2024 VHF Low Band Logs

[d119]

@marvinsuggs

A lot of these bizarre PL tones on fire departments are usually a result of falsing on paging tones. Hardwick is 114.8, but I'll occasionally see bizarre numbers on Warren County, PA Fire Dispatch for PL's, when in fact they are a CSQ agency, it's the paging tones.

I use a BCD996P2, I think you're using a BCT15X, not entirely different. I routinely see 123.0 on agencies that are actually 118.8 (Educational Bus Transportation on 33.060 for example). The Uniden decoders aren't exactly a perfect science, and they tend to round to the nearest tone they think is correct.

33.900/136.5 is actually Lancaster County, PA fire. I initially thought it was Radnor (who is in Lancaster County), but after some more in depth research, Radnor just has a base station licensed on it. All of the transmissions come from Lancaster County dispatch, WPRR644. That's why you hear other townships being dispatched on it, it's not exclusive to Radnor.

 

[marvinsuggs]

@marvinsuggs

A lot of these bizarre PL tones on fire departments are usually a result of falsing on paging tones. Hardwick is 114.8, but I'll occasionally see bizarre numbers on Warren County, PA Fire Dispatch for PL's, when in fact they are a CSQ agency, it's the paging tones.

I use a BCD996P2, I think you're using a BCT15X, not entirely different. I routinely see 123.0 on agencies that are actually 118.8 (Educational Bus Transportation on 33.060 for example). The Uniden decoders aren't exactly a perfect science, and they tend to round to the nearest tone they think is correct.

33.900/136.5 is actually Lancaster County, PA fire. I initially thought it was Radnor (who is in Lancaster County), but after some more in depth research, Radnor just has a base station licensed on it. All of the transmissions come from Lancaster County dispatch, WPRR644. That's why you hear other townships being dispatched on it, it's not exclusive to Radnor.

That's great information sir thank you.

 

[sprman1955]

Todays logs:
32.180 pl 77.0 spanish taxi dispatch Costa Rica
35.910 pl 118.8 beeps french heard
35.860 pl 110.9 beeps french heard
38.660 pl 173.8 spanish taxi dispatch
31.750 pl 250.3 POCSAG
31.320 csq Polytones very loud and distorted busy
Hope to catch Santa as he flys along! Angelo

 

[d119]

Today's captures from Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
31.640	118.8	KFG780	Havin Materials, Union, MO	Freq/PL/Traffic (Expired license)
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.200	91.5	WQPM979	Central HVAC, Mountain Home, AR	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.800	Carrier	Unknown	Asian Fishery Traffic	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.840	131.8	KCF918	Uxbridge, MA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL (Noisy, unconfirmed)
33.720	Carrier	KDQ223	E. Brunswick, NJ Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic (Confirmed via address)
33.780	114.8	KNGE459	Falmouth, MA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic (TRS patch)
39.520	173.8	WPYP239	Orange Co, CA FSP South	Freq/PL/Traffic (DTMF on units)
42.400	167.9	KME354	CHP Coastal Purple Base	Freq/PL/Traffic

 

[kkn50]

Pasadena, Texas
SDS200 with 35 MHz Dipole
--
31.0800 94.8 Blooming Glen Contractors Inc, Blooming Glen PA w/ Morse ID KNJK923
33.0400 179.9 EMS Dispatch - Mohegan Tribe of Indians of CT, New London
33.4400 179.9 Fire - Tolland Co CT
33.4800 114.8 Fire Dispatch - Barnstable MA
33.5800 179.9 Fire/EMS Dispatch - Ledyard CT
33.5800 114.8 Fire/EMS Dispatch - Yarmouth MA
33.6400 114.8 Fire Dispatch - Bourne MA
33.7800 114.8 EMS Dispatch - Bourne MA
33.8000 179.9 Fire/EMS Dispatch - Windham Co CT
33.8200 179.9 Fire Dispatch - Possible Colchester, New London, CT
33.8800 179.9 EMS Dispatch - Possible New London county or Windham county CT
33.9200 179.9 EMS Dispatch - New London Co CT
33.9400 179.9 Fire Dispatch - Waterford CT
33.9600 127.3 Fire/EMS Dispatch - Westminster MA

