PRO-43 (200-0300) Guide to Scanning Faxback Doc. # 16689
BIRDIES
Birdies are the products of internally generated signals that make some
frequencies difficult or impossible to receive. If you program one of
these frequencies, you might hear only noise on the channel.
If the interference is not severe, you might be able to turn SQUELCH
clockwise to cut out the interference. The most common birdies to watch
for are listed below.
Birdies Frequencies:
33.675 MHz 48.045 MHz 139.120 MHz 274.425 MHz
33.775 49.430 139.325 290.475
34.075 50.480 143.550 291.325
37.655 122.575 144.135 463.250
37.860 126.475 147.770 464.850
37.945 129.825 154.825 488.175
38.000 130.400 156.210 489.775
38.910 130.500 248.725 885.600
43.120 134.900 257.550 901.5625
45.220 135.100 265.9875 903.5625
RECEPTION NOTES
Reception on the frequencies covered on the scanner is mainly line-of-
sight. That means you usually cannot hear stations that are located beyond
the horizon.
During the summer months, you might be able to hear stations in the 30-50
MHz range located several hundreds or even thousands of miles away. This
type of reception is unpredictable, but often very interesting. One very
useful service is the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Weather Radio's continuous weather broadcasts. These broadcasts contain
weather forecasts and data for the area around the station, plus bulletins
on any threatening weather conditions. These stations use three
frequencies - 162.40, 162.475, and 162.55 MHz. In most areas of the
country, you can receive one or more of these frequencies.
GUIDE TO THE ACTION BANDS
With the right frequencies programmed into the scanner, you can monitor
exciting events. With a little investigation, you can find active
frequencies in your community. We can give you some general pointers, and
you can take it from there. Please use caution and common sense when you
hear an emergency call. Never go to the scene of an emergency. It is the
most dangerous thing you could do.
Find out if there is a local club that monitors your community's
frequencies. Perhaps a local electronics repair shop that works on
equipment similar to the scanner can give you channel frequencies used by
local radio services. A volunteer police or fire employee can also be a
good source for this information.
As a general rule on VHF, most activity is concentrated between 153.785 and
155.98 MHz and then again from 158.73 to 159.46 MHz. Here you find local
government, police, fire, and most emergency services. If you are near a
railroad or major railroad tracks, look around 160.0 to 161.9 for signals.
You can hear commercial aircraft transmissions between 118 and 136.975 MHz.
Military aircraft operate between 225 and 400 MHz.
In some large cities, the UHF bands are used for emergency services. Here,
most of the activity is between 453.025 and 467.925 MHz.
In the UHF band, frequencies between 456.025 and 459.95 MHz and between
465.025 and 469.975 MHz are used by mobile units and control stations
associated with base and repeater units that operate 5 MHz lower (that is,
between 451.025 and 454.95 MHz and between 460.025 and 464.975 MHz). This
means if you find an active frequency inside one of these spreads, you can
look 5 MHz lower (or higher) to find the base station/repeater for that
service.
A newer technology is now available that uses the 800 MHz band for many
services. Trunked radio, introduced to business systems in 1975, is now
used by public safety agencies. With up to twenty channels available, the
transmitter automatically selects an unused frequency each time it is
activated. Several agencies can share such a system without interfering
with each other. This system can provide secure communications for
selected units, with unselected units unable to hear the message.
Frequencies in different bands are accessible only at specific intervals.
In the VHF-Lo, HAM, Government, and VHF-Hi bands, frequencies are available
in 5 kHz steps. In the aircraft band, frequencies are available in 25 kHz
steps. In all other bands, frequencies are available in 12.5 kHz steps.
The scanner rounds the entered frequency down to the nearest valid
frequency. For example, if you try to enter the 151.473, the scanner
accepts this as 151.470 MHz.
Typical Band Usage
The following is a brief list of typical services that use the bands your
scanner can receive. This listing can help you decide which ranges you
would like to scan.
These frequencies are subject to change, and might vary from area to area.
For a more complete list, refer to the "Police Call Radio Guide Including
Fire and Emergency Service," "Official Aeronautical Frequency Directory,"
and "Official Marine Frequency Directory" available at your local Radio
Shack store.
