 mf (50 V min.) CAPACITOR FOR
- DC BLOCKING. AND DO NOT TRY TO OPERATE THE TUNER THROUGH ITS TV SET AS THE
- DANGER OF HIGH-VOLTAGE DISCHARGE IS HIGH. Also, connect a ground wire
- between the tuner and the scanner.
-
- The table below describes how cellular freqs. can be downconverted by a
- commonly available UHF TV tuner (all freqs. are in MHZ)
-
- CELLULAR MOBILE FREQS & SCANNER EQUIVALENTS
-
- TV
- BAND CELL. CHAN. SCAN TV OSCIL
- CHAN. # and FREQ. FREQ. FREQ. LIMIT
- ----------- ------------ ----- -------- -----
- 73 (first) 0001-825.03 45.97 871 824-830
- 73 (last) 0166-829.98 41.02 871 824-830
- 74 (first) 0167-830.01 46.99 877 830-836
- 74 (last) 0366-835.98 41.02 877 830-836
- 75 (first) 0367-836.01 46.99 883 836-842
- 75 (last) 0566-841.98 41.02 883 836-842
- 76 (first) 0567-842.01 46.99 889 842-848
- 76 (last) 0766-847.98 41.02 889 842-848
- 77 (first) 0767-848.01 46.99 895 848-854
- 77 (last) 0799-848.97 46.03 895 848-854
- CELLULAR PHONE FREQS. HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED
- FOR CHANNELS 800-990
- 73 (first) 0991-824.04 46.96 871 824-830
- 73 (last) 1023-825.00 46.00 871 824-830
- 80 (first) 0001-870.03 42.97 913 866-872
- 80 (last) 0066-871.98 41.02 913 866-972
- 81 (first) 0067-872.01 46.99 919 872-878
- 81 (last) 0266-877.98 41.02 919 872-878
- 82 (first) 0267-878.01 46.99 925 878-884
- 82 (last) 0466-883.98 41.02 925 878-884
- 83 (first) 0467-884.01 46.99 931 884-890
- 83 (last) 0666-889.98 41.02 931 884-890
- 83 (**) 0667-890.01 46.99 931 884-890
- 83 (**) 0799-893.97 37.03 931 884-890
- CELLULAR PHONE FREQS. HAVE NOT BEEN ASSIGNED
- FOR CHANNELS 800-990
- 80 (first) 0991-869.04 43.96 913 866-872
- 80 (last) 1023-870.00 43.00 913 866-872
-
- (**) These freqs. are outside of the normal Channel 83 BW. However, most UHF
- tuners have a fine tuner that can be adjusted up to about another 6 MHZ.
-
- Note that the term "first" and "last" refers to the first and last cellular
- channels receivable by the UHF tuner for the given TV channel. Base voice
- channels are monitored when both sides of the conversation is required.
- Mobile voice channels or base control channels are monitored to locate a
- cellular phone. Tuning is simple:
- (1) Decide which cellular channel or freq. you wish to monitor.
- (2) Find what UHF channel includes that freq. and switch the TV
- to that channel.
- (3) Using the table, look up the corresponding TV oscillator freq.
- (ex: 919 MHZ for TV channel 81). Subtract the cellular channel
- freq. from the TV oscillator freq.
- (4) Tune your scanner to the difference freq.
-
- When you select a scanner, you should pick one that will scan in 30 MHZ
- increments to efficiently receive cellular transmissions. If you can't get
- one like that, then get one that will scan in 15,10 or 5 KHZ increments.
-
- *****************************************************************************
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