 

[sprman1955]

12-24-2024 Logs:
35.940 pl 118.8 French heard
31.750 pl 254.1 POCSAG loud
35.860 pl 110.9 French heard
35.950 pl 110.9 French heard
31.320 csq Polytones loud
32.180 pl 77.0 Spanish taxi dispatch
35.550 pl 123.0 beps french traffic system
35.910 pl 118.8 beeps french traffic system
37.500 pl 156.7 trucks
35.180 pl 162.2 Vernola towing CA
31.200 pl 203.5 spanish taxi dispatch
37.760 pl 107.2 San Francisco water department
35.980 pl 123.0 Readymix CA
32.940 pl 141.3 spanish taxi dispatch
Thats all for today Angelo

 

[d119]

Today's captures from Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
42.400	167.9	KME354	CHP Coastal Purple Base	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.480	Carrier	Unknown	Unknown materials company.	Freq/No PL/Traffic
39.520	173.8	WPYP239	Orange Co, CA FSP South	Freq/PL/Traffic (DTMF on units)
39.520	79.7	WQAW220	Craig Co, VA Sheriff	Freq/PL/Traffic (MDC on units)
37.100	162.2	KET358	Morgantown, WV Utility Board	Freq/PL/Traffic (Beaconing CWID)
39.840	88.5	KMK457	Orange Co, CA WEROC	Freq/PL/Traffic (EAS RWT)
39.120	136.5	KNFM345	State of Virginia - VDOC	Freq/PL/Traffic (CWID only)
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
31.100	Carrier	Unknown	Asian Fishery Traffic	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.740	Carrier	KYL829	King William Co, VA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.760	151.4	KEX264	Imperial VFD, Clinton, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic (Paging tones only)
33.900	136.5	WPRR644	Lancaster Co, PA Fire	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.920	Carrier	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone.

 

[marvinsuggs]

Today's captures from Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
42.400	167.9	KME354	CHP Coastal Purple Base	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.480	Carrier	Unknown	Unknown materials company.	Freq/No PL/Traffic
39.520	173.8	WPYP239	Orange Co, CA FSP South	Freq/PL/Traffic (DTMF on units)
39.520	79.7	WQAW220	Craig Co, VA Sheriff	Freq/PL/Traffic (MDC on units)
37.100	162.2	KET358	Morgantown, WV Utility Board	Freq/PL/Traffic (Beaconing CWID)
39.840	88.5	KMK457	Orange Co, CA WEROC	Freq/PL/Traffic (EAS RWT)
39.120	136.5	KNFM345	State of Virginia - VDOC	Freq/PL/Traffic (CWID only)
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
31.100	Carrier	Unknown	Asian Fishery Traffic	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.740	Carrier	KYL829	King William Co, VA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.760	151.4	KEX264	Imperial VFD, Clinton, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic (Paging tones only)
33.900	136.5	WPRR644	Lancaster Co, PA Fire	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.920	Carrier	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone.

Merry Christmas 🎁 hope Santa puts lots of low band skip in your stocking.

 

[d119]

Merry Christmas 🎁 hope Santa puts lots of low band skip in your stocking.

You as well, Marvin (and everyone else!). I've got the station sitting on Warren Co, PA Fire (33.980) today. Probably not much going on out there today, so I'll sit and monitor one of my favorites.

 

[marvinsuggs]

You as well, Marvin (and everyone else!). I've got the station sitting on Warren Co, PA Fire (33.980) today. Probably not much going on out there today, so I'll sit and monitor one of my favorites.

I've been getting lots of 33.90 & 30.92 assuming it's Lancaster Co, PA.

