FCC License Data Sources
William Mcfadden
The latest version of this file can be accessed via my web page at:
http://www.rdrop.com/users/billmc
FCC License Data Sources
Bill McFadden
bil...@agora.rdrop.com
Changes preceeded by "|". Please e-mail corrections and additions to me.
INTRODUCTION
This is a list of FCC license data sources available to scanner
hobbyists. The FCC master contains a wealth of data about every
non-federal-government license in the United States (over three million
records). Many of the sources listed contain a subset of this data,
although some contain all or nearly all of it. Federal government
licenses are not administered by the FCC, and the data is not available
to the public.
Also available are subscription services from companies like ISI and
CET. Since they charge by the minute, they are not really practical for
the hobbyist and hence are not included in this list.
Prices are rounded to the nearest dollar and include shipping, if known.
Another listing of FCC databases has been compiled by Rich Wells at:
http://www.strongsignals.net/htm/fccfrqdb.htm
----- WEB-SEARCHABLE DATABASES -----
You can search the FCC master for free from these web sites:
| https://haifoss.fcc.gov/beta/genmen/index.hts
http://www.perconcorp.com/db_srch.htm
----- DOWNLOADABLE DATABASES -----
SCANWARE ASSOCIATES
ScanWare Associates has developed a PC-based database program called the
FCC Frequency Retrieval System. FCC data for all states is available,
covering all services and all frequencies. However, it is not being
updated frequently.
Scanware has chosen to discontinue developing this software, but the good
news is that the software and data are now FREE! It is being hosted by
the West Virginia Educational Network. See:
| http://ednet.wvsc.edu/~fcc
----- PURCHASABLE DATA -----
BETTY BEARCAT
The Bearcat Radio Club sells FCC data in several forms. The Betty
Bearcat series of regional directories covers US public service
frequencies in 8 volumes. Also available is the Betty Bearcat CD-ROM
that contains public service data for the entire US and a DOS-based
database search program.
Betty Bearcat directories are $17 each, and the CD-ROM is $27. They are
available from The Hobby Radio Stop at 937-299-6440 (info), 800-423-1331
(orders), or http://www.bearcat1.com/scanners.htm.
C.E.T.
CET sells records of all stations inside a 30-mile radius for $80.
(Major cities cost extra.) A 70-mile search costs $178. The data is
provided on floppy disks and is available in ASCII columnar and
comma-delimited formats.
CET does not provide data for licenses that do not contain specific
geographic coordinates (i.e., mobile-only systems) or specific operating
frequencies (e.g., amateur radio).
To do the search, CET requires the latitude and longitude of the center
of the 30-mile radius. I calculated mine from a USGS topographic map I
obtained at a local nautical supply store. Alternatively, you can obtain
the coordinates for your town from the US Census Bureau at
http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/gazetteer/. For my area, the server
returned the coordinates of the main post office.
CET can be reached at 800-445-0297.
CSP TECHNOLOGIES
CSP Technologies sells FCC data on CD-ROM. ScannerBase covers the entire
US and comes with a database search program.
ScannerBase used to cost $34 but is now being sold for $4 a copy while
supplies last! In addition, the newest version, Scannerbase XE, is
available for free download from CSP's web site. CSP Technologies can be
reached at 888-857-4240 (voice) or http://www.csp-tech.com/.
GROVE
Grove sells FCC data on CD-ROM and floppy. The CD-ROM covers the entire
US and is available with or without mapping support. The mapping version
brings up a map with the requested station plotted on it. The regular
version is $104, and the mapping version is $174.
Floppies are available by state for $44 per state (add $10 for CA, FL,
TX). The disk comes with a database search program. Grove Enterprises
can be reached at 800-438-8155 (voice) or http://www.grove.net/.
MR. SCANNER
Mr. Scanner offers custom printouts of public service frequencies by
county, or the entire FCC master for a city or town. Also available is
public service data on floppy disk and a CD-ROM of all FCC data for the
entire US. The floppy disks and CD-ROM come with a database search
program.
County printouts are $4 each, and city printouts are $6 each. Floppies
are $25 for the first state, and $10 for each additional state. The
CD-ROM is $37. They are available from The Hobby Radio Stop at
937-299-6440 (info), 800-423-1331 (orders),
http://www.bearcat1.com/mrscan.htm (printouts), or
http://www.bearcat1.com/menu09.htm (disks).
PERCON
PerCon sells FCC data on CD-ROM. The Spectrum CD covers the entire US
and comes with a simple database search program. Regional CDs cover
subsets of the US but come with a more powerful database manager and
provide more detail about each license. Also available is a Ham callsign
and repeater database CD.
Spectrum costs $37, and the Ham and Repeater Database is $22. Regional
CDs are $137 for the first CD, $102 each additional CD ($560 for the
entire 6 CD set). Data is updated twice a year. PerCon can be reached
at 716-386-6015 (voice), 716-386-6013 (fax), sup...@perconcorp.com, or
http://www.perconcorp.com. The Spectrum database can be searched free of
charge via Percon's WWW page.
