FMN Mode?? For Aircraft

[Cannondale900]

I wanted to listen to the local CDF air ops and noticed that the mode that these frequencies are in are called FMN. What does this mean. My local airport and other aircraft frequencies use AM. My radio shack scanner does not have this mode on it. Would AM work? or is this a special type of frequency only expensive scanners can hear?

thanks!!


Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

 

[Comint]

I wanted to listen to the local CDF air ops and noticed that the mode that these frequencies are in are called FMN. What does this mean. My local airport and other aircraft frequencies use AM. My radio shack scanner does not have this mode on it. Would AM work? or is this a special type of frequency only expensive scanners can hear?

It would help if you stated the model number of your scanner, and the CDF air op frequencies you want to monitor.
Most, if not all, Radio Shack scanners have FM.

--
Comint

 

[mass-man]

This is a WAG, but you may have seen a freq for a ground to air channel. Means they put the FM radios in the planes to allow better communications. But again, post info from the DB and you might get a more informed answer!

 

[N8IAA]

I wanted to listen to the local CDF air ops and noticed that the mode that these frequencies are in are called FMN. What does this mean. My local airport and other aircraft frequencies use AM. My radio shack scanner does not have this mode on it. Would AM work? or is this a special type of frequency only expensive scanners can hear?

thanks!!


Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Valid question. Enter the frequency in FM, not AM. You will just hear noise on that frequency in AM. Most, if not all, air to ground frequencies for forestry across the country is in the FM mode. The FMN mode is a bit confusing if you're not familiar with all the flavors of FM. It is the common bandwidth of the radios currently being used. When it transitions to NFM in a couple of years, you will notice a difference in the loudness of audio. Then it will be time to upgrade to a receiver that does NFM. Unless, of course, it doesn't bother you
HTH,
Larry

 

[majoco]

I doubt that the aircaft itself has been fitted with an NFM R/T on the normal aircraft band - probably someone using a handheld with maybe an external antenna. Done it myself - from 14,000feet you can cover an awful lot of New Zealand with 2 watts!

 

[mm]

all of the CDFaviation radios in use, be them the Wulfsberg RT5000 line, the Nat NPX radios or the technisonics TDFM line of radios are all capable of Narrow FM (12.5Khz channel spacings) ,standard FM (25KHz channel spacings) and P25 digital on all of their channels.

The CDF Wulfsberg RT5000 radios cover 29.7 to 960 MHz and does as I said NFM, std FM , P25 in the 137 to 174, 384 to 520 and 700/800 MHz public safety bands, it also does AM from 29.7 to 400 Mhz.

The Technisonic aviation radios have similar coverage so yes they do have narrow FM capability and have had it for years. The NAT radios only cover 137 to 174 MHz but only in all FM and P25 bandwidths.

The Wulfsberg RT5000 came out around 1992 and CDF has been using them for this long of a time with some upgrades over the years to digital P25.

 

[bryan_herbert]

The 151, 171 and 173 MHz air ops frequencies used by Cal Fire, BLM, USFS and NIFC are Narrow FM but if your scanner was manufactured in the last 5-10 years it shouldnt have a problem receiving the frequencies. The audio might be a bit lower though. Also keep in mind unlike traditional AM aircraft communications 'capture effect' is a factor with FM so your reception range is cut by half if not more.

 

[Cannondale900]

thanks for the replies! my scanner is a RadioShack PRO-163 Base Trunking Police Scanner. i think that i understand the difference now. Also, i see some other sites have different frequencies for fire departments and such. it seems that this site has is stuff together and lays everything out real well. are most of these frequencies for placer county CA or really any frequency on this site for any county or state the most up to date?