 

[d119]

Changed my mind. Today's captures from Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
37.700	Carrier	Unknown	Unknown	Intermittent dead carrier.
37.100	162.2	KET358	Morgantown, WV Utility Board	Freq/PL/Traffic (Beaconing CWID)
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.900	203.5	WNYM685	Guernsey Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/other user listing. (Carrier only w/ PL)
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic (Fleetsync heard)
33.680	Carrier	KBH343	Morgan Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic

I dropped 42MHz from the scan list. The traffic level was extremely low (like two things), and there was a lot of environmental noise interfering with scanning everything else. I'll try 43MHz in a few days.

 

[W8UU]

I dropped 42MHz from the scan list. The traffic level was extremely low (like two things), and there was a lot of environmental noise interfering with scanning everything else. I'll try 43MHz in a few days.

Scanning 42.96 to 44.56 MHz and then 47.44 to 49.58 MHz can bring some interesting business communications. These frequencies are a little harder to catch DX because the MUF needs to get higher than the 29-35 MHz range. Still some electric cooperatives and water departments on 48 MHz and Pike Electric is always a safe bet on their 49 MHz nationwide channels. I used to catch some paging bases on 43 MHz but not so much anymore. With public safety all but gone from low band (except for fire simulcasts from a few northeastern states and the California Highway Patrol) the business and industrial users are now prime targets.

 

[sprman1955]

Todays captures here in TN.
32.180 pl 77.0 spanish taxi
35.850 pl 110.9 beeps french traffic system weak
36.100 pl 136.5 beeps french traffic system weak
31.750 pl 254.1 POCSAG strong
32.940 pl 141.3 spanish taxi
44.580 csq BNSF telemetry weak
Slow day here did get the discone up 3 more feet today was 62 out.Angelo

 

[marvinsuggs]

Recent low band captures. Corrections and identifications greatly appreciated.

QTH: Richmond,TX Bearcat BCT15 X scanner Sirio GPA 27-45 MHz ground plane antenna (25’ elevation) Butel ARC PRO software.

30.60 107.2 New Jersey American Water Co., Hazlet, NJ

30.64 110.9 Thomas, Bennett & Hunter Concrete, Frederick Co, MD

31.04 D054 First Student Transport, Summit, NJ?

31.08 94.8 Blooming Glen Contractors, Bucks Co, PA

31.20 D432 Thomas, Bennett & Hunter Concrete, Washington Co, MD

31.24 136.5 Schreiber & Winkelman, Eden,NY

31.24 D131 First Student, Norwich, CT?

31.44 162.2 W Noble Hamilton & Son, Inc, Havre de Grace, MD

31.60 179.9 Rockhill Materials, Bowmanstown, PA

31.82 D244 Chestnut Ridge Trans, Spring Valley, NY? (Expired License)

31.82 D712 Educational Bus Transportation, Suffolk Co, NY

32.18 77.0 Taxi, Alajuela, Costa Rica

32.94 141.3 Taxi Costa Rica

33.06 88.5 Hopkinton , NH Road Dept

33.06 131.8 Boylston, MA FD

33.06 118.8 Educational Bus Transportation, Suffolk Co, NY

33.08 136.5 Union Free School District, Garden City, NJ

33.10 123.0 Riverhead, NY Hwy Dept

33.44 179.9 Tolland Co, CT FD

33.48 114.8 Barnstable, MA FD

33.48 179.9 Tolland Co, CT FD

33.50 123.0?

33.52 131.8 East Haven, CT FD

33.56 100.0 Easton, CT FD

33.58 114.8 Yarmouth, MA FD

33.62 131.8 Worcester Co, MA FD

33.64 114.8 Bourne, MA FD

33.64 136.5 Milford Area, NH FD

33.70 131.8 Leominster, MA FD

33.70 217.5 Hardwick, MA Fire Operations

33.72 179.9 Lebanon, CT FD

33.78 77.0 SW New Hampshire District Fire Mutual Aid

33.78 114.8 Falmouth, MA FD

33.80 179.9 Quinebaugh Valley, CT FD

33.82 179.9 Colchester, CT FD

33.84 131.8 Uxbridge, MA FD

33.86 77.0 Washington Co, MD FD

33.86 179.9 Tolland Co, CT FD

33.88 127.3 Bethlehem, CT FD

33.88 179.9 Quinebaugh Valley, CT FD

33.90 CSQ Lancaster Co, PA FD

33.90 136.5 Radnor, PA FD

33.90 203.5 Guernsey Co, OH FD

33.92 CSQ East Lampeter Township, PA FD

33.92 167.9 Western Co Disaster Net, Riverside Co, CA

33.94 179.9 Waterford, CT FD

33.96 127.3 Westminster, MA

35.06 91.5 ?

