For example, I was once visiting a Raging Waters Theme Park with my family and witnessed security officers racing through a crowd and out of sight. I quickly got my scanner out of my wife’s bag and turned it on.
I already had the security frequency programmed, but did not hear anything. After a few minutes of hearing nothing, I decided to conduct a frequency search and found an unlisted frequency being used by security. It turns out that they were responding to break up a fight between several teenagers.
As you can see, this is a handy feature to familiarize yourself with. Searching for frequencies can be done in two ways.
Preprogrammed Service Search
All modern scanners come with a feature called "Preprogrammed Service Search", indicated by the “SVC” or “Search” button. This feature is handy for finding unknown or unlisted frequencies being used near you.
The Preprogrammed Service Search allows you to search through a preprogrammed range of frequencies including; Police/Fire, Marine, CB, FRS/GMRS/MURS, Aircraft, HAM/Amateur Radio, and Weather.
These ranges cover frequencies for public safety, news media, TV broadcast audio, HAM/Amateur Radio, special low power radios, railroad, marine, and much more.
You can toggle search services on and off to focus on a certain range of interest or search all at one time. In marine or CB bands, you can search or manually select a channel.
In addition, some search services such as Police/Fire and HAM bands, may have several group ranges within them.
Using Limit Search
If you scanner does not come with a Preprogrammed Service Search function, almost all have a "Limit Search" where you can set the scanner to search between a "Low" and High" range of frequencies you choose.
Common Search Ranges
Below are common search ranges from Low to High that you can manually enter and search:
- 29.000 – 50.000 MHz Gov't, business, two-way radio.
- 50.000 – 54.000 MHz 6-meter Amateur Radio
- 108.000 – 136.000 MHz Aircraft
- 138.000 - 144.000 MHz Government
- 144.000 - 148.000 MHz 2-meter Amateur Radio
- 160.110 - 161.565 MHz Railroad Operations
- 150.000 - 174.000 MHz Shared by Business, Maritime, Weather, & Public Safety
- 406.000 – 420.000 MHz Government
- 420.000 – 450.000 MHz Amateur Radio
- 450.000 – 470.000 MHz Shared by Business, Industry, Government, & Public Safety
- 470.000 – 512.000 MHz Public Safety
- 806.000 – 940.000 MHz “800 Band” Public Safety
- 851.000 – 866.000 MHz Business & Public Safety
- 866.000 – 869.000 MHz Public Safety
That's it for now! Till next time, stay safe and happy scanning!
-RF