Band Usage:
30-50 MHz:
30.00-30.55 .......................... USA, UAR, USN, UCG, UAF
60.00-31.98 ............................... IS, IP, IB, LU, PO
32.00-32.99 ................ USA, UAR, USN, UCG, UGX, UAF, UIR
33.02-33.98 ........................... PS, PH, IS, IB, IP, PF
34.01-34.99 ...... UCG, UER, USA, UAR, UAF, USN, UGX, UIP, UIF
35.02-35.98 ........................... IB, IT, RC, RT, IS, PS
36.01-36.99 ............................... UIX, UER, USA, UAR
37.02-37.98 ............................... PP, PL, IW, PH, PS
38.27-38.99 ...... USA, USN, UGX, UGF, UAR, UAF, UIX, UTV, UVA
39.02-39.98 ........................................... PP, PL
40.01-41.99 ..... UIA, UAR, UIP, USA, UVA, UER, USN, UIF, UIR,
UTV, UIM, IP, UIX, UAE, UEP, UCG, UIL, BIFC,
UHW, UTX
42.02-42.94 ............................................... PP
42.96-43.68 ........................... IB, IS, IT, RC, RT, PS
43.70-44.60 ........................................... LU, LJ
44.62-46.58 ........................... PP, PO, PL, PH, PF, PS
46.61-46.99 ............... USA, UIL, BIFC, UAF, UAR, UGX, UGF
47.02-49.58 ........................... PH, PS, IS, IW, IF, IP
49.61-49.99 ........... UIL, UAR, UGC, UAF, UAR, UGX, UGF, USA
150-173 MHz:
150.775-151.985 ................. PM, LA, IF, PH, PO, IS, IB
152.0075-152.84 ..................... PM, RC, LX, IF, IB, RT
152.87-153.725 ...................... IM, IS, IP, IX, IF, IW
153.74-156.24 ................... PL, PF, IS, IB, PP, PM, PH
156.255-157.45 ...................... IP, MC, MS, MG, MP, PM
157.47-158.70 ... LA, LX, IF, IS, IB, RT, IW, IP, IX, IT, RC
158.73-159.48 ........................... PP, PL, PH, PO, IP
159.495-161.565 ..................................... LR, LJ
161.58-162.00 ............................... IP, MC, BA, MP
162.025-173.9675 ...................... Misc. Govt. Agencies
406-512 MHz: 406.125-419.975 ....................... Misc. Govt. Agencies
450.05-450.925 .......................................... BA
451.725-452.175 ............................. IW, IF, IT, IX
451.725-452.175 ............................. IS, IF, IP, LX
452.2-452.95 ................................ LX, LF, LR, LA
452.975-453.975 ..................... IY, PL, PH, PF, PO, PP
454.00-457.6 ........................ IP, RC, RT, RA, BA, IB
458.025-467.925 .............. PM, PP, IB, IF IP, IT, IW, GM
482.00-508.9875 ........................ Mixed Public Safety
Abbreviations
BA ......................................... Remote Broadcast (Radio & TV)
CA ................................................ General Mobile (Radio)
CAP ..................................................... Civil Air Patrol
IB .............................................................. Business
IF ....................................................... Forest Products
IM ............................................... Motion Picture Industry
IP .................................................... Petroleum Industry
IS ...................... Special Industrial (Construction, farming, etc.)
IT ................................................. Telephone Maintenance
IW ............................................. Power and Water Utilities
IX ......................................................... Manufacturers
IY ..................................... Relay Press (newspaper reporters)
LA ..................................... Automotive Emergency (tow trucks)
LJ ................................................. Motor Carrier, Trucks
LR .............................................................. Railroad
LU .................................................. Motor Carrier, Buses
LX .................................................................. Taxi
MC ............................. Maritime Limited Coast (private stations)
MG ..................................... Maritime Government (Coast Guard)
MP .............................. Maritime Public Coast (marine telephone)
MS .................................................... Maritime Shipboard
PF .................................................................. Fire
PH ................................................... Highway Maintenance
PL ...................................................... Local Government
PM ...................................................... Medical Services
PO ................................................. Forestry Conservation
PP ................................................................ Police
PS ..................................................... Special Emergency
RA ........................................... Mobile Telephone (aircraft)
RC ............................... Mobile Telephone (radio common carrier)
RT ................................. Mobile Telephone (landline companies)
BIFC ........................................ Boise Interagency Fire Cache
Government Agencies
UAF ............................................................ Air Force
UAR ................................................................. Army
UBW ............................ International Boundary & Water Commission
UCE .................................. Environmental Research Laboratories
UCF ........................................... Maritime Fisheries Service
UCG .......................................................... Coast Guard
UCM .............................................. Maritime Administration
UCO ......................................................... Ocean Survey
UCP .............................................. National Capital Police
UCW ............................................. National Weather Service
UCX ............................................... Department of Commerce
UEP ...................................... Environmental Protection Agency
IER ................................................. Department of Energy
IFA ...................................... Federal Aviation Administration
IFC .................................... Federal Communications Commission
UGC ............................................ Soil Conservation Service
UGF ....................................................... Forest Service
UGS ....................................... General Service Administration
UGX ............................................ Department of Agriculture
UHW .............................. Department of Health and Human Services
UIB ...................................... Bonnoville Power Administration
UIF ............................... Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife
UIG .................................................... Geological Survey
UII ............................................. Bureau of Indian Affairs
LIL ............................................ Bureau of Land Management
UIM ...................................................... Bureau of Mines
UIP ................................................ National Park Service
UIR ................................................ Bureau of Reclamation
UIS .................................... Southwestern Power Administration
UIX ........................................... Department of the Interior
UNO ....................................................... United Nations
UNS ................................................................. NASA
UPO ....................................................... Postal Service
USA ............................................. Federal Government Misc.
