Fast Food Confusion (newb stuff)

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Giezr

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Ok I'm decently new to scanning and have posted more than my share of questions on this forum already. However I have yet another question.

I'm trying to get the frequencies to all of the fast food restaurants in town. Now I've had success at a few but I'm still having problems. I was using the RR database for the frequencies. Now the problem I am having is the frequencies listed for "Jack in the Box" are some of the frequencies used for Taco Bell, and several of the restaurants have registered on the same frequencies.

Now I am guessing this is because several of the fast food restaurants use the same equipment. Is there a list of frequencies and or bands that are commonly used by fast food restaurants? Is there anywhere that tells me what type of equipment uses what frequencies? I've tried several times to get a McDonald's here in town where I can see them using a Motorola headset, (the blue type with the batter back and transceiver all in the headset) however I am unable to find them on my Pro97 and my Signal Stalker II doesn't find them either.

I know fast food orders aren't exactly the cream of the scanning crop. However I would really like these frequencies just for informational purposes if nothing else.

If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be appreciated,

Giezr
 

kf4lne

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A lot of McDonalds are using 154.600 with a 88.5Hz tone. this can be a lot of fun for some of the more immature MURS users :)
 

loumaag

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Giezr said:
... several of the restaurants have registered on the same frequencies.

Now I am guessing this is because several of the fast food restaurants use the same equipment. ...
In addition to that, they are all low power and may not get more that a block or two away. Some are Part 15 Unlicensed Devices (which is where your signal stalker/close call comes in handy). Some may be spread spectrum low power and you will never hear them. As far as it goes, the outside device may be a wired intercom and the inside people my be using Bluetooth devices.

I am more interested in where in the DB you are finding these entries, since our policy is to not put them in the DB. Of course if you are using the FCC search functions, that really isn't in our DB.
 

trace1

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I'd like to place an order to go...

kf4lne said:
A lot of McDonalds are using 154.600 with a 88.5Hz tone. this can be a lot of fun for some of the more immature MURS users :)

Does anyone remember Don Imus‘ 1200 Hamburgers To Go radio skit? ;)
 

CVPI4Ever

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bobbybeachbum said:
With all due respect, I've never seen the attraction in listening to Beavis and Butthead asking "Would you like curly fries with that Sir, heh-heh-heh-heh".

Yea really. I just dont get it. Why monitor them in the first place?
 

EC-7

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kf4lne said:
A lot of McDonalds are using 154.600 with a 88.5Hz tone. this can be a lot of fun for some of the more immature MURS users :)

Immature, who me? ;) I have a lot of fun on our McDonalds freq on 154.600 88.5pl
They can hear me from me house 2 miles away with 2 watts on my base antenna.

I think THEY are immature for putting thier radios on the #1 most used freq in the United States. Come on, couldnt they get thier own nationwide freq. There are about 20 businesses in most cities that use that non licenses freq.
 

scansomd

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In my (somewhat limited) experience monitoring fast food frequencies, I found that quite often my OPTO Scout frequency counter couldn't pick up the transmissions.
They are using low power - you must be VERY close to pick them up.

Unsolicited advice for anyone contemplating it:
I would think twice before I purposely interfered with the drive through frequencies. If it impacts the bottom line of the company, sooner or later they will do something about it. While it's true they may not have the knowledge or skill to figure out who is doing it - - they can hire someone who does.
 

W4KRR

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scansomd said:
In my (somewhat limited) experience monitoring fast food frequencies, I found that quite often my OPTO Scout frequency counter couldn't pick up the transmissions.
They are using low power - you must be VERY close to pick them up.

The only way I have been able to pick them up via Close Call or a frequency counter is to be inside the restaruant, or in the drive-thru line at or near the window.

No, they generally aren't very interesting to monitor, except when the employees are talking amongst themselves with them. In that mode, the customer can't hear, unless, of course, you are listening on a scanner. They often discuss things like their date last night, or make disparaging remarks about the customers.
 

andrew_m

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I usally find fast food between 460 and 470mhz or in the 30s. The Starbucks here has a high powered system, I can pick them up at my home, 1.5miles away with a mountain in the way.
 

nd5y

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EC-7 said:
Immature, who me? ;) I have a lot of fun on our McDonalds freq on 154.600 88.5pl
They can hear me from me house 2 miles away with 2 watts on my base antenna.

Back about 10 or 15 years ago there was a guy in Dallas that was talking to and interfering with drive-thru restaurants. The FCC busted him and if I remember right the FBI or US Attorney also filed other charges against him for interfereing with a business or harrassment or something.
 
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