2025 VHF Low Band Logs

[sprman1955]

Todays logs:
31.750 pl 254.1 POCSAG UK
31.320 csq polytones
31.200 pl 205.3 spanish taxi Costa Rica
32.940 pl 141.3 spanish taxi Costa Rica
35.860 pl 118.8 beeps French traffic system weak used no squelch to hear it
35.760 pl 136.5 beeps French traffic system weak used no squelch to hear it
Storms here just rain.Angelo

 

[d119]

Today's captures from rainy Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
35.920	123.0	Unknown	Unknown	Dead carrier with PL.
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic (Fleetsync heard)
33.900	136.5	KGB393	Radnor Twp, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.020	D265	WPSE367	Eshelman Transport Mohnton, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
35.980	146.2	KNFU569	Carroll Concrete Co NH & VT	Freq/PL/Others logs (Expired license)
35.160	82.5	Unknown	Unknown	Unintelligible male voice.
45.420	136.5	KMD770	CHP Southern Blue-3 Base	Freq/PL/Traffic
45.400	151.4	KCX987	CHP Ventura Purple-2 Base	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.820	179.9	KAV469	Colchester, CT Fire Operations	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.760	151.4	KEX264	Imperial VFD Clinton, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire F2	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.920	Carrier	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.920	179.9	KCC838	Groton, CT Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.940	179.9	WNHR373	Waterford, CT Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.720	Carrier	KDQ223	E. Brunswick, NJ Fire Rebroadcast	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.800	179.9	KXV431	Windham Co, CT Fire Dispatch (QVEC)	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic

 

[sprman1955]

Todays logs
31.320 csq plytones
32.940 pl 141.3 spanish taxi C R
30.760 no code CW ID
31.420 pl 74.4 key clicks unkown
32.180 pl 77.0 spanish taxi C R
35.730 pl 18.8 beeps weak French traffic system
Angelo

 

[KF4ZTO]

Todays logs
31.320 csq plytones
32.940 pl 141.3 spanish taxi C R
30.760 no code CW ID
31.420 pl 74.4 key clicks unkown
32.180 pl 77.0 spanish taxi C R
35.730 pl 18.8 beeps weak French traffic system
Angelo

Good old DDE system (French PMR, or what they call “ePMR”).

35.0000 MHz - 36.2375 MHz
12.5 kHz spacing

Mobile transmit (repeater input) offset is +4.4 MHz, so mobiles TX range is 39.4000 MHz - 40.6375 MHz. Data, signaling data, analog voice and apparently digital voice used. Nationwide or nearly so coverage. Multi-tone SELCAL (selective calling) and various CTCSS (PL) tones in use. So you likely picked up 35.725 MHz 118.8 Hz, previously 35.7625 MHz (which your scanner and mine reads as either 35.760 MHz or 35.765 MHz, thanks 5 kHz steps). 35.960 is 35.9625 MHz and so on.

There’s a good write up (in English) on the DDE network - including the system’s internal channel numbering for all the channel pairs - HFUnderground Wikipedia page for it:

DDE - HFUnderground

The polytones you’re hearing on 31.325 are part of the (also French) EPAR network, used for streetlight data and control (sort of like SCADA). In addition to 31.325 MHz, it uses 31.4375 MHz, 31.4625 MHz, 31.475 MHz, 31.4875 MHz, 31.6875 MHz, 31.925 MHz and 31.975 MHz.

UK paging on

31.150 MHz
31.725 MHz
31.750 MHz
31.775 MHz

and many many others. The 31 MHz frequencies do sometimes have voice paging signals.

