Would anyone like an occasional "Featured topic?"
Ron Miller
Hi everyone,
The list has been very, very, very, quiet for some time now and I’m wondering if we need a "catalyst" to conversation.
I routinely "clip" articles and frequency list info from Popular Communications and monitoring Times. Would you all be interested in an occasional, informational post featuring a topic that you might use in your scanning hobby time? An example is below.
We had some discussion of railroad monitoring in June. so, to help those of you interested in listening to railroad related radio traffic, I've included some info below. Rail comms use analog fm transmissions, so you can pick them up using your non-trunk tracking scanner receivers and ham radios with wideband receivers.
The American Association of Railroads (AAR) sets the standards for most things relating to railroad operation and safety. They have numbered the channels available to them as 2-97. Channels 2-6 are only available in Canada, but since trains do cross the border the frequencies are likely to appear in those trains as well. All the fun starts just below 160 MH-z.
Railroads were one of the first large-scale implementers of radio systems, and as a result they have a dedicated group of frequencies for their use. There are also some frequencies being used for railroad comms outside of the "official" frequencies allocated for railroad use. These are used by railroad police, yard workers, and others in instances where they don't have to communicate with the trains or other people running the "operations" side of things. Most of these "out of band" allocations are really nothing more than business band channels in another part of the spectrum. You can look for these in the UHF and other VHF portions of the spectrum, particularly in large metropolitan areas where there is likely to be a lot of auxiliary operations.
One easy thing to look for is the radio alarm detectors, or RADs. These are automated systems that watch a train as it passes in an attempt to find any possible problems, and then broadcast their findings on the radio. You'll sometimes hear a count of the axles, or a report of defective wheel boxes or items hanging down from the train that shouldn't be there, and frequently the speed of the train in a mechanical, although not "robotic" voice. The crew will usually acknowledge these broadcasts as well. If you're close enough to hear one of these detectors, it will tell you two things: one is that you're close enough to railroad operations to hear any traffic that might be passing by; the other is that there IS a train close by! Just because you can't hear a RAD transmitter, don't despair. You may still hear plenty of activity from other railroad operations (such as a yard) close by, or just routine traffic on long-haul tracks that pass within radio range of your location. They don't talk a whole lot on the open road, so you may have to listen for a while if you don't have a major operation nearby.
AAR Channels And Frequencies
The list below gives the AAR channel first, followed by the frequency.
02 159.810
03 159.930
04 160.050
05 160.185
06 160.200
07 160.215
08 160.230
09 160.245
10 160.260
11 160.275
12 160.290
13 160.305
14 160.320
15 160.335
16 160.350
17 160.365
18 160.380
19 160.395
20 160.410
21 160.425
22 160.440
23 160.455
24 160.470
25 160.485
26 160.500
27 160.515
28 160.530
29 160.545
30 160.560
31 160.575
32 160.590
33 160.605
34 160.620
35 160.635
36 160.650
37 160.665
38 160.680
39 160.695
40 160.710
41 160.725
42 160.740
43 160.755
44 160.770
45 160.785
46 160.800
47 160.815 117
48 160.830
49 160.845
50 160.860
51 160.875
52 160.890
53 160.905
54 160.920
55 160.935
56 160.950
57 160.965
58 160.980
59 160.995
60 161.010
61 161.025
62 161.040
63 161.055
64 161.070
65 161.085
66 161.100
67 161.115
68 161.130
69 161.145
70 161.160
71 161.175
72 161.190
73 161.205
74 161.220
75 161.235
76 161.250
77 161.265
78 161.280
79 161.295
80 161.310
81 161.325
82 161.340
83 161.355
84 161.370
85 161.385
86 161.400
87 161.415
88 161.430
89 161.445
90 161.460
91 161.475
92 161.490
93 161.505
94 161.520
95 161.535
96 161.550
97 161.565
Remember that the AAR channels are not repeater pairs, you will be listening to them "direct." The AAR channels in the
table give both the channel designation and the frequency. You'll put the frequencies into your scanner, but the railroads will refer to the channels by number. Sometimes it's the number on the channels (most railroads are using synthesized radios these days, which can cover all the channels in the band), or with older equipment it could just be the channel number on that particular radio. When using the synthesized radios, the channels are referred to in pairs. The first number is the transmit channel and the second is the receive channel.
Often, these will be the same number, such as 3030, which means they're transmitting and receiving on Channel 30. We'd call this "simplex" operation. This four-digit number is often referred to as the "window" number, meaning the number the operator sees in the window of his radio.
Another couple of frequencies to plug in to your scanner are 457.9375 MHz and 452.9375. These are allocated nationwide frequencies for EOT (End of Train) telemetry modules. Since there are no cabooses on trains any longer, this device monitors the status of air pressure and other things at the far end of the train an transmits a signal approximately every 40 to 45 seconds, even if the train is not moving. They only transmit data, so you won't want to actually listen to these things, but their presence does indicate a train close by.