35.06 136.5 Trudeau Sand & Gravel, Saranac Lake, NY

35.06 D413 Coral Springs Enterprises, Coral Springs, FL?

35.10 151.4 Benjamin Brothers, Tenafly, NJ?

35.14 206.5 Smart Materials, Inc, Liberty, TX?

35.16 D125 ? “There’s 5 cases you have to cover it with a pallet””old cart rd”

35.18 162.2 Vernola’s Towing Svc, Norwalk, CA

35.28 151.4 Seymours Sand and Stone, Bozrah, CT

35.32 151.4 Fleming Petroleum Svc, Eldersburg, MD

35.32 D074 Van Pool Transportation, Wilbraham, MA Expired license?

35.52 146.2 Michie Corp, Henniker, NH

35.72 136.5 Montauk Bus Service, Hampton Bays, NY

35.76 107.2 Grannas Bros Stone & Asphalt, Holidaysburg,PA?

35.80 D054 ?

35.82 192.8 Troy Sand & Gravel, Rensselaer, NY

35.84 192.8 Bonded Concrete, West Sand Lake, NY

35.90 118.8 Taylor Rental Center, Middlebury, VT

35.90 162.2 McComas Funeral Home, Hartford Co, MD

35.96 103.5 Vic’s Towing, Inc, Sonora, CA?

35.98 146.2 Caroll Concrete Co, NH & VT

37.02 146.2 W. Milford, NJ PD

37.12 74.4 SCADA/Contra Costa Co, CA

37.24 146.2 (input) W. Milford, NJ PD

37.48 103.5 Geysers Power Co, Heraldsburg, CA

37.46 167.9?

37.50 136.5 Geysers Power Co, Heraldsburg, CA?

37.60 123.0 Vistra Corporate Services Co, Bellingham, MA

37.76 156.7 City/County of San Francisco, CA Water Dept

37.78 103.5 NSTAR Electric Co, Boston, MA

37.82 103.5 Suffolk Co, NY Water Authority

37.88 225.7?

37.96 141.3?

42.16 107.2 CHP Purple Mobile/N orthern Div

42.24 107.2 CHP Green Mobile/Northern Div

42.40 107.2 CHP Purple Base/Northern Div

42.54 107.2 CHP Green Base/Northern Div

43.28 77.0 Ingram Readymix, Houston, TX

43.44 77.0 Ingram Readymix, Houston, TX

43.76 218.1?”were already getting backed up pretty bad, you don’t need me down here anymore.no man thanks for all your hard work”” we got permission on the comment”Canadian accent

44.58 CSQ BNSF Hy-Rail limits compliance system

44.86 123.0?

45.02 D033?

46.10 123.0 Citrus Co, FL FD

46.46 CSQ Baltimore Co, MD FD

47.28 D152 Florida DOT/Bartow

47.38 107.2 North Carolina DOT

49.54 67.0 Pike Electric 2/Nationwide

 

[d119]