 

[d119]

Today's captures from average Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
33.760	151.4	KEX264	Imperial VFD Clinton, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.440	179.9	KCD346	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops South	Freq/PL/Traffic
37.600	123.0	WDF83	National Grid USA Service Co. Westborough, MA	Freq/PL/Traffic (Roll Call) (Callsign given)
37.780	103.5	KCA647	NSTAR Electric Company Boston, MA	Freq/PL/Traffic (Roll Call) (Callsign given)
35.760	123.0	KIA208	Carruth & Son Concrete Waldorf, MD	Freq/PL/Traffic
35.740	Carrier	KLB621	WL Roenigk, Inc (Western PA)	Freq/No PL/Traffic
35.960	103.5	Unknown	Unknown	Male voice: "10-4, gettin' off here, right lane."
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.740	Carrier	KYL829	King William Co, VA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
35.920	D156	WQIG620	AJ Myers & Sons Harmony, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
35.720	136.5	WSDQ559	Montauk Bus Service Suffolk, NY	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.900	136.5	KGB393	Radnor Twp, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.900	Carrier	KNFQ946	Noble Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.920	Carrier	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire F2	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic
45.420	136.5	KMD770	CHP Southern Blue-3 Base	Freq/PL/Traffic

 

[marvinsuggs]

April 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.

31.04 71.9 Rural Hill Sand & Gravel, Belleville, NY?

31.08 94.8 Blooming Glen Contractors, Bucks Co, PA

31.24 D131 First Student, Norwich, CT

31.82 D712 Educational Bus Transportation, Suffolk Co, NY

32.18 77.0 Taxi, Alajuela, Costa Rica

33.48 114.8 Barnstable, MA FD

33.58 114.8 Yarmouth, MA FD

44.58 CSQ BNSF Hy-Rail limits compliance system

 

[marvinsuggs]

Today's captures from rainy Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
35.920	123.0	Unknown	Unknown	Dead carrier with PL.
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic (Fleetsync heard)
33.900	136.5	KGB393	Radnor Twp, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.020	D265	WPSE367	Eshelman Transport Mohnton, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
35.980	146.2	KNFU569	Carroll Concrete Co NH & VT	Freq/PL/Others logs (Expired license)
35.160	82.5	Unknown	Unknown	Unintelligible male voice.
45.420	136.5	KMD770	CHP Southern Blue-3 Base	Freq/PL/Traffic
45.400	151.4	KCX987	CHP Ventura Purple-2 Base	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.820	179.9	KAV469	Colchester, CT Fire Operations	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.760	151.4	KEX264	Imperial VFD Clinton, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire F2	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.920	Carrier	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.920	179.9	KCC838	Groton, CT Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.940	179.9	WNHR373	Waterford, CT Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.720	Carrier	KDQ223	E. Brunswick, NJ Fire Rebroadcast	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.800	179.9	KXV431	Windham Co, CT Fire Dispatch (QVEC)	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic

35.16 82.5 Utility Lines Construction Svcs, Anne Arundel, MD?

 

[marvinsuggs]

Today's captures from average Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
33.760	151.4	KEX264	Imperial VFD Clinton, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.440	179.9	KCD346	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops South	Freq/PL/Traffic
37.600	123.0	WDF83	National Grid USA Service Co. Westborough, MA	Freq/PL/Traffic (Roll Call) (Callsign given)
37.780	103.5	KCA647	NSTAR Electric Company Boston, MA	Freq/PL/Traffic (Roll Call) (Callsign given)
35.760	123.0	KIA208	Carruth & Son Concrete Waldorf, MD	Freq/PL/Traffic
35.740	Carrier	KLB621	WL Roenigk, Inc (Western PA)	Freq/No PL/Traffic
35.960	103.5	Unknown	Unknown	Male voice: "10-4, gettin' off here, right lane."
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.740	Carrier	KYL829	King William Co, VA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
35.920	D156	WQIG620	AJ Myers & Sons Harmony, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
35.720	136.5	WSDQ559	Montauk Bus Service Suffolk, NY	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.900	136.5	KGB393	Radnor Twp, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.900	Carrier	KNFQ946	Noble Co, OH Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.920	Carrier	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire F2	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic
45.420	136.5	KMD770	CHP Southern Blue-3 Base	Freq/PL/Traffic

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

 

[sprman1955]

Good old DDE system (French PMR, or what they call “ePMR”).