POLICE CALL
This is probably the most cost-effective source of public service license
information. The detail is limited, but the information that is there is
often more useful than the FCC master. For example, an entry in Police
Call that reads, "Portland Police, Net 3, North Precinct," reads,
"Portland, City of" in the master. Police Call has been merged with its
sister publication, Beyond Police Call, and now includes a limited
selection of business listings.
Police call is available in 9 volumes covering different regions of the
US. It can be purchased at Radio Shack stores for $13 per volume.
PRO DATA
Pro Data is a database manager program for license data. It does not come
with its own data but can import data from APF, Percon, ScanWare, and
UFDBF database files.
Pro Data costs $60. For more information, write to prod...@gte.net, or
visit http://home1.gte.net/prodata1/index.htm.
RADIOMAP SERVICE
Developed by long-time Usenet contributor Bob Parnass, this service
provides a custom report of frequencies, callsigns, and licensee names
for a specified area in any of the 50 states. Coverage areas of 4 to 256
square miles will be chosen by Bob depending on transmitter site
density. Standard and deluxe reports are available. Both reports
include a color plot with transmitter sites marked. The deluxe report
adds a custom frequency allocation histogram, a 0 - 1,000 MHz "spectrum
analyzer-like" display showing spectrum usage by the transmitters in the
map coverage area.
To create the report, Bob requires the latitude and longitude (or nearest
street intersection) of the center location. Standard reports are
$29.95, and deluxe reports are $34.95. Write to Bob Parnass at 2350
Douglas Rd, Oswego, IL, 60543; call him at 630-554-3839 between 6-10 PM
central time; or visit http://www.megsinet.com/~parnass.
APPENDIX
Here is table of data fields in the FCC master. Fields provided by
various products are indicated by "#" or the field length, if known.
PERCON PERCON POLICE SCAN
DESCRIPTION SIZE CET GROVE SPECTRUM REGION CALL WARE CSP
Frequency (or Lower Limit) 16 11 12 16 16 # 11 #
Upper Frequency Limit 16 16 11
Callsign 10 8 10 10 10 # 10 #
Service Code 2 2 2 2 2 # 2 #
Licensee DBA Name 40 32 40 30 40 # 40 #
Licensee State 2 2 2 2 #
Licensee Zip 9 5 9 9 #
Licensee Address 35 30 35
Licensee City 20 15 12 20 20 #
Licensee Name 200 100
Applicant Phone 10 10
Transmitter Latitude 6 6 6 6 6 6 #
Transmitter Longitude 7 7 7 7 7 7 #
Transmitter Elevation 5 5 5 5 #
Transmitter Height 5 5 5 5
Transmitter HAAT 5 5 5
Transmitter Effective Height 5 5 5
TX Antenna Structure Height 5 5 5
Transmitter Address 80 80
Transmitter City 20 10 20 20 # 20 #
Transmitter County 30 10 20 20 30 30 #
Transmitter State 2 2 2 2 2 # 2 #
Class of Station 4 4 4 4 # 4 #
Type of Message Service 1 1
Area of Operation 1 1
Radius of Operation 4 4 4
Antenna Type 10 10
Antenna Elevation Angle 6 6
Antenna Azimuth 6 6
Antenna Polarization 3 3 3
Antenna Gain 4 4
Antenna Path Length 6 6
Antenna Beam Width 8 8
ERP Out 8 4 8 8
ERP Units 2 1 2
ERP Indicator 1 1
Power Out 8 4 8 8
Power Out Units 2 1 2
Power Out Indicator 1 1
Emissions 15 15 15
License Issue Date 6 6
License Expiration Date 6 4 6 #
Operation Begin Time 4 4
Operation End Time 4 4
Number of Vehicle Mobiles 4 4 4 4 # 4 #
Number of Portable Mobiles 4 4 4 4 # 4
Number of Aircraft Mobiles 4 4 4 4 # 4
Number of Marine Mobiles 4 4 4 4 # 4
Number of Pager Mobiles 5 4 5 5 5
Originating Database ID 1 1
Authorization Type 1 1
CP Authorization Number 2 2
Area of Operation Descript. 100 100
Paint & Lighting Specs 33 33
Special Conditions 100 100
TX Latitude Direction 1 1
TX Longitude Direction 1 1
Type of Last Contact 1 1
Date of Last Contact 6 6
Number of Units 4 4
Reverse Azimuth 6
Path Connection Latitude 6
Path Connection Longitude 7
CP = Construction Permit, ERP = Effective Radiated Power,
HAAT = Height Above Average Terrain
--
Bill McFadden bil...@agora.rdrop.com http://www.rdrop.com/users/billmc
There's a newbie born every minute.
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