Fun Bands to Scan for New Frequencies in your area

[compuscan]

I know some scanners have a Band Service Search type function but some are limited or you must program the ranges in yourself to search in a Limited search.

Here are some popular bands to search in North America on your scanner for new frequencies and includes some international emergency or calling frequencies. I have a typical Mode AM or FM and frequency steps after the search range.

Please add any search ranges or important nation/international emergency frequencies you see are missing. I have it in a ascending order.


CB Band - 26.965 - 27.405 AM (5kHz)

10M HAM - 28.000 - 29.700 AM( 5kHz)

6M HAM - 50.000 - 54.000 AM (5kHz)

Air Band - 118.000 - 137.000 AM (121.500 - AIR Band emergency Freq) (was 12.5kHz now 8.33)

U.S. GOVERNMENT BAND (138-144 MHz) FM (5kHz)

2M HAM - 144.000 - 148.000 FM (5kHz)

Marine Band 156.000 - 162.000 FM New channels add & with digital modes? (156.800 - International Marine distress, safety and calling) (5kHz)

WX Band - 161.650 - 163.275 FM (5kHz)

1.25 M HAM 222.000-225.000 FM (6.25kHz)

Air Band - 225.000 – 399.950 FM (6.25kHz)

U.S. Government Band (406-420 MHz) FM (6.25kHz)

70 CM HAM 420.000 - 450.000 FM (5kHz)

FRS/GRMS band - 462.000 - 468.000 FM (5kHz)

33 CM HAM 902.000 - 928.000 FM (6.25kHz)

23 CM HAM 1240.000 -1300.000 FM (6.25kHz)

13 CM HAM 2300.000 - 2310.000 & 2390.000 - 2450.000 FM (6.25kHz)

 

[Seven-Delta-FortyOne]

Good basic list. but....

VHF Lowband is missing. 42-45 MHZ is where you'll find a lot of State Police.

If you live in an area with forestry operations, you might hear some stuff in the 35-40 MHZ zone.

You probably won't hear much FM activity from 50-52 MHZ. Most traffic there will be SSB, or data.

You left out the major band, 150-160 MHZ. This is where 95% of PS and Business is.

420-440, again, probably not a ton of FM voice activity. 440-450 is where the repeater inputs and outputs are. Although, when I was in the SF bay area a couple years ago, I found a net on 422.xxx something MHZ. Only time I've heard activity in that area.

450-470 is another huge PS and business band.


There is also a vast amount of PS and business in the 700 and 800 MHZ bands. There is zero agencies on those bands where I live (too rugged terrain, no funding), so I have limited knowledge about those areas.


Delta

 

[mmckenna]

25MHz to 30MHz, with exception of the 10 meter amateur bands, has some itinerant use Part 90 frequencies assigned in there, even some right around the CB band. There are some local logging operations using that in this area.
An interesting tool to use is this:
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-i...41cd358fc&mc=true&node=se47.5.90_135&rgn=div8

 

[CrabbyMilton]

The railroad band is good provided that there is rail service nearby.
160.215mhz -161.575mhz.

When there is a big new incident or special event and you see the news helicopters flapping around, try these:

450.000mhz-450.600hmz and the mobiles 455.000mhz-455-600mhz
Plus the pilots of these choppers talk to each other on 123.025mhz and 123.050mhz and there is often light hearted small talk on those.
I prefer to program my own search limits than use the pre programmed ones. So I would have 450.000 to 450.600 in one search bank then 455.000 -455.600 in another search bank then 123.025-123.050 in yet another. That way I can customize the search.

 

[ecps92]

change the US Gov't to 400-420 and 12.5 Khz , not 6.25
For years everyone used 406, but there is life below it

You missed the US Gov't 148-150.8000

I know some scanners have a Band Service Search type function but some are limited or you must program the ranges in yourself to search in a Limited search.

Here are some popular bands to search in North America on your scanner for new frequencies and includes some international emergency or calling frequencies. I have a typical Mode AM or FM and frequency steps after the search range.

Please add any search ranges or important nation/international emergency frequencies you see are missing. I have it in a ascending order.


CB Band - 26.965 - 27.405 AM (5kHz)

10M HAM - 28.000 - 29.700 AM( 5kHz)

6M HAM - 50.000 - 54.000 AM (5kHz)

Air Band - 118.000 - 137.000 AM (121.500 - AIR Band emergency Freq) (was 12.5kHz now 8.33)

U.S. GOVERNMENT BAND (138-144 MHz) FM (5kHz)

2M HAM - 144.000 - 148.000 FM (5kHz)

Marine Band 156.000 - 162.000 FM New channels add & with digital modes? (156.800 - International Marine distress, safety and calling) (5kHz)

WX Band - 161.650 - 163.275 FM (5kHz)

1.25 M HAM 222.000-225.000 FM (6.25kHz)

Air Band - 225.000 – 399.950 FM (6.25kHz)

U.S. Government Band (406-420 MHz) FM (6.25kHz)

70 CM HAM 420.000 - 450.000 FM (5kHz)

FRS/GRMS band - 462.000 - 468.000 FM (5kHz)

33 CM HAM 902.000 - 928.000 FM (6.25kHz)

23 CM HAM 1240.000 -1300.000 FM (6.25kHz)

13 CM HAM 2300.000 - 2310.000 & 2390.000 - 2450.000 FM (6.25kHz)

 

[CrabbyMilton]

While I can empathize with those that contend that there is nothing to hear on the scanner anymore, just follow this threads advice. Put it in search, sit back and see what you hear.
In other words just step back and do something a little bit different this time much the way we found new frequencies before the internet.

 

[chief21]

GMRS/FRS band search needs to be 12.5 kHz steps... not 5 kHz;

What is correct step for VHF Air Band in US... 12.5 kHz? I thought only Europe had switched to 8.33 kHz steps;

UHF Air Band is 225 to 380(?) and AM, not FM; 380(?) to 400 is now primarily Govt land mobile and FM;

I'm not sure about the microwave ham bands, but all other VHF/UHF ham is still normal FM - so steps should be 5 kHz, not 6.25 kHz.

Did I miss anything????

John AC4JK

 

[wtp]

let the radio do it

FRS/GRMS band - 462.000 - 468.000 FM (5kHz)
that is quite a bit to search for 22 frequencies.
a list of frequencies would be better.
or a name change.

 

[ecps92]

FRS//GMRS is 12.5 Khz, not 5 Khz

the UHF 450-470 is also generally 12.5 Khz, unless a rare 6.25 is found

the 457/467 Maritime channels have begun moving from 12,5 to 6.25 with Narrowbanding and DMR

FRS/GRMS band - 462.000 - 468.000 FM (5kHz)
that is quite a bit to search for 22 frequencies.
a list of frequencies would be better.
or a name change.