USD ..................................................... State Department
USN ................................................................. Navy
UTC .................................................... Bureau of Customs
UTM ................................................... Bureau of the Mint
UTR ......................................... Department of Transportation
UTV ........................................... Tennessee Valley Authority
UTX .................................................. Treasury Department
UVA .............................................. Veterans Administration
UXX ........................................................... Classified
Abbreviations used by permission of the publishers of "Police Call Radio
Guide", Copyright Hollins Radio Date.
Unlike the lower bands, frequencies in the 800 MHz band are not allocated
by the FCC to specific services. In each area, the channels are licensed
on a first-come, first-served basis. There are two categories for
licensing: Public Safety and Industrial. Systems using one to five
channels are conventional. Five-channel systems might use trunked service,
but all systems with more than five channels must use trunked service.
851.0125-855.9875 ................................... Conventional Systems
856.0125-860.9875 ................................ Conventional or Trunked
861.0125-865.9875 ........................................ Trunked Systems
866.000-869.9999 .................................... Reserved - Satellite
USING EXTERNAL POWER
Using an AC Power Source
To power the scanner from AC power, you need Radio Shack's 9-volt, 300 mA
AC adapter (Cat. No. 20-188). Using an adapter with different ratings
could damage the scanner or the adapter.
1. Insert the adapter's barrel plug in the scanner's PWR jack.
NOTE: If you install rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries in the
scanner, you can connect the AC adapter to the CHG jack. This
powers the scanner and recharges the batteries at the same time.
See "Charging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries."
2. Plug the adapter's power module into a standard AC outlet.
3. When you finish using the AC adapter, disconnect it from the AC outlet.
Then disconnect it from the PWR jack.
Using a DC Adapter
You can power the PRO-43 from your vehicle's cigarette-lighter socket,
provided the vehicle has a 12-volt, negative-ground electrical system. To
do so, you need Radio Shack's Universal DC Adapter (Cat. No. 270-1560A).
NOTES: If you install rechargeable batteries in the PRO-43, you can
connect the adapter to CHG jack. This powers the scanner and
recharges the batteries. See "Charging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries."
If the scanner does not operate properly when you use an adapter,
unplug the adapter from the cigarette-lighter socket and remove
ashes and other debris.
1. Connect the adapter's orange barrel plug to the adapter's power cable
with the tip set to - (negative).
2. Set the adapter's voltage switch to 9 volts.
3. Insert the adapter's barrel plug into the scanner's PWR jack.
4. Plug the other end of the adapter into your vehicle's cigarette-lighter
socket.
5. When you finish using the adapter, first disconnect it from the
cigarette-lighter socket. Then disconnect it from the scanner.
Charging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries
You can charge nickel-cadmium batteries without removing them from the
scanner. To charge the batteries, connect an AC or DC adapter to the CHG
jack as explained in "Power Sources."
WARNING: Do not try to recharge non-rechargeable batteries. They can
become hot and even explode.
It takes 10 to 18 hours to recharge fully discharged batteries. You can
operate the scanner while you charge the batteries, but the charging time
is longer.
Do not use any adapter other than those specified in "Power Sources" to
charge the batteries in the scanner. While adapters of the same voltage
rating and at least the minimum current rating could power the scanner,
other adapters might not work properly with the charging circuit in the
scanner, and could permanently damage the batteries or the scanner.
CHARGING HINTS
To ensure a full charge, do not charge the batteries in an area where
the temperature is below 40 degrees F. Doing so does not damage the
batteries, but they are unable to accept a full charge in that
situation.
To prevent permanent nickel-cadmium battery power loss, never charge
your batteries in an area where the temperature is above 80 degrees F.
Also, if you use an external charger, do not overcharge the batteries.
(llg/all-08/24/95)
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