Today's captures from Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
31.560	D532	Unknown	Unknown	"Come in and eat, OK?"
35.060	136.5	KCD451	Trudeau Sand&Gvl Saranac Lake, NY	"Where to dump unit 4"
33.920	Carrier	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.100	123.0	WPYL570	Riverhead, NY Highway Dept.	Freq/PL (Carrier only w/ PL)
33.900	179.9	KXV431	Windham Co, CT Fire Ops (QVEC)	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.900	Carrier	KNFQ946	Noble Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.200	D432	KBB436	TB&H Concrete Washington Co, MD	Freq/PL (unconfirmed)
31.200	91.5	WQPM979	Central HVAC, Mountain Home, AR	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.820	179.9	KAV469	Colchester, CT Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.780	114.8	KNGE459	Falmouth, MA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic (TRS Patch)
33.800	179.9	KXV431	Windham Co, CT Fire (QVEC)	Freq/PL/Traffic
39.840	88.5	KMK457	Orange Co, CA WEROC	Freq/PL/Traffic (EAS RWT)
39.520	173.8	WPYP239	Orange Co, CA FSP South	Freq/PL/Traffic (DTMF on units)

 

[sprman1955]

Todays logs:
37.480 pl 103.5 Geysers Power CA
35.890 pl 123.0 Readymix , CA
32.180 pl 77.0 Spanish taxi dispatch
35.180 pl 162.2 Vernola Towing Norwalk CA
35.860 pl 110.9 French heard
35.900 pl 110.9 French heard
31.750 pl 254.1 POCSAG strong
Thats all for now.Angelo

 

[d119]

Today's captures from Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic. See note 1.
33.640	114.8	KNAW393	Bourne, MA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.200	D432	KBB436	TB&H Concrete, Washington Co, MD	Freq/PL (unconfirmed)
37.700	Carrier	Unknown	Unknown	Intermittent dead carrier.
37.100	162.2	KET358	Morgantown, WV Utility Board	Freq/PL/Traffic (Beaconing CWID).
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.720	Carrier	KDQ223	E. Brunswick, NJ Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.860	146.2	KBH343	Morgan Co, OH Fire Tactical	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.940	179.9	KJL703	Waterford, CT Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.920	Carrier	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.820	179.9	KAV469	Colchester, CT Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.780	77.0	KCE579	SW NH Fire Mutual Aid	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.900	136.5	WPRR644	Lancaster Co, PA Fire	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.900	179.9	KXV431	Windham Co, CT Fire Ops (QVEC)	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.800	179.9	KXV431	Windham Co, CT Fire (QVEC)	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic

Note 1: At some point in the early morning, they were dead full quieting. Like you were sitting under the transmitter. Unbelievable. Faded off pretty quickly after that.

Not a bad day for it. Haven't heard SW NH for a bit. Or East Brunswick, NJ for that matter.

 

[sprman1955]

Todays logs:
31.200 pl 203.5 spanish taxi dispatch loud
31.750 csq POCSAG very loud
30.920 pl 123.0 unknown biz.
37.76 pl 107.2 San Fransico water department
32.180 pl 77.0 spanish taxi dispatch
36.500 pl 74.4 spanish taxi dispatch
Slow day here in TN.Angelo

 

[d119]

Yesterday's captures from Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
31.300	150.0	Unknown	US Military (Camp Gruber?)	Dead carrier with and without PL. Previous traffic.
37.700	Carrier	Unknown	Unknown	Intermittent dead carrier.
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic (FleetSync heard)
33.980	Carrier	KDG259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.780	77.0	KCE579	SW NH Fire Mutual Aid	Freq/PL/Traffic (Address confirmed)
33.780	114.8	KNGE459	Falmouth, MA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic (TRS Patch)
33.800	179.9	KXV431	Windham Co, CT Fire (QVEC)	Freq/PL/Traffic (DTMF string heard)
33.900	Carrier	KNFQ946	Noble Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.900	136.5	WPRR644	Lancaster Co, PA Fire	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH905	Licking Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.880	127.3	KCE526	Bethlehem, CT Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.800	Carrier	Unknown	Asian fishery traffic	Freq/No PL/Traffic

 

[sprman1955]

Sundays logs:
35.790 pl 136.5 french heard
31.200 pl 203.5 spanish taxi dispatch
38.660 pl 173.8 spanish taxi dispatch
32.940 pl 141.3 spanish taxi dispatch
35.860 pl 110.9 french heard
26.110 FM KVOR CH 13 with weather feed
Angelo