Discovery Mode Usage

[pb_lonny]

I am a big fan (and constant user) of discovery mode on my UBCD436-PT, mostly in the VHF / UHF bands to locate new frequencies or confirm which ones are in use in my area.

Has anybody undertaken any testing or developed a process on the "best" method of using this as far as band sizes and time periods of use.

As an example, the band between 462 - 492MHz is where most of the active frequencies in my area are located. Which of the below methods would produce the most frequencies logged in a three hour period?

462-492MHz for three hours.
OR
462 - 472 MHz for one hour, 472-482MHz for one hour,482-492MHz for one hour.

In the first example I am searching a larger band for a longer period of time. In the second example I am searching smaller bands for a shorter period of time. The first example is less focused but would pick up frequencies which not be active in the shorter one hour periods. The second example would be more likely to pick up less active frequencies but only if they are in use in that hour period.

Thoughts?

 

[SOFA_KING]

Why limit it to just one or three hours? I know of many organizations that have long list of secondary frequencies that hardly ever use them on a day to day basis. That is what you are after, right? So you have to be searching when they finally want or need use those "secret squirrel" channels.

I am constantly searching the "G" bands here with three different scanners looking for new hits. It's major excitement when I get something new beyond the routine stuff. Once identified, then they get programmed into the fourth scanner...the listening scanner. And I've been doing this for years, so I have quite a database built up. I used to lockout frequencies once activity was discovered (and still do on my HP1 with an alarm set on hits) and search between the cracks, but I noticed many frequencies are reused by other agencies that are still within range, and if I hadn't been checking them I wouldn't have picked up on that. So I keep logging everything and periodically scrub the logs to spot new access codes or user ID information. It helps if I name discovered frequencies with the access code (like the NAC used) along with the agency. That way I can spot different access codes more easily when I review the logs. This system has proven to be very successful.

I wouldn't worry about speed. These modern scanners are pretty fast. If a frequency lights up, and there is an exchange between two or more units, you're likely to land on it eventually. The important thing to realize is that you have to be checking frequencies when they finally decide to use them. It could take days, weeks or even months...maybe a year before that happens. But it's a thrill to "bag a new one". Well worth the effort!

Phil

 

[pb_lonny]

Why limit it to just one or three hours? I know of many organizations that have long list of secondary frequencies that hardly ever use them on a day to day basis. That is what you are after, right? So you have to be searching when they finally want or need use those "secret squirrel" channels.

I am constantly searching the "G" bands here with three different scanners looking for new hits. It's major excitement when I get something new beyond the routine stuff. Once identified, then they get programmed into the fourth scanner...the listening scanner. And I've been doing this for years, so I have quite a database built up. I used to lockout frequencies once activity was discovered (and still do on my HP1 with an alarm set on hits) and search between the cracks, but I noticed many frequencies are reused by other agencies that are still within range, and if I hadn't been checking them I wouldn't have picked up on that. So I keep logging everything and periodically scrub the logs to spot new access codes or user ID information. It helps if I name discovered frequencies with the access code (like the NAC used) along with the agency. That way I can spot different access codes more easily when I review the logs. This system has proven to be very successful.

I wouldn't worry about speed. These modern scanners are pretty fast. If a frequency lights up, and there is an exchange between two or more units, you're likely to land on it eventually. The important thing to realize is that you have to be checking frequencies when they finally decide to use them. It could take days, weeks or even months...maybe a year before that happens. But it's a thrill to "bag a new one". Well worth the effort!

Phil

Thanks for the feedback. You are spot on with my plans and what I am doing. As I only have one scanner (the UBCD436-PT), I can't run it for days at a time.