Need some advice please.

[mlbshowdown2002]

Hey guys, I need some advice. I'm going to buy a new handheld or mobile scanner for my railfanning. I need one that was good reception, range, and clarity. Do you have any recommendations for me? My old scanner is RadioShack Pro-97. Thanks in advance.

[j0nnyb1aze]

Do you plan on using the scanner for anything other than railfanning? You really don't need anything too fancy for receiving railroad comms. Did something happen to the pro-97? that should suffice.

The biggest thing that's going to affect reception is your antenna. A 2-meter ham radio antenna would work great, and if you're comfortable w/ it you could shorten it to be resonate at the rail frequencies.

[kb2vxa]

There is nothing special about railroad frequencies. Any old scanner will do and so will the Rat Shack so don't bother with anything else for that particular purpose or you'd be wasting your money when you need it most. Now if you're interested in more sophisticated scanning that's another story but I'm not too keen on losing an expensive brand new radio somewhere along the tracks if you catch my drift. Oh and don't be a foamer (railroad for whacker) and stay clear of railroad property unless you're invited and under supervision, better safe than sorry, dead sorry.

Oh you with the weird user name, any old VHF rubber duckie will suffice being that's what the railroad portables use in the first place. The only 2M ham antenna you can cut down without ruining it (unless you have lab equipment handy and know how to use it) is a 1/4 wave poke your eye out whip and in any case you'd be right back to square one, nothing gained, no advantage.

[ratboy]

I have two radios I use almost solely for railband, both are cheap ham rigs.

First is an Icom IC-2100 mobile, I got it when the dollar was stronger, for like $109. It's much better than any scanner I've ever had, except for my old Regency HX-1000.

Second is a Yaesu VX-170 2meter handheld. I use a big aftermarket whip on it, and it's great. It comes with a BIG battery pack, and it will run for days if you don't talk on it.

These have the advantage of being able to transmit in emergencies.

[DDan]

Originally Posted by ratboy

I have two radios I use almost solely for railband, both are cheap ham rigs.

First is an Icom IC-2100 mobile, I got it when the dollar was stronger, for like $109. It's much better than any scanner I've ever had, except for my old Regency HX-1000.

Second is a Yaesu VX-170 2meter handheld. I use a big aftermarket whip on it, and it's great. It comes with a BIG battery pack, and it will run for days if you don't talk on it.

These have the advantage of being able to transmit in emergencies.

Transmit to who in an emergency? Personally I don't care what you do but I don't think that should listed as a reason for someone to buy a radio.

[WisconsinRailfan]

I have both a Pro97 and a VX-170 (I am licensed ham and DO NOT transmit on the railroad bands). The VX-170 blows away the Pro97. Both radios use the same brand antenna (see my sig).

[burner50]

Originally Posted by DDan

Transmit to who in an emergency? Personally I don't care what you do but I don't think that should listed as a reason for someone to buy a radio.

Personally, If it is not abused, I would not mind some people having TX capabilities in an emergency.

If there is somebody stuck on the tracks ahead of me, I dont care where the information comes from. But ONLY in that instance, where lives are certain to be lost.

[DDan]

Originally Posted by burner50

Personally, If it is not abused, I would not mind some people having TX capabilities in an emergency.

If there is somebody stuck on the tracks ahead of me, I dont care where the information comes from. But ONLY in that instance, where lives are certain to be lost.

I'm not sure that post 9/11, anyone would take you seriously in time to stop a train before a mishap. How would it be abused. Who would you talk to? It's a pretty thin excuse to carry an illegal radio. Sorry, its just my opinion. Your call.

[burner50]

Originally Posted by DDan

I'm not sure that post 9/11, anyone would take you seriously in time to stop a train before a mishap.

If somebody called out my engine number and said there is a car on the tracks at XXX Crossing... I'm gonna bring it to a stop before the crossing if possible. Have you ever watched somebody ignore the lights, gates, horn, and bells, dart around the gates then disappear under your field of view? You're not going to be able to do much to a train thats stopped anyway.

Dont get me wrong, I'm not advocating carrying modded rigs intending to use them out of band. But there was one day when I was off duty and found a little honda civic stuck in the flangeways cut into the ice at a crossing and she couldnt get out. I picked up my radio and dialed the emergency number right there as I heard a northbound train coming thru my town. Had I called 911 on my cell phone it wouldnt have been in time.


Anyway, to the OP, ham rigs can be found cheaper than a scanner in many cases, and will likely work better.

[kb2vxa]

"These have the advantage of being able to transmit in emergencies."

Nice thread hijack there Rat Boy.