Difference between revisions of "Scanning Q&A"

Latest revision as of 09:37, 25 October 2021

On this page, you'll find a random sampling of questions and answers about scanning and radios. If you have a question, and find a good answer, please feel free to add both to this page. Only add questions, though, if you have the answers; if you need an answer to a question, and it's not on this page already, please try the Radio Reference forums.

General Scanning Questions

''Can I bring my scanner on an airplane?''
- Read the Scanning on an Airplane and Scanners and Airport Security pages.

''Is scanning legal? How about in my car?''
- Read this informative site on scanner laws.

''What is the best scanner for me?''
- See the help provided on the scanner decision page.

''What are the codes and signals I hear public safety personnel using on the radio?''
- See our articles about 10 codes and other brevity codes.

''What is a signal contour, and how does it affect what I can hear?''
- See our Signal Contour article

Frequency Searches

If you are searching for specific frequencies in your area, the RR Database is the place to start - but sometimes there may be a better option....

''Where can I find frequencies for the various services, such as Railroads, Aircraft, etc.?''
- Please see our US/Canadian Common Frequencies article

''Where can I find frequencies for NASCAR, LPGA, NFL, etc.?''
- See our Sports frequencies article

''I'm flying into an airport that the RRDB doesnt have. Where can I find frequencies for it?''
- Go to the popular Airnav website

''I'm going on a cruise and would like to see if there's activity to be heard. Where can I find frequencies?''
- See this popular CruiseShips by Bill Dunn for cruise ship frequencies

''I need to look up a callsign I copied. Where can I find it?''
''I need to look up a frequency that isnt in the database. Where might I find it?''
- If you have a premium subscription, you will be able to use the FCC query tools at the bottom of the database page

''Where can I find out about military communications in my area?''
- Check out our Milcom article

''Where can I find out about frequencies used by the US Federal Government?''
- Check out our Federal frequencies article

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-This article can be used to house questions about scanning in general - anything from antennas to laws to coax and more
+On this page, you'll find a random sampling of questions and answers about scanning and radios.  If you have a question, and find a good answer, please feel free to add both to this page.  Only add questions, though, if you have the answers; if you ''need'' an answer to a question, and it's not on this page already, please try the Radio Reference forums.
 === General Scanning Questions ===
 * '''''''Can I bring my scanner on an airplane?'''''''
 **  Read the [[Scanning on an Airplane]] and [[Scanners and Airport Security]] pages.
 * '''''''Is scanning legal? How about in my car?'''''''
-**  Read this informative site on [http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/ scanner laws].
+**  Read this informative site on [http://www.fireline.org/scanlaws/index.html scanner laws].
 * '''''''What is the best scanner for me?'''''''
 **  See the help provided on the [[Scanner decision | scanner decision]] page.
-=== Equipment Questions===
+* '''''''What are the codes and signals I hear public safety personnel using on the radio?'''''''
-* '''''''Where can I find information on scanner antennas, filters, mobile mounts, ect.?'''''''
+**  See our articles about [[10 codes]] and other [[brevity codes]].
-**  Return to our main page via the navigation link to the left, go to the bottom and see the 'Antennas and Accessories' category.
-* '''''''I want to hear more. Will an amplifier help?'''''''
+* '''''''What is a signal contour, and how does it affect what I can hear?'''''''
-**  Before you go looking at amps, make sure that your antenna and feedline are at the best you can afford. A nice high antenna, with the right coax, will hear lots - maybe, at times, too much. In some cases, a good [[Milcom_Receiving_Equipment#Filters|filter]] will be a huge asset. Not all scanners - particularly handhelds - work very well with big outdoor antennas and feedlines. They simply aren't designed to handle that much RF all at once.
+**  See our [[Signal Contour]] article
-* '''''''Is the coax that important?'''''''
-**  They can make the difference between hearing a signal (particularly if you are out in a fringe area) and not hearing well, or at all. The larger the loss, the less signal is received. The general rule is a 3db loss results in a loss of 1/2 the signal. In practical terms, if you are in a strong signal area, this won't mean much - but if you're a long way off, this kind of loss should concern you. These links explain this clearly;
-** [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/co-ax.html Strong Signals Coax Cable]
-** [http://hamradio.arc.nasa.gov/coaxcableloss.html NASA Coax Cable loss chart]
-** [http://www.ocarc.ca/coax.htm Coax Line Loss Calculator]
-=== General Frequencies ===
+=== Frequency Searches ===
 If you are searching for specific frequencies in your area, the RR Database is the place to start - but
-at times there may be a better option....
+sometimes there may be a better option....
-* '''''''Where can I find frequencies for the various services, such as Railroads, Aircraft, ect.?'''''''
+* '''''''Where can I find frequencies for the various services, such as Railroads, Aircraft, etc.?'''''''
 **  Please see our [[:Category:US and Canadian Common Frequencies|US/Canadian Common Frequencies]] article
-* '''''''Where can I find frequencies for NASCAR, LPGA, NFL, ect.?'''''''
+* '''''''Where can I find frequencies for NASCAR, LPGA, NFL, etc.?'''''''
 ** See our [[:Category:Sports_Events_and_Organizations|Sports]] frequencies article
-* '''''''Im flying into an airport that the RRDB doesnt have. Where can I find frequencies for it?'''''''
+* '''''''I'm flying into an airport that the RRDB doesnt have. Where can I find frequencies for it?'''''''
 ** Go to the popular [http://www.airnav.com Airnav] website
-* '''''''Im going on a cruise and would like to see if theres activity to be heard. Where can I find frequencies?'''''''
-** See this popular [http://home.earthlink.net/~ecps92/cruise_ships.htm website] by Bill Dunn for cruise ship frequencies
+* '''''''I'm going on a cruise and would like to see if there's activity to be heard. Where can I find frequencies?'''''''
+** See this popular [http://scanmaritime.com CruiseShips] by [mailto:webmaster@scanmaritime.com?Subject=*CruiseShips* Bill Dunn] for cruise ship frequencies
 * '''''''I need to look up a callsign I copied. Where can I find it?'''''''
 * '''''''I need to look up a frequency that isnt in the database. Where might I find it?'''''''
-** Go to the [http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/reports7/ FCC General Reports] website
+** If you have a [http://www.radioreference.com/apps/subscription/ premium subscription], you will be able to use the FCC query tools at the bottom of the [http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/ database] page
 * '''''''Where can I find out about military communications in my area?'''''''
 ** Check out our [[VHF/UHF Military Monitoring|Milcom]] article
 * '''''''Where can I find out about frequencies used by the US Federal Government?'''''''
 ** Check out our [[:Category:US Federal Government|Federal]] frequencies article
-[[Category:FAQ]]
+[[Category:Scanners FAQ]]

Difference between revisions of "Scanning Q&A"

From The RadioReference Wiki

Latest revision as of 09:37, 25 October 2021

General Scanning Questions

Frequency Searches