Curious what helpful resources there are online to get me started in the hobby. I have a BC125AT and will grab a 5/8 Smiley.
Getting Started Railfanning
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What are you specifically looking for help with?
One of the best things I ever did was get an external antenna on my vehicle with a permanent NMO mount, seriously will increase your reception when you are in your vehicle.
One of the best things I ever did was get an external antenna on my vehicle with a permanent NMO mount, seriously will increase your reception when you are in your vehicle.
I think something like OpenRailMap or other websites with information on where to find which companies travel which lines, etc.
Also check out our database for each state. It is pretty darn accurate and up to date. On the main landing page for each state, there is a menu box with railroads listed. Just click on that and you will go to a page listing the radio data for pretty much every rail corp in that state. For line locations and such you can also go to each state's DOT sites. EX: Virginia - Virginia Railroads Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference VA State Railroads DRPT Official DRPT Rail Map: ArcGIS Web Application
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I would also suggest programming in all 97 AAR channels into your scanner, this can be useful in areas you are unfamiliar with. This just happened to me last Saturday, I was in a town I've only been in a few times which has a very low traffic KCS line going through it, and I've never been quite sure what channel they use in that area. I turned banks 1 and 2 on in my BC125AT which have the 97 AAR channels in them, and not long after I hear a train crew tone up the dispatcher on a channel that I would not have otherwise been monitoring and I got a shot of a westbound in good lighting.
Also program in the EOT/HOT/DPU channels into a bank, these can alert you if there is a train nearby, you will hear short data chirps. Make sure you use the alpha tags to name each frequency, DPU transmissions are at a higher wattage than HOT or EOT so they obviously will travel farther, I've picked them up as far as 20 miles from any railroad line before although that is not common, usually its 5-10 at most, but HOT and EOT are usually just a few miles. If you get a hit on EOT or HOT a train is usually pretty close. Keep those in their own bank because at times you WILL want to turn that off, especially if your in a town that has a yard or several trains, it can be enough to drive you crazy.
Also program in the EOT/HOT/DPU channels into a bank, these can alert you if there is a train nearby, you will hear short data chirps. Make sure you use the alpha tags to name each frequency, DPU transmissions are at a higher wattage than HOT or EOT so they obviously will travel farther, I've picked them up as far as 20 miles from any railroad line before although that is not common, usually its 5-10 at most, but HOT and EOT are usually just a few miles. If you get a hit on EOT or HOT a train is usually pretty close. Keep those in their own bank because at times you WILL want to turn that off, especially if your in a town that has a yard or several trains, it can be enough to drive you crazy.
To be faaaiiirrr... there's only 90 channels in the US technically.. AAR 007 thru AAR 097. But yes, I would program all 90 in, but lock all but the ones you need out. That way you can have them there if you go somewhere where you might need them. Having 90 channels on scan especially on a cheaper handheld can yield poor results.
Mike
Well yes, that is what the T/LO button is for. I "think" channels 1-6 may be in use in some areas so that is why I mention them.
Check out a Youtube group called Train Aficionado. They do live shows the first Monday of the month. I believe they are also on Facebook under the same name. You can also find the past shows on youtube as well. https://www.youtube.com/c/Trainaficionado1
The two guys also do a scanner show every Wednesday about scanners and railroading can be a part of the show. https://www.youtube.com/c/TheScannerGuys
All shows start at 8:00pm Eastern time 5:00pm Pacific, and both shows allow you to ask questions.
Randy
The two guys also do a scanner show every Wednesday about scanners and railroading can be a part of the show. https://www.youtube.com/c/TheScannerGuys
All shows start at 8:00pm Eastern time 5:00pm Pacific, and both shows allow you to ask questions.
Randy
Just to add to this, if you do program all the AAR channels, program them so the scanner channel matches the AAR channel. Railroads refer to the channel numbers when changing the radio channels. You could hear them refer to a four digit number Ex. 3232 or ????, this is both the receive and transmit for their radios. If the first two are the same as the last two, you just need to tune the first two numbers.
First, welcome to the hobby! I've found over the years that railfanning really helps me relax.
For online resources, if you are on Facebook, see if there is a local railfan group for your area or State. Where I am located, there are several, even for specific subdivisions. Also, program in the local railroad frequencies into your scanner. If you have room, put the local frequencies in one bank, and then the AAR channels in others. I also recommend a Diamond RH77 with the appropriate connector for your scanner. Order from a ham radio dealer, since there are a lot of fakes on Amazon and eBay. You may also want to consider a base antenna and base scanner eventually.
Then, the best thing to do is to listen to the local railroad comms. You'll learn a lot just by listening. Prior to PSR, by listening I learned when I could expect trains in the locations I railfanned. For example, the morning northbounds tended to pass by in a block of time in the morning to lunch. The southbounds would appear starting about four hours later. The FRA GIS map at https://fragis.fra.dot.gov/GISFRASafety/ can also help you tie in what you hear to the geographic locations.
