I have heard that a few rail fans have used Anytone handheld for their rail scanning needs. Possibly one of the 878 models. From what I have seen those radios don't have the ability to receive rail frequencies. Are the radios modifiable or can they actually receive the rail freqs and not transmit on them. Just trying to figure it all out. Thanks.
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Anytone Radios for rail scanning
- Thread starter scanman1958
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rf_patriot200
Active Member
Yes they can, and work quite well. They can be put in vfo mode, to enter any rail frequency you want from the keypad.
You probably need to be more specific since Anytone makes many different models.
ANY radio that receives narrowband FM in the frequency range of 160-162 MHz can receive railroad voice radio transmissions.
ANY radio that receives narrowband FM in the frequency range of 160-162 MHz can receive railroad voice radio transmissions.
Thought I was pretty specific when I mentioned the 878 model. I know there are variations of that model but the person(s) speaking about the radio did not specify. I am wondering also, if there is a cheaper VHF only Anytone radio that might work just as well.
Why does it need to be Anytone, there are a number of cheaper radios available in the frequency range you are looking for? Keep in mind, if you plan on doing scanning the radios do not scan as quickly as a scanner does.
Having a transceiver opens you up to accidentally transmitting on rail freqs.
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A number of options here cover 136-174
Does it have to be an Anytone? There are several brands out there that work well for railroad listening. I ask because the Anytone 878 version I can find from their site is a DMR radio, which isn't used by rail systems. There's plenty of analog-only handheld and mobile that would be suited for railfanning, at a fraction of the price of an 878. I use some Baofeng 5RM handheld for railroad monitoring; at their price, I have several for backup, and it's not that big of a deal if I lose or bust it.
There are several Anytone AT-D878 models listed on the Anytone website. They are probably overkill for rail scanning since they are both analog and DMR digital voice radios. These are all transceivers in that they both receive and transmit. You don't need a radio that transmits if you are scanning railroad frequencies.
The most common recommendation for a rail scanning handheld radio is the Uniden BC125AT.
The most common recommendation for a rail scanning handheld radio is the Uniden BC125AT.
The biggest question OP needs to ask of himself is "Do I want to scan the rail channels, or just monitor a couple?" If you're wanting to find radio traffic fastest, you need a scanner, and the BC125AT is a great one, as well as the BCD325P2. If you just want to monitor a channel or two with better sensitivity, then you might be happier with an HT.
If you go with a transceiver, be careful to inhibit transmit on those frequencies. Whichever radio you get, someone here can give you advice on how to do that effectively for your radio.
Thanks for all the replies. I probably will go with something cheaper like a Baofeng. I agree that at those prices you can easily have a backup. In the video(s) I watched the Anytone has great battery life and has a robust sound volume. I absolutely don't need the digital portion of the radio. Obviously overkill. I do use the 125at as well as a 396xt. Interesting that the preprogrammed (search) rail frequencies in each scanner is different. There's only 97?? VHF channels. Have not looked close enough to see why one scanner has more. Do most, if not all, the Baofeng have lapel mic plugs?
Most all Baofengs have a standard two-pin speaker/Mike attachment. Lots of offers for them will include one.
The reason one scanner has more rail frequencies than another is whether or not it has all the narrowband splinter channels for future DMR use. Most Railroad stuff is on the standard 97 American Association of Railroads FM analog channels.
An HT as a receiver alongside a scanner is great for railroad or airband listening. In Houston, I often listened to a UP dispatch channel as well as my local road channel. A decent, low-cost HT or two can make a big impact on hearing as much radio traffic as possible.
The reason one scanner has more rail frequencies than another is whether or not it has all the narrowband splinter channels for future DMR use. Most Railroad stuff is on the standard 97 American Association of Railroads FM analog channels.
An HT as a receiver alongside a scanner is great for railroad or airband listening. In Houston, I often listened to a UP dispatch channel as well as my local road channel. A decent, low-cost HT or two can make a big impact on hearing as much radio traffic as possible.
KD8DVR
Member
Just get a cheap scanner.
N4KVE
Member
Aren’t the railroads all going to NXDN?
Maybe. Kinda. Sometime.
NXDN is reported to be in use in some yards and at least one RR, the Florida East Coast, planned to start using it on the main line. But, widespread use by road trains is in the future...which nobody can predict.
Buy a cheap scanner or Baofeng now and listen to pretty much everything.
N4KVE
Member
I already have a MTS2000 I use 3 times a year to listen to the trains in SE FLA. But I heard it’s changing to NXDN, so I figured that was everywhere.
Not true at all.
Well, please list all of these DMR railroads in your munificent pedantry. I'd hate to know I was missing so much railroad traffic that isn't actually there.
The OP's question was about using an Anytone handheld radio, maybe one of the many 878 models, for railroad scanning. Let's stick to answering the question.
Since the OP shows his location as "St. Louis", we can ASS-U-ME that he wants to railfan in the St. Louis MO area. If anyone knows of any railroads in the St. Louis MO area using any form of digital voice, that might be useful information for the OP.
The OP does wonder if Anytone handheld radios, maybe one of the many 878 models, can receive railroad frequencies. I'm not an expert on Anytone radios, but the ones I'm familiar with can receive 136-174 MHz which would cover the railroad voice frequencies.
Since the OP shows his location as "St. Louis", we can ASS-U-ME that he wants to railfan in the St. Louis MO area. If anyone knows of any railroads in the St. Louis MO area using any form of digital voice, that might be useful information for the OP.
The OP does wonder if Anytone handheld radios, maybe one of the many 878 models, can receive railroad frequencies. I'm not an expert on Anytone radios, but the ones I'm familiar with can receive 136-174 MHz which would cover the railroad voice frequencies.
As far as digital, I am only aware of a little NXDN by one RR at this point. No one that I know of is using DMR on the RR in this area. While I'm aware of what the OP asked, and yes, it will receive RR, I'm curious why he would want this for any serious RR listening. The scanning is slow (not as bad as some CCR) compared to a scanner and for RR near St. Louis DMR is not a factor. But to answer his (and your question) Yes it will work, NO DMR that I can track down in the STL area for RR.
Thanks for all the input. I think I have made my decision and it won't be the radio I was thinking of. Thank.
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