Low High Ultra ARTCC sectors that you can hear
Assuming you are on flat ground; not in a valley or near big hills or mountains:
How far away you can hear aircraft is directly related to their altitude.The higher they are; the further away you can hear them. You can't hear any aircraft that is over the horizon.
The FAA defines LOW as up to 23000 feet, High as 23000 to 33000, Ultra High as over 33000.
Your maximum radio horizons are roughly:
aircraft on the ground to 7 miles.
LOW aircraft 200 miles
HIGH aircraft 250 miles
ULTRA HIGH aircraft 300 miles
Get a map and draw three circles centered on your location at 200, 250, 300 miles.
Go to
HTTP://www.MilAirComms.com and find
1) the LOW transmitter locations located within the 200 mile Circle.
2) the HIGH transmitter locations located within the 250 mile circle
3) the ULTRA HIGH transmitter locations located within the 300 mile circle.
Enter their frequencies in your scanner.
This is a very rough way to determine the frequencies to put in your scanner.
If you would like a more precise method of determining your radio horizon, and what ARTSS sectors you can hear; PM me.
P.S. Don't forget to put 121.5 (the emergency channel, and 123.45 ( the AV en-route chit-chat channel) in your scanner