How close???

[squad1b]

How close to railroad tracks do I need to live to hear radio traffic?. I'm using a Pro-106 scanner and live about 2 miles from a set of tracks.
Thanks in advance
Scott k

 

[W8RMH]

How close to railroad tracks do I need to live to hear radio traffic?. I'm using a Pro-106 scanner and live about 2 miles from a set of tracks.
Thanks in advance
Scott k

It depends on how close you are to the railroad's base station/transmitter or an actual train, not to the tracks.

 

[mmckenna]

And the topology between you and the transmitter. If you've got a clear shot, then it'll probably work fine. If there's a hill/mountain between you and the transmitter, you may have difficulty.

 

[K2KOH]

I listen to Metro North's Brewster yard and operations, I live about two miles away and can hear dispatch and the trains on my portable. I do have a dedicated radio for railroad, an upgraded RS 668 with a Smiley rubber duck tuned for railroad receiving

 

[cbehr91]

If you're two miles away, you'll hear stuff. You didn't say what antenna you're using. If it's just the rubber duck on your scanner in your house, you'll be lucky to get more than 5-10 miles. A tuned antenna high outdoors will do much better.

 

[squad1b]

Using an 800 Mhz antenna

 

[cmdrwill]

Using an 800 Mhz antenna

There IS a problem: "800 mhz antenna" does not do well on VHF 160 train frequencies.