Fletch
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mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Try the UHF itinerant channels. Usually production companies rent the radios, and very often you'll find them on the itinerants since they move around a lot.
RFI-EMI-GUY
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Another Chevy Chase Fletch movie? I would pay to see that!
Also try this: Television and Motion Picture Production - The RadioReference Wiki
So would I, but unfortunately this one is apparently a reboot starring Jon Hamm. If we're lucky Chevy Chase will get some kind of part; that seems to be the hip thing to do these days when doing a reboot of an existing franchise from years ago.
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ko6jw_2
Member
I got a production company licensed in Alaska. I decided on itinerant frequencies and got them for all 50 states. Otherwise, if you decide to use the television and motion picture allocations you have to go through a frequency coordinator and that applies to anywhere you want to use the radios. So much easier to use itinerant. Our radios are DMR so we don't hear others (not a big issue in AK anyhow) and, if they are analog, they can't receive us.
The use of rented radios from a two-way service is also likely. Maybe use a close call function. Could be digital. Probably not encrypted.
The use of rented radios from a two-way service is also likely. Maybe use a close call function. Could be digital. Probably not encrypted.
Movie Productions - Scan New England Wiki
No Chevy Chase this time. Its John Hamm
Thanks for the info but I think it may need an edit. The word Feltch is not appropriate.Movie Productions - Scan New England Wiki
www.snewiki.com
It was clearly a typo and has been corrected.
I think I'd begin with using Close Call. If you get a few hits it may give you a starting point to do further research. They might be using digital so if you have a digital scanner that obviously could increase your odds of hits.
ecps92
Member
99% of the productions that have occurred in Massachusetts have rented from the local companies and the channels plans seem to repeat with some commonality and have been Analog
That said see the link W1KNE posted.
Additionally, you can rapidly SEARCH to find [without Close Call] much of the activity, by searching 451-454, 461-465 and 465-470
99.9999% of the activity is simplex and depending on the Operation Tempo, not all channels will get used in the "generally" 16 channel radios
That said see the link W1KNE posted.
Additionally, you can rapidly SEARCH to find [without Close Call] much of the activity, by searching 451-454, 461-465 and 465-470
99.9999% of the activity is simplex and depending on the Operation Tempo, not all channels will get used in the "generally" 16 channel radios
tvengr
Well Known Member
Also, check 173-174 MHz. Several old movies shot in Baltimore used frequencies in that range. I personally monitored the shooting. I believe it was MGM. Some of the old scanner manuals listed frequencies in that range for motion pictures.
I would add 456-458, especially if activity is found within 451-453, though the 460s have been more common here in MA.
Typically I first hear a bit of activity on the Lighting/Electric channel during set-up a day or two in advance of filming. Then the transportation channels become very active the evening before filming or pre-dawn on the morning of as the production trucks roll into town and set up "base camp".
The very active channels (production, talkaround, camera, rigging, electric, transportation) can usually be found quickly. Lesser used channels take some work. In some productions, a production assistant will "spin the channels" and make very brief announcements on all 16 channels at the beginning of filming ("we're in"), for the last shot of the day ("martini"), at the end of filming ("that's a wrap"), for lunch breaks, and so on. I've identified many otherwise unused channels by anticipating these announcements and watching the staircase effect they generate in SDRSharp's spectrum waterfall, and using the timeshift or the spectrum recording option to play back the transmissions after they've all ended to snag both PL and frequency. The spread of known frequencies can provide clues as to where to look for the unknown ones.
None of my filming loggings have been digital. Directors sometimes give vocal instruction with their mics keyed so they are heard both out loud and over the air. The echo effect caused by the encoding/decoding delay of digital modes would make this problematic. During production, camera crews, electricians, and riggers often whisper into their radios or speak very softly while on the set so as not to interfere with filming. This too would be challenging for digital vocoders. And quick transmissions are sometimes more rapid-fire than would be possible with digital modes.
If you're confused by what you hear, there's plenty of info online about the various movie production roles, walkie-talkie lingo & etiquette, etc.
Typically I first hear a bit of activity on the Lighting/Electric channel during set-up a day or two in advance of filming. Then the transportation channels become very active the evening before filming or pre-dawn on the morning of as the production trucks roll into town and set up "base camp".