35.0000 MHz - 36.2375 MHz
12.5 kHz spacing

Mobile transmit (repeater input) offset is +4.4 MHz, so mobiles TX range is 39.4000 MHz - 40.6375 MHz. Data, signaling data, analog voice and apparently digital voice used. Nationwide or nearly so coverage. Multi-tone SELCAL (selective calling) and various CTCSS (PL) tones in use. So you likely picked up 35.725 MHz 118.8 Hz, previously 35.7625 MHz (which your scanner and mine reads as either 35.760 MHz or 35.765 MHz, thanks 5 kHz steps). 35.960 is 35.9625 MHz and so on.

There’s a good write up (in English) on the DDE network - including the system’s internal channel numbering for all the channel pairs - HFUnderground Wikipedia page for it:

DDE - HFUnderground

The polytones you’re hearing on 31.325 are part of the (also French) EPAR network, used for streetlight data and control (sort of like SCADA). In addition to 31.325 MHz, it uses 31.4375 MHz, 31.4625 MHz, 31.475 MHz, 31.4875 MHz, 31.6875 MHz, 31.925 MHz and 31.975 MHz.

UK paging on

31.150 MHz
31.725 MHz
31.750 MHz
31.775 MHz

and many many others. The 31 MHz frequencies do sometimes have voice paging signals.

Have heard the voice at times here great write up thanks..Nice to know what im hearing.Angelo

 

[sprman1955]

Todays logs
31.200 pl 203.5 spanish taxi C R
32.940 pl 141.3 spanish taxi C R
32.180 pl 77.0 spanish taxi C R
Went and took a nap. Angelo

 

[d119]

Today's captures from mild to chilly Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
33.020	D265	WPSE367	Eshelman Transport Mohnton, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.700	114.8	WPIP292	Hardwick, MA Fire Operations	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.820	D244	WPUW388	The Trans Group Rockland Co, NY	Freq/PL/Traffic (Expired license)
33.920	Carrier	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.100	Carrier	Unknown	Asian fishery traffic	Freq/No PL/Traffic
45.820	151.4	Unknown	Taxi service, Spanish language	Freq/PL/Traffic
31.200	D432	KBB346	TB&H Concrete Washington Co, MD	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.820	179.9	KAV469	Colchester, CT Fire Operations	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.440	179.9	KCD346	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops South	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.800	179.9	KXV431	Windham Co, CT Fire Dispatch (QVEC)	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.100	118.8	WNBZ328	The Trans Group Spring Valley, NY	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.640	114.8	KNAW393	Bourne, MA FIre Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic (TRS patch)
33.740	Carrier	KYL829	King William Co, VA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
45.420	136.5	KMD770	CHP Southern Blue-3 Base	Freq/PL/Traffic
45.400	151.4	KCX987	CHP Ventura Purple-2 Base	Freq/PL/Traffic

 

[sprman1955]

Todays ogs
31.200 pl 203.5 spanish taxi C R
32.940 pl 141.3 spanish taxi C R
32.180 pl 77.0 spanish taxi C R
thats all for today.Angelo

 

[d119]

Today's captures from Southern California:

Frequency	Tone	Callsign	User	Confirmed via
31.360	Carrier	Unknown	Unknown	Male voice: "And the rate on something..."
31.200	D432	KBB436	TB&H Concrete Washington Co, MD	Freq/PL/Traffic
35.980	Carrier	KLB621	WL Roenigk, Inc (Western PA)	Freq/No PL/Traffic
31.480	Carrier	Unknown	Unknown materials company	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.820	179.9	KAV469	Colchester, CT Fire Operations	Freq/PL/Traffic (Fleetsync heard)
37.100	162.2	KET358	Morgantown, WV Utility Board	Freq/PL/Traffic (Beaconing CWID)
44.980	146.2	KGK672	CHP Border Blue East Base	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.300	186.2	KGV873	Natural Gas Pipeline Co St. Elmo, IL	Freq/PL/Traffic
35.920	D156	WQIG620	AJ Myers & Sons Harmony, PA	Freq/PL/Traffic
35.180	179.9	WPZV709	Comfort Engineering Tupelo, MS	Freq/PL/Traffic
37.020	146.2	KZM737	W. Milford, NJ Police	Freq/PL/Traffic (Fleetsync heard)
37.020	192.8	WQLM989	Stokes Co, NC Schools	Freq/PL/Traffic (Repeater input)
35.080	141.3	Unknown	Unknown business	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.980	Carrier	KGD259	Warren Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.800	179.9	KXV431	Windham Co, CT Fire Dispatch (QVEC)	Freq/PL/Traffic (DTMF heard)
33.480	179.9	WNFA251	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops Vernon	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.780	77.0	KCE579	SW NH Fire Mutual Aid	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.900	136.5	KGB393	Radnor Twp, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.440	179.9	KCD346	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops South	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.740	Carrier	KYL829	King William Co, VA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
33.720	179.9	WNHI321	Lebanon, CT Fire Operations	Freq/PL/Traffic (MDC heard)
33.920	Carrner	WNKC982	Lancaster Co, PA Fire Dispatch	Freq/No PL/Traffic
37.580	D412	KDG835	Potomac Electric Power Co Washington, DC	Freq/PL/Traffic (CWID)
37.580	D412	KGA845	Potomac Electric Power Co Washington, DC	Freq/PL/Traffic (CWID
33.880	82.5	KQH904	Licking Co, OH Fire F2	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.860	77.0	KGC676	Washington Co, MD Fire Dispatch	Freq/PL/Traffic
33.860	179.9	KCD346	Tolland Co, CT Fire Ops North	Freq/PL/Traffic (MDC heard)
45.420	136.5	KMD770	CHP Southern Blue-3 Base	Freq/PL/Traffic

 

[sprman1955]

Todays log
31.200 pl 203.5 spanish taxi Costa Rica
35.730 pl 118.8 beeps french traffic system
Not much dx today here.Angelo

 

[KF4ZTO]

Yesterday's logs - 3 April 2025:

Location: Richmond, VA
Receivers:

RadioShack Pro-651 (Pro-106)
RadioShack Pro-135
RadioShack Pro-404 / Pro-649
Whistler WS1010
GRE PSR-100
RadioShack Pro-96
PNI Escort HP 82 handheld AM/FM multi-band CB

All receivers used with one of the following antennas (usually the 51-inch telescopic 27MHz antenna or the 27-inch 27MHz antenna)

HYS brand 51-inch base-loaded 27 MHz CB handheld antenna
Cobra HA-TA 27-inch base loaded 27 MHz CB handheld antenna (adjustable via length, 25-50 MHz)
RadioShack 20-006A center-loaded 25-1300 MHz scanner/receiver antenna
Custom built 6m/2m HT antenna (base loaded, 1/4 wave on 50 MHz, 5/8 wave on 2m/150 MHz)
Smiley Antenna Company Super Stick II Base-loaded 5/8 wave 2m antenna


