Frequencies that are not on RR

[Salvatorejrc]

What dictates a frequency to be either listed on RR or to display itself on a scanner? I know somebody who owns his own private company and he and the employees communicate via walkie talkies (unknown brand, bought most likely off of amazon) and it is not listed on RR. Is it possible to listen these types of communications?

 

[ScubaJungle]

What is listed on RR is simply what people have personally logged and submitted. It has nothing to do with what you can receive. You can receive ANY signal - whether or not its encrypted or not is another story. Whether its listed on RR, though, has nothing at all to do with what you can receive on your scanner.
To receive things not in the database, you can either do a quick search, custom search, or use ID search (not scan) for trunked systems.

For something like that, where it is almost definitely not trunked, you would have to do a custom search, likely of the 450mhz-480mhz area.
If he is using a bubble pack radio from Amazon, he is likely not licensed, and they are likely FRS radios - the FRS frequencies can be found in the database, or online.

 

[ofd8001]

You might be referring to General Mobile Radio Service or Family Radio Service. See:GMRS or FRS Radio: How to Choose

I don't believe FRS or GMRS would appear as licensed to a given entity in the database as they are very widely used.

 

[Salvatorejrc]

What is listed on RR is simply what people have personally logged and submitted. It has nothing to do with what you can receive. You can receive ANY signal - whether or not its encrypted or not is another story. Whether its listed on RR, though, has nothing at all to do with what you can receive on your scanner.
To receive things not in the database, you can either do a quick search, custom search, or use ID search (not scan) for trunked systems.

For something like that, where it is almost definitely not trunked, you would have to do a custom search, likely of the 450mhz-480mhz area.
If he is using a bubble pack radio from Amazon, he is likely not licensed, and they are likely FRS radios - the FRS frequencies can be found in the database, or online.

So how would I identify the frequency?

 

[u2brent]

What dictates a frequency to be either listed on RR or to display itself on a scanner? I know somebody who owns his own private company and he and the employees communicate via walkie talkies (unknown brand, bought most likely off of amazon) and it is not listed on RR. Is it possible to listen these types of communications?

There is a good chance that they are are listed here.. (Not specifically by name )

RR Database Home

The most complete database of radio communications data

www.radioreference.com

So how would I identify the frequency?

Using a scanner.. Confirm it by having them key up their radio or just listen for a call, have a search going in the appropriate frequency range or using close call (terminology differs between make and model)

I'd read up on this too..

Common Itinerant and Business - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[RaleighGuy]

So how would I identify the frequency?

If you know they name of the business you can check the FCC database, if your friend lets you see his radio you might be able to figure out what band it is transmitting on, finally you can check the frequencies @ofd8001 and @u2brent and others above suggested.

@Salvatorejrc what scanner are you using?

 

[mmckenna]

What dictates a frequency to be either listed on RR or to display itself on a scanner? I know somebody who owns his own private company and he and the employees communicate via walkie talkies (unknown brand, bought most likely off of amazon) and it is not listed on RR. Is it possible to listen these types of communications?

A good source of info can be obtained by doing an FCC license query. License Search - Advanced License Search

However, that will only show you info on people/companies/agencies that have been properly licensed by the FCC.

"unknown brand, bought most likely off of amazon" makes me think that they either bought some FRS radios, GMRS radio, or some random Cheap Chinese Radio. FRS is easy to search with your scanner, but they are low power radios and won't be heard very far. GMRS requires a license, but it seems like many don't bother. They sometimes use a bit more power, but it's still going to have limited range.
The Cheap Chinese Radios can be all over the place. Unfortunately they often ship with random pre-programmed frequencies, so they could be just about anywhere on the VHF or UHF band. Rarely do people who buy these sorts of radios understand the requirement that they be properly licensed. The assumption that they buy them off Amazon or E-Bay seems to make some think that it does not require a license.

So, if you are looking for them, you could search FRS and GMRS frequencies. You could also search the Itinerant UHF and VHF frequencies. Or, they could be on some random frequency.
If you can get a manufacturer/model or photo of the radio, someone may be able to assist narrowing things down.

 

[Salvatorejrc]

If you know they name of the business you can check the FCC database, if your friend lets you see his radio you might be able to figure out what band it is transmitting on, finally you can check the frequencies @ofd8001 and @u2brent and others above suggested.

@Salvatorejrc what scanner are you using?

Thanks. I ordered an sds100 with DMR, it should be coming within the week.

 

[nd5y]

The Cheap Chinese Radios can be all over the place. Unfortunately they often ship with random pre-programmed frequencies, so they could be just about anywhere on the VHF or UHF band. Rarely do people who buy these sorts of radios understand the requirement that they be properly licensed. The assumption that they buy them off Amazon or E-Bay seems to make some think that it does not require a license.

Some of these are listed at

CCR Default Frequencies - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[GlobalNorth]

While somewhat less likely if the radios are bought off of Amazon, but there are itinerant business/industrial frequencies on both VHF and UHF that are out there. These require licensing, but as others have said, not everyone does it.

I've heard marine band radios being used inland for all sorts of things not nautically related.

 

[Salvatorejrc]

While somewhat less likely if the radios are bought off of Amazon, but there are itinerant business/industrial frequencies on both VHF and UHF that are out there. These require licensing, but as others have said, not everyone does it.

I've heard marine band radios being used inland for all sorts of things not nautically related.

Does the FCC just not care that people aren't getting licensed? Or is it that they cannot tell

 

[ScubaJungle]

Does the FCC just not care that people aren't getting licensed? Or is it that they cannot tell

Its not that they dont care - they just dont have the money, resources, or manpower to do much about it. They usually reserve using their resources for serious cases, rather than something small and "victimless" like that - from what Ive seen anyway

 

[nd5y]

Does the FCC just not care that people aren't getting licensed? Or is it that they cannot tell

The FCC only knows or cares if they get reports of interference.
The problem is most CCRs now have Part 90 or Part 15 certification.
They are perfectly legal to import, possess and sell but not legal to actually use.
The FCC, Customs or Congress could end the problem of Chinese radios that ship programmed with frequencies that are not legal to use but they choose not to do anything. If Amazon was not allowed to sell them then people would buy them from other sources including direct from China.

 

[KB2GOM]

Many modern scanners have a Close Call function that detects and stores nearby radio transmissions. That might prove useful.

 

[Groeteschele]

What dictates a frequency to be either listed on RR or to display itself on a scanner? I know somebody who owns his own private company and he and the employees communicate via walkie talkies (unknown brand, bought most likely off of amazon) and it is not listed on RR. Is it possible to listen these types of communications?

You can do band specific close call if you at least know operating band but if not do global all band close call of every band except maybe low band if you have idea radio not on low band which is rare as hens teeth.