They operate at about 2 watts power, so you can hear them from as far as four miles under ideal conditions. This distance can be severely limited by a number of factors, including terrain, buildings or trees between you and the tracks. Again, these are good indicators that a train is nearby, but once you know that you don't want them locking up your scanner, so put them by themselves in a bank that can easily be turned off.
**Note: Norfolk Southern is reported to use 161.115 MHz (AAR Channel 67) for EOT devices.
Another set of nationwide frequencies for more data: 452.925/457.925 and 452.950/457.950. These are used for locomotive speed control near some yard operations. Put them in your scanner and see what you come up with!
Railroad-radio.net is a suggested site to check out. It is reported to have audio streams from railroad comms all over the US. I haven't checked this one out personally, so I can't give any further info about it.
Good listening
Ron Miller
Sean Paul
Sean Paul informs y'all from my iPhone
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Brian Zolo
From: monitori...@googlegroups.com [mailto:monitori...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ron Miller
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2012 6:27 PM
To: monitori...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Would anyone like an occasional "Featured topic?"
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Sean Paul
----- Original Message -----From: Ron MillerSent: Saturday, September 01, 2012 18:27Subject: Would anyone like an occasional "Featured topic?"
--
Sean Paul
Brian Zolo
From: monitori...@googlegroups.com [mailto:monitori...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Sean Paul
Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2012 9:18 PM
To: monitori...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Would anyone like an occasional "Featured topic?"
Ron Miller
You’re welcome gfor the info. I’m working up a Cruise lines and maritime” topic next, I think.
RE the PSR-900: OOOOO, I want to know more!!!
Ron Miller
From: monitori...@googlegroups.com [mailto:monitori...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Sean Paul
Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2012 8:56 PM
To: monitori...@googlegroups.com
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Ron Miller
Hey Brian,
Sean called it well, we’re both using the PSR-500, loading made easier using the PSREdit500 software (pSREdit.com, I think). The software downloads as a 30-day trial.
I’ll see what I can dig up on civilian and military air ops for a future topic post, assuming I continue to put them together and post them (they’ll be response and free time dependent). I believe I’ve got some useful info on what frequency ranges to search to turn up more aero activity, etc.
73 for now
Ron Miller
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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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Brian Zolo
From: monitori...@googlegroups.com [mailto:monitori...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Ron Miller
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 3:38 PM
Patrick Johnson
Guard Auxillary uses 3 frequencies for their lake patrols. Are the
marine frequencies used to a greater extent in other parts of the
country?
73s,
Patrick
On 9/3/12, Brian Zolo <bzo...@columbus.rr.com> wrote:
> Sounds great, Ron1 BZ1
>
> _____
> [mailto:monitori...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Sean Paul
> Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2012 9:18 PM
> To: monitori...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: Would anyone like an occasional "Featured topic?"
>
> Brian:
>
> Both Ron & I use the GRE PSR-500 which we use the PSR Edit software to
> program the units with. One of the issues with aircraft frequencies is that
> most areas use their own frequencies. In other words. They're not numbered
> as the railroad freq's are. I know that the Marine channels are numbered &
> they can be found in the 156-157 megahertz area. Ron can speak better than
> I
> on the aircraft freqs. I know that the commercial aircraft freqs are
> located
> between 108 & 137.999 megahertz's. I am not sure exactly where the military
> freqs are located.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
> To: monitori...@googlegroups.com
>
> Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2012 19:55
>
> Subject: RE: Would anyone like an occasional "Featured topic?"
>
>
>
> Hey there, Ron, this is awesome, really appreciate this, would love a good
> list of marine channels and coast guard frequencies for VHF, also a good
> listing for aircraft frequencies. Would like to know more about the
> scanner
> you use and how accessible it is with jaws with respect to scanning
> software
> you use to program the scanner. I recall you said you use one of the GRE
> scanners don't remember which model, I have an old Pro2052 which is not
> good
> at mixed trunking and nontrunking you either set it for one or the other.
> Really enjoy the list would also enjoy finding more frequencies for
> skywarn.
> Take care! BZ!
>
>
>
>
> _____
>
>
Scott Marshall F.
Ron Miller
Along all of the coasts, the great lakes and all other navigable waterways
(large rivers, estuaries, etc.) you'll find coast guard traffic and other
boaters on the maritime frequencies.
Best regards
Ron Miller
Version: 2012.0.2197 / Virus Database: 2437/5246 - Release Date: 09/03/12
Patrick Johnson
The thing with maritime frequencies is that there are about a hundred
or so. I have an inaccessible Uniden Oceanus DSP radio and several
programmable ham radios. If I can identify the predominant
frequencies then I can program them into my rigs and flip to them to
monitor. Eventually I will pick up a scanner but in the meantime I'm
using the equipment I have.
73s,
Patrick
Ron Miller
That will work. Do you already have the frequencies with their channel
number/use info?
Patrick Johnson
I do have them. Copied them down from the online manual I downloaded
from the Radio Shack website.
Patrick
Ron Miller
If your list is older, you'll want to obtain a newer list. In the last few
years, some channel usage has been re-assigned to accomodate digital
selective calling.