New to This and a Bit Confused

[MuddyKim]

Hey all, first of all, very cool to be a part of all this. A friend of mine gave me a scanner as they were moving and didn't see a reason to keep it. After the initial wonder wore off, I started playing around with it, trying different bands and frequencies listed on pages in this wiki, as well as a couple others found from google searches. I've looked into the specific scanner model itself (Uniden's BC355C) and a couple FAQs around here and the net, and I've just gotta say, I'm stumped.

I've spent the past two hours trying different frequencies, scanning across every band I can, and I'm just not finding any sort of actual communication going on. I figure the FAQ's commonly used frequencies as well as the default pre-programmed frequencies might not be valid for Anchorage, so I was hoping someone in the regional forums could help. So, could someone from Anchorage offer a flat "Try this frequency" to me so I know whether I need to tweak with the frequency, the scanner itself, or just find better reception than in my house?

Thank you!

-Kim

 

[aps_ak]

What are you trying to scan? Most local law enforcement is on the ALMR system and is encrypted. You need a digital trunking scanner to receive the rest of the public safety and utility channels, which I don't think the scanner you listed does. If you are looking to make sure the scanner is receiving well, try the air traffic control frequencies if you live in the 5-7 mile radius of the airport.

 

[MuddyKim]

I was interested in listening to local enforcement, partially out of pure interest and partially to keep an ear around the neighborhood. Hmmm, so it seems like a matter of outdated tech, then? That's a shame. I finally found a couple of frequencies that led to listening in on actual communication, with 145.7800, which was the Merill Fld. As well as 455.7000, which ended up being some regular radio station I popped in on. There were a couple of other strange channels that I saved in my private bank to check later, but for the most part, the scanner my friend gave me doesn't seem to pick up a whole lot, for lack of range or simple inability to match the format (ALMR/digital trunking/etc.)

Thanks you for the help, though.

 

[WA0CBW]

Or try the National Weather Service repeater in your area.
BB

 

[bailly2]

some things you can monitor with that scanner is air traffic control in alaska
Anchorage (ZAN) Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
business band radios such as those used by stores and movie theatres by searching 154, 450 to 470, 902 to 928
wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Category:US_and_Canadian_Common_Frequencies
frequencies used by ships could be good where you are
wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Marine_VHF_Band_Plans

 

[aps_ak]

I was interested in listening to local enforcement, partially out of pure interest and partially to keep an ear around the neighborhood. Hmmm, so it seems like a matter of outdated tech, then? That's a shame.

Thanks you for the help, though.

Check the business channels/air traffic control at the airport in the database as well.

Otherwise, this is not only a matter of outdated tech, but encryption as well. APD/AST/Fed LE are all encrypted.

APD broadcasts their dispatch traffic online through broadcastify with a 10 minute delay. For most, this is the only way to hear them now. If your scanner does 800mhz, you can hear Airport Police, but that's about it. Other non-trunked fire frequency is 154.295 from Mat-Su Emergency Services (you can hear it in most of Anchorage really well.)