Scanner help

[Anonymous]

Am somewhat of a newbie. I live 3 blocks from BNSF Savanna to Galesburg line in NW Illinois and about 12 miles from Clinton UP yards. Would like to get a scanner for the train room so I could listen while working on layout. My only experience with scanners was with a 18 year stint with the local Fire Dept. It was an old Radio Shack that took crystals. What I need is a good site to go to for information to get started and some input from you as to what has worked for you ( as well as what hasn't) and am I really going to hear enough to make it worth the effort. I am leaning more towards a portable unit that I could take on chase days. Thanks for any input and feel free to include any jabs and barbs as I love a good joke.

[Anonymous]

I have two Radio Shack handheld programable scanners. They work fine for me but you might want to check out bearcat or uniden also. The frequency for the BNSF is 161.100 and at three blocks from the tracks you should have no problem hearing things on the radio.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is a good thing to have a Scanner Radio but the most important thing to remember is "The Antenna" Just haveing a Scanner alone with the Antenna that is already provided with the Scanner is not enough. You'll have to do some searching to find the best Antenna for your Radio so that you can pick up the weakest signals. That's if you get very serious enough. I have learned over the years that no matter how many Antennas that I buy,there is for a reason why. Just keep this mind. And good luck.
BNSFrailfan.

[Anonymous]

To RIRR80: almost any scanner will work for the railroad frequencies, but most of the people I know have been recommending go to your nearest Radio Shack store, and look into what they may have. They also say to look into the most up to date call book they have usually titled "Police Call", but it covers more than Police, Fire, or anything else. There is a section in the back of the book, that has 2 or 3 pages of railroad frequencies for your area. Just be sure you have the latest up to date copy.
A lot of the new books sometimes include a CD disc with everything that is in the entire continental U.S. So good luck and happy listening.

ralph zimmer [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RIRR80

Am somewhat of a newbie. I live 3 blocks from BNSF Savanna to Galesburg line in NW Illinois and about 12 miles from Clinton UP yards. Would like to get a scanner for the train room so I could listen while working on layout. My only experience with scanners was with a 18 year stint with the local Fire Dept. It was an old Radio Shack that took crystals. What I need is a good site to go to for information to get started and some input from you as to what has worked for you ( as well as what hasn't) and am I really going to hear enough to make it worth the effort. I am leaning more towards a portable unit that I could take on chase days. Thanks for any input and feel free to include any jabs and barbs as I love a good joke.

[Anonymous]

As a radio amateur I suggest you try Ham radio outlet . Tel#[phone] FOR SCANNERS OF A LITTLE HIGHER QUALITY ..In my experience Radio Shack sells second rate quality to the public who either don't know or don't care..<[e-mail]>

[DPD1]

As far as scanners, I've always been more a Uniden fan... Never been big on RadioShack stuff, even though some of those models are technically made by Uniden sometimes. But ham equipment often does have better quality. Obviously you can not use it to transmit without a license, but some models can receive and scan the RR band. A lot of people like the Yaesu VX150 in that regard.

Dave
-DPD Productions - Featuring the NEW TrainTenna LP Gain RR Scanner Antenna-
http://eje.railfan.net/dpdp/

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in buying a scanner too. Would you recommend shoeleather or the Internet in seeking out the less mass-market brands such as Uniden or Bearcat.

And should I worry about whether the scanner's antenna will allow itself to be replaced by a "Trantenna" or whatever it's called.

The woods are full of Inquiring Minds tonite. The rails, too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys for all the input. I found the railroadradio.net which deals only in the communication end and they have very dedicated forums and info. Would recommend it to anyone getting started. Thanks again Willy