30.0250 MHz FM 150.0 Hz PL - Somebody left a mic keyed? No audio heard - U.S. military
30.4500 MHz FM 150.0 Hz PL - Fort Hood Range Operations, very dramatic fading but full scale at several points
30.5800 MHz FM CSQ - C.W. Wright Construction Company Talkaround Channel - expired license KRT982
30.7750 MHz FM CSQ - Asian fishery radio
30.8000 MHz FM CSQ - Asian fishery radio, very dramatic fading
31.1000 MHz FM CSQ - Asian fishery radio, busy channel
31.2000 MHz FM 203.5 Hz - Taxi cab dispatch, Spanish language, good band opening indicator
31.3250 MHz FM CSQ - Polytone data, French EPAR network (tuned in as 31.320 MHz / 31.325 MHz)
31.4750 MHz FM CSQ - Polytone data, French EPAR network
31.5000 MHz FM 150.0 Hz - Very brief transmission noted, almost certainly U.S. military
31.6875 MHz FM CSQ - Polytone data, French EPAR network (tuned in as 31.685 MHz / 31.690 MHz)
31.7750 MHz FM CSQ - Asian fishery radio
32.1800 MHz FM 77.0 Hz - Taxi cab dispatch, Costa Rica
32.1800 MHz FM 141.3 Hz- Taxi cab dispatch, Costa Rica
32.3500 MHz FM 150.0 Hz - U.S. MIL - Possibly military police? Talking about traffic and intersections
32.9400 MHz FM 141.3 Hz - Taxi cab dispatch, Costa Rica (77.0 Hz in use, not heard)
33.0000 MHz FM CSQ - Data stream, likely related to fishery radio networks
33.7400 MHz FM CSQ - King William County, Virginia Fire Dispatch (local to me) KYL829
35.9000 MHz FM CSQ - Tone alerting system? Could be a paging system of some sort? No tone decoded
36.5000 MHz FM 74.4 Hz PL - Taxi cab dispatch, Spanish language - Latin America
38.6600 MHz FM 173.8 Hz PL - Taxi cab dispatch, Spanish language, very severe fading, noisy
39.1200 MHz FM 136.5 Hz PL - Virginia Department of Corrections Statewide licenses: KSL346 KQG223
39.1400 MHz FM 162.2 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Border Division "BLUE" Simulcast license WPGX917
39.2200 MHz FM 192.8 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Southern Division "WHITE 3" license: KMA801
39.3400 MHz FM 162.2 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Border Division "BROWN" license: WPHM449
39.3600 MHz FM 162.2 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Border Division "GREEN 1" license: WPPD852
39.4000 MHz FM 162.2 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Border Division "ORANGE 1" license: WPHM445
39.4000 MHz FM 186.2 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Southern Division "GOLD 2" license: KTN273
39.4600 MHz FM 156.7 Hz PL - LLAW1 Repeater keyup, probably out of California given the band conditions
39.5200 MHz FM 173.8 Hz PL - Orange County California Freeway Service Patrol South (FSP) - license: WPYP239
39.5400 MHz FM CSQ - Virginia Statewide Agencies Radio System (SIRS) Virginia State Police Base Station licenses: WQSK494, KA5367
39.6800 MHz FM 118.8 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Border Division "TURQUOISE 1" license KDG272
39.8000 MHz FM 162.2 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Border Division "TAN 1" - license WPHM449
39.8600 MHz FM 173.8 Hz PL - Orange County California Freeway Service Patrol North (FSP) - license: WPYP239
39.8800 MHz FM 118.8 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Inland Division "BEIGE 1" - license KMD453 very strong signal
40.3000 MHz FM 150.0 Hz PL - U.S. Military Range Control (fair to weak) local to me
40.6700 MHz FM CSQ - SNOTEL (data) - pretty severe fading
42.0000 MHz FM 150.0 Hz PL - Tail end of a military transmission, good signal..possibly Fort Hood U.S. MIL
42.1200 MHz FM 131.8 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Golden Gate Division "BRONZE" WNWH830
42.4200 MHz FM 103.5 Hz PL - California Highway Patrol - Golden Gate Division "GRAPE 2" license: WPHM437
43.3200 MHz FM 074 DCS - Slurry Pavers, Inc (local to me) license: KZI481
45.7600 MHz FM 77.0 Hz PL - Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Channel 25 automatic CWID KBP891
47.3000 MHz FM 114.8 Hz PL - Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Channel 40 repeater KBP891
47.3400 MHz FM 77.0 Hz PL - Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Channel 02 - KBP891
48.0400 MHz FM 114.8 Hz PL - Dominion Energy (VEPCO) Systemwide / Simplex license KA5747
49.5000 MHz FM 67.0 Hz PL - Pike Electric Truck To Truck Comms license WPAS602
49.5400 MHz FM 67.0 Hz PL - Pike Electric Truck To Truck Comms license WPAS602

