Frequency/Scanner Question

[CSXDixieLine]

Hi everyone, I have an update...purchased a new "rubber duck" for my Radio Shack Pro-82 handheld scanner. It is tuned to the railraod frequency range, and boy does it make a difference! I was happy with the stock antenna that came with the scanner, but now I can hear trains calling signals two or three signals farther away from where I am railfanning, and the ones I could hear before are much clearer. This is a BIG help when I am shooting videos because I now get an extra 5-10 minutes advance notice of what is coming from where and can setup the camera accordingly. Got mine from Smiley Antennas for a whopping $20:

http://www.smileyantenna.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_24&products_id=29

I am sure there are other sellers as well.

[CSXDixieLine]

FYI from what I have read, adding an antenna that is tuned for the railroad band will result in much better reception on one of these handheld scanners. I have mine on order and I'll let everyone know how it works once I start using it. I figure it's hard to go wrong for the $20 cost of the new antenna.

[spbed]

What I did when I got mine I got ALL RR ffrequencies from the AAR then plugged them all into my scanner & now where ever I go I am all set since all frequencies are now in the memory of the scanner

 

 

 

Hello. I just purchased a Radio Shack Pro-82 scanner. It is the first one I've ever owned and I am trying to learn the finer points of operating it. Naturally, I have a few questions. First, if I am tuned to a known frequency, how should I adjust the squelch? Should I hear constant static or should I adjust it to the point where the static stops? Second, I cannot find the channel for the railroad frequencies! I've looked through the owners manual and I can't find frequencies in the 160's in any of the channel storange banks. PLEASE HELP!

Thanks for taking time to give a "newbie" a hand,

Martin

P.S. If anyone is interested, the owner's manual is found on-line at Radio Shack's website. Just search for the Pro-82 scanner and the downloads are in the lower left corner of the page-- at least that's where I found them on my computer.

[hf1001]

I bought mine on Ebay for a cheap price. If that is what you would only need it for, then don't don't buy a scanner with all the bells and whistles. Mine is a handheld. Do not let people program it unless it's for free because you will find any frequencies on the internet.

 

         Best of Luck!

[CNWUPCLINTON]

I to am a newbe to the railfanning scene and i do not have a scaner because i usullay go by the Iowa,Illinois bridge and there i get about 7 or 8 in a halfhour (All UP though) but i was interested in one but i dont want to spend a fortune on it. any pointers or good hints.

I usually stay in Iowa or into illinois by Savanna area where the BNSF go through. Also where can i get all the progammable frequences?

Thanks

[Slufoot]

Railroad frequencies are regulated by the FCC (Federal Comm. Commission) and the ARR (Assoc. American of Railroads). Railroads normally opperate using the ARR designated frequencies. Check this web site for a complete list of the ARR frequencies:

http://www.n5lxi.com/ham/aar_rail.html 

Once you know the ARR freqs. search various railroads for the frequencies assigned to that particular railroad.

As for your scanner covering the railroad frequencies, look at the technical specifications.

>

Frequency Coverage

23-30, 30-50, 50-54, 108-136.9875, 137-144, 144-148, 148-174, 380-450, 450-470, 470-512 MHz

You will see that it DOES cover the RR freqs in the 160 MHz range. It covers all VHF freqs between 148 and 174 MHz (see above, in red). In otherwords, you have a good scanner radio, you're in business.  

I think you'll enjoy your radio. I have been a 'scanner' for 30 + years and have several scanner including THE very first "digital" scanner, the Tennelec MemoryScan MS-2. Scanners allow you to hear the trains, dispatchers, M/W & C & S forces plus local police, fire, EMS, commercial aviation, and business'. When I travel I always take my little handheld to monitor what's going on around me.  

Enjoy, 

Slufoot

 

[hf1001]

I printed my Pro 91 scanner manual off the internet.

[HankDiggs]

(1) Adjust the squelch to the point that there's no static.

(2) There should be a guide to scanner frequencies available at the Radio Shack where you got your scanner.  They're usually updated and reprinted every year.

[Dampfmann]

Hello. I just purchased a Radio Shack Pro-82 scanner. It is the first one I've ever owned and I am trying to learn the finer points of operating it. Naturally, I have a few questions. First, if I am tuned to a known frequency, how should I adjust the squelch? Should I hear constant static or should I adjust it to the point where the static stops? Second, I cannot find the channel for the railroad frequencies! I've looked through the owners manual and I can't find frequencies in the 160's in any of the channel storange banks. PLEASE HELP!

Thanks for taking time to give a "newbie" a hand,

Martin

P.S. If anyone is interested, the owner's manual is found on-line at Radio Shack's website. Just search for the Pro-82 scanner and the downloads are in the lower left corner of the page-- at least that's where I found them on my computer.