The very active channels (production, talkaround, camera, rigging, electric, transportation) can usually be found quickly. Lesser used channels take some work. In some productions, a production assistant will "spin the channels" and make very brief announcements on all 16 channels at the beginning of filming ("we're in"), for the last shot of the day ("martini"), at the end of filming ("that's a wrap"), for lunch breaks, and so on. I've identified many otherwise unused channels by anticipating these announcements and watching the staircase effect they generate in SDRSharp's spectrum waterfall, and using the timeshift or the spectrum recording option to play back the transmissions after they've all ended to snag both PL and frequency. The spread of known frequencies can provide clues as to where to look for the unknown ones.
None of my filming loggings have been digital. Directors sometimes give vocal instruction with their mics keyed so they are heard both out loud and over the air. The echo effect caused by the encoding/decoding delay of digital modes would make this problematic. During production, camera crews, electricians, and riggers often whisper into their radios or speak very softly while on the set so as not to interfere with filming. This too would be challenging for digital vocoders. And quick transmissions are sometimes more rapid-fire than would be possible with digital modes.
If you're confused by what you hear, there's plenty of info online about the various movie production roles, walkie-talkie lingo & etiquette, etc.
You can add 463.7125 (D-116) to that list as Ch. 14. It was used in Worcester yesterday for comms with picture car drivers while filming a road scene. A few mic clicks were also heard on 463.5125 (D-114), which is most likely Ch. 12, but no further activity on that frequency.
Fletch is filming at the Worcester Police Headquarters through Friday. Comms indicate upcoming filming of a driving scene in Boston's Back Bay, possibly at night, on Beacon Street between Dartmouth & Fairfield Sts.
Fletch wrapped up at Worcester Police Headquarters last night. Radio traffic was very active for all three days. I was able to confirm a few more unused frequencies via stray transmissions from people talking on the wrong channel and some secondary chatter:
462.0875 (D071) - Presumably Ch. 8
463.2125 (D072) - Confirmed as Ch. 9, possibly lighting secondary
463.3125 (D073) - Presumably Ch. 10
Nothing was heard on 463.4125 (D074) or 463.6125 (D115), but these follow the pattern and it's a good bet they are channels 11 and 13 respectively. The rest are already in the Scan New England list.
It sounded like filming was set to resume at 11 AM today, likely back in Boston. There was talk of having enough "hot bricks" (fully charged radios) for all of the picture car drivers. WBZ radio is reporting delays expected tonight in the O'Neil Tunnel due to movie filming, but did not state which movie production was involved. That will undoubtedly generate some Mass State Police activity as well.
462.0875 (D071) - Presumably Ch. 8
463.2125 (D072) - Confirmed as Ch. 9, possibly lighting secondary
463.3125 (D073) - Presumably Ch. 10
Nothing was heard on 463.4125 (D074) or 463.6125 (D115), but these follow the pattern and it's a good bet they are channels 11 and 13 respectively. The rest are already in the Scan New England list.
It sounded like filming was set to resume at 11 AM today, likely back in Boston. There was talk of having enough "hot bricks" (fully charged radios) for all of the picture car drivers. WBZ radio is reporting delays expected tonight in the O'Neil Tunnel due to movie filming, but did not state which movie production was involved. That will undoubtedly generate some Mass State Police activity as well.
ecps92
Member
So many have begun production, it is hard to keep track of who is filming where, unless someone on-site confirms either a notice posted/placed in mail box [neighbors etc]
From news and other sites we know of these pending
Frills (MA), Shrine (MA), American Horror Story (MA), The Gilded Age (RI), The Mothership (MA), Ray Donovan (MA), Spirited (MA), Hocus Pocus 2 (MA/RI), Black Panther 2 (MA)
A good site, but she relys on users to share what they find is
onlocationvacations.com - Not just New England
From news and other sites we know of these pending
Frills (MA), Shrine (MA), American Horror Story (MA), The Gilded Age (RI), The Mothership (MA), Ray Donovan (MA), Spirited (MA), Hocus Pocus 2 (MA/RI), Black Panther 2 (MA)
A good site, but she relys on users to share what they find is
onlocationvacations.com - Not just New England
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