 

[kc2asb]

Impressive haul @KF4ZTO. Good to see Ft Hood make an appearance.

 

[KF4ZTO]

Impressive haul @KF4ZTO. Good to see Ft Hood make an appearance.

Thank you. Fort Hood is often super loud on 30.450 MHz. I've only heard their other frequencies in use a handful of times, i.e. 30.150 MHz, 31.450 MHz, 33.400 MHz, 33.750 MHz, 33.950 MHz, 34.150 MHz, 35.000 MHz and so on. Of those, 33.400 and 33.750 seem to be the busiest ones.

CHP and the OC Freeway Service Patrol system on 39.520 MHz [173.8 Hz] and 39.860 [173.8 Hz] are almost as reliable as Fort Hood.

The Asian fishing fleets are weird, sometimes they only come in earlier in the morning or late in the evening (which I've considered "gray line propagation" but there have been many situations where 31.100 MHz and a handful of others come in very strong in the afternoon, when California, Texas and the Spanish language taxi cabs (31.200 MHz [203.5 Hz], 32.180 MHz 77.0 Hz / 141.3 Hz, 32.940 MHz 77.0 Hz / 141.3 Hz and the others) are coming in nicely.

Since 30.450 is often pretty busy, I tend to use it as a "starting point" after checking 25.000 MHz for WWV, then 25.950 MHz FM for the always-on STL signal, I still check 36.600 MHz for the YSD beacon but I haven't heard 36.6 in quite some time now. After 36.6 I check 44.58 for the BNSF data system and 40.670 for SNOTEL before focusing on the specific 39-46 MHz bands for public safety and then larger chunks of the band depending on what I hear (or don't hear).

 

[kc2asb]

Since 30.450 is often pretty busy, I tend to use it as a "starting point" after checking 25.000 MHz for WWV, then 25.950 MHz FM for the always-on STL signal, I still check 36.600 MHz for the YSD beacon but I haven't heard 36.6 in quite some time now. After 36.6 I check 44.58 for the BNSF data system and 40.670 for SNOTEL before focusing on the specific 39-46 MHz bands for public safety and then larger chunks of the band depending on what I hear (or don't hear).

Thanks for sharing your strategy. Same here. Ft. Hood was/is my barometer for how the band is above 30mhz. I've been hearing them on that frequency since 1990-91 when I discovered VHF DX-ing. That was an especially hot sunspot cycle at the time and obviously many more stations on low band. The activity was off the charts.

 

[KF4ZTO]

Sounds similar to my first experience with lowband DXing. I remember hearing British Military traffic on 30.100 or 30.200 or another “low 30s” frequency at some point in 2002 or 2003 using my first scanner (a RadioShack Pro-79) with the factory rubber duck antenna. I then stumbled upon the 39 MHz and 42 MHz highway patrol bands, which, at the time, had a lot more activity on them. Same with 33 MHz for fire / EMS activity. I was hooked after that.

For those who do (or don’t) remember: here’s the Pro-79:

Rigpix Database - Pro-79

 

[kc2asb]

I remember the Pro-79 - great radio. Back then, I was using a Pro-2006 and BC-210XLT. Still use them today. Both great radios for lowband.

I don't remember British military on those frequencies. I was listening less in those years, as I was a few years out of college and working full time. Lowband fire is great - 33mhz and also 46mhz here in in the NY/NJ area. Loved those daily tests with the tone-outs and ID.