Bell FleetNet - Newbie Question

[GeraldtonSteve]

Hi Everyone,

Just got a Yaesu FT-250R for Christmas and very new to scanning. Read some posts about Bell FleetNet but still looking for help as I don't understand the majority of my instruction booklet. I'm looking to listen to whatever I can locally. I found local frequencies at Bell FleetNet - Ontario Provincial Government Zone 4 Trunking System, Northwest Zone, Ontario - Scanner Frequencies so for Geraldton, I entered 142.5150 and received full bars and the steady "motorboat" tone I've read in other posts. Then I try the secondary channel (142.2300) and get the occasional mike noise, but no transmission.

Any help or guidance so I can start listening would be very appreciated.

Note that I'm able to hear other analog frequencies like CN, municipality, etc.

Thanks!

[unlisted]

You are trying to listen to a trunked system on radio which cannot receive trunking.

What area are you trying to listen to? Maybe we can point you to some direct frequencies (non trunking) to try and listen to (like you have already done with CN, etc..)

[GeraldtonSteve]

That makes sense. Well, I guess I will see what I hear with the Yaesu and then consider upgrading to a different system in the future. I did hear chatter on some of the FleetNet frequencies, though - but I guess that's more like a hit-and-miss approach, huh?

As for other frequencies - I have tons for the area from here and other sites, (i.e. forestry ops, industry, CN, etc). Thanks - and I appreciate your quick answer.

[DaveH]

Your FT-250 looks like a decent amateur 2 metre handheld radio but
not good for trunked systems like Fleetnet. You can scan the frequencies
of any site (except the control channel, but include the alternate CC).
MOH ambulance and MTO road ops are analog which you will hear, but
due to dynamic assignment of frequencies, messages will be fragmented.
Also, OPP and some MNR/MTO ops are digital, which you will hear as
annoying noise; nothing you can do.

The 1s carrier you hear is on all voice channels and the alternate CC,
once per minute.

Another minor issue is that more analog users are narrowband FM
analog, which means you will hear them, but I don't think your radio
has that option, so the volume will be lower. Analog users on Fleetnet
are narrowband.

If you're sufficiently interested and have the money, consider a scanner.
Even a good used analog scanner will give you some Fleetnet listening.
Even a new scanner like the Uniden BC346XT runs $240 +taxes/shipping,
which does analog trunking. Anything digital typically runs at least twice
the cost. Durham Radio and Radioworld are sources.

I don't see much in the database here for your locality, just a bit under
Thunder Bay. I suggest searching the Industry Canada database for
frequencies, plugging them in, and seeing what's on them. Be aware
that IC blocks "sensitive" police, military, and some gov't frequencies.
By searching frequency ranges you can discover frequencies noboby
has identified, which in itself can be rewarding, as well as helping the
hobby; something that happens not nearly enough, and unfortunately
is on the decline as people get used to downloading frequencies that
are collected by a small number of people.

I can provide details on searching the IC TAFL database. It's not all that
difficult, once you get used to it, and provides a wealth of info. You can start
with a Licensee Name Search keyed on "Geraldton":

http://sd.ic.gc.ca/pls/engdoc_anon/w...see_name_input

For rail operations try searching the range 160.10 to 161.60 (approx.).
You can search IC database frequency range based on your location
and search radius.

Dave

[GeraldtonSteve]

Dave,

Thanks. Your reply contains a wealth of information. My brother is a railfan and the FT-250R works well for him, combined with a whip antenna. Unfortunately, the closest mainline rail action is 30min from me, so this unit might not be the best. However, my brother saw that I might be interested in the hobby, which is why he gave me what he uses.

I will definitely use the IC site. I see that many of the frequencies, (especially the CN ones) are ones I've already entered into my transceiver's memory.

The recommendations for an actual scanner are appreciated. I will keep watch on eBay and Kijiji. Unfortunately the funds just aren't there right now for a new one at this time - unless someone wants to trade for what I have!

Thanks again and enjoy your weekend.

Steve

[Northerner71]

Hey Steve, give me a call any time. I have 2 digital and 2 analogue scanners and i can show you what the system looks like on trunk88. I will get you hooked.