Be warned, though, that many of us started out with scanners, progressed to ham radios, and then bought used commercial radios to railfan. My current setup is a TK-7180 and TK-8180 in the car, with a TK-280 as my portable radio.
30 year ham, one year railfan. Here's my experience.
Started with the BC125AT. Then read that all the cool kids were using commercial radios so I got a Kenwood NX-210. I prefer the BC125AT. Although I appreciate having the local 2 meter repeaters in the Kenwood. At first Close Call on the scanner was annoying but I now find it useful and have picked up a few new RR Freqs with it.
I programmed all 97 RR frequencies in both radios. Sure the first few aren't used, but I'm ocd like that. And I made sure the radio memory number = the AAR number. Although around my area NS refers to Channel 2 which is actually AAR09. So there can still be some confusion until you learn each RR's quirks.
Ditto on the EOT/HOT freqs. I only use that in rural areas. In the cities it's annoying. With the commercial radios you'll be limited to vhf and loose the UHF frequencies for EOT/HOT.
My banks are organized by the locality I'm visiting, East St. Louis, Southern Illinois, Centrailia, etc... So there's a lot of duplication of frequencies across the banks. Just wish the Uniden allowed bank names along with channel names.
I got the RH77 because all the cool kids said it was the one to get. But I find the Smiley Slim Duck tuned for 160 MHz works better for me and doesn't poke me in the eye... The Slim Duck is shorter than the 5/8 wave Smiley. I have great reception with it. I got the Rail Road specific antenna for the Kenwood - haven't really noticed any difference in reception.
Mobile, I use a Yaesu FTM-400. Impressed with its sensitivity outside of the ham bands. But I'll probably get an Kenwood NX-700 because I like spending money on new radios. And because all the cool kids have commercial radios
As with all things radio. Be prepared to spend some time, and money, finding what works for you. You'll get a lot of good advice here but YMMV.
Online resources. Open Railway Map and the Crossings app on my phone, ATCS Monitor is another must have. I'm experimenting with ways to take it mobile. The Defect Detector page has potential now that it's starting to map the detectors.
Welcome to the hobby.
Started with the BC125AT. Then read that all the cool kids were using commercial radios so I got a Kenwood NX-210. I prefer the BC125AT. Although I appreciate having the local 2 meter repeaters in the Kenwood. At first Close Call on the scanner was annoying but I now find it useful and have picked up a few new RR Freqs with it.
I programmed all 97 RR frequencies in both radios. Sure the first few aren't used, but I'm ocd like that. And I made sure the radio memory number = the AAR number. Although around my area NS refers to Channel 2 which is actually AAR09. So there can still be some confusion until you learn each RR's quirks.
Ditto on the EOT/HOT freqs. I only use that in rural areas. In the cities it's annoying. With the commercial radios you'll be limited to vhf and loose the UHF frequencies for EOT/HOT.
My banks are organized by the locality I'm visiting, East St. Louis, Southern Illinois, Centrailia, etc... So there's a lot of duplication of frequencies across the banks. Just wish the Uniden allowed bank names along with channel names.
I got the RH77 because all the cool kids said it was the one to get. But I find the Smiley Slim Duck tuned for 160 MHz works better for me and doesn't poke me in the eye... The Slim Duck is shorter than the 5/8 wave Smiley. I have great reception with it. I got the Rail Road specific antenna for the Kenwood - haven't really noticed any difference in reception.
Mobile, I use a Yaesu FTM-400. Impressed with its sensitivity outside of the ham bands. But I'll probably get an Kenwood NX-700 because I like spending money on new radios. And because all the cool kids have commercial radios
As with all things radio. Be prepared to spend some time, and money, finding what works for you. You'll get a lot of good advice here but YMMV.
Online resources. Open Railway Map and the Crossings app on my phone, ATCS Monitor is another must have. I'm experimenting with ways to take it mobile. The Defect Detector page has potential now that it's starting to map the detectors.
Welcome to the hobby.
In my area there are no RRs using the splinter frequencies and no NXDN. When/if they do I'll add them to my radios. I got the NX-210 on the off chance someone goes digital.Until then I don't need to complicate my life.
Well, they are out there, and we are programming them in. Just saying, the "97 freq" list was the same list used pre-narrowbanding. Lots has changed since then, and will continue to change.
Regardless, just do whatever works for you
Regardless, just do whatever works for you
Yeah I forgot to mention this, but yes match them to 1-97 on your scanner's channel numbers, that way you know what AAR channel is in use in your area, and why I used banks 1-2.
ATCS monitor can be a very useful tool. I've done quite a bit of mobile monitoring if anyone wants specific help with that.
And I have yet to find any NXDN or any of the split frequencies in use. I do scan this from time to time using the rail service mode on my scanner.
In addition to the radio related info above, look at www.trainorders.com for an excellent source of local information. Under Discussions, look at "Eastern Railroads" east of Chicago, "Western Railroads" west of Chicago. Membership is $30 per year to be allowed to post info or photos. PM me if you have questions....
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