Scanning VHF low band..

[jjhendo]

I've never really looked into low band VHF and was curious, so I set my SDS200 with a discone to scan 30-50 MHz for a few days. Mostly static as expected, but did get some bits of public safety. Since I don't really see any low band listed in my area here on RR, and reading more into it, I guess it's safe to say this stuff is probably from nowhere near me since low vhf is almost hf range? I was actually trying to find analog frequencies and get crystals for an old scanner, but I suppose that might be foolish if they're gonna be infrequent..
Is there a better low VHF antenna, anyway?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Since I don't really see any low band listed in my area here on RR, and reading more into it, I guess it's safe to say this stuff is probably from nowhere near me since low vhf is almost hf range?

One of the perks of a RR premium subscription is the ability to utilize the frequency data search to query the entire RRDB so you can see what's been identified

 

[dkcorlfla]

Some hams enjoy the 6 meter band (50 to 54 Mhz) as it can have some very interesting propagation. They call it the magic band for this reason.

There are beacons and I think FT8 when the bands open so you could monitor the beacons and the FT8 to see what's going on with the band.

Then if it opens cut the scanner loose and see what it might find.

For the ham stuff a horizontal yagi would be best.

 

[kc2asb]

The VHF low band is still very interesting listening when propagation is favorable, but it's much less populated than it was 20+ years ago.

I recommend following and reading through this thread. Some of what you are hearing might have already been identified by other RR users. Logging both the frequency and the PL/DPL tone can make identification much easier.

2025 VHF Low Band Logs

33.78000 PL 118.8 some ambulance was getting dispatched to "Old River Beach" first low band hit for me in awhile. II think it might be Alabama

forums.radioreference.com

You can also search the FCC database by frequency for free to try and identify the signals you are hearing:

License Search - Advanced License Search

As far as antennas, I have had good results with a CB vertical, such as the Antron/Solarcon A-99, as well as a 6 meter ham band vertical. A vertical for the 10 meter ham band is another good option. There are commercial VHF low antennas, but these tend to be very costly.

 

[nd5y]

Is there a better low VHF antenna, anyway?

Antennas for low band are no different than any other band except for being 3 to 5 times as big as high band antennas.

VHF discones commonly used for scanners and ham radio usually have a cutoff frequency of around 100-118 MHz and are useless for frequencies below that. some have a lowband extension on top of the disc but those aren't very good for low band.

You might have to build your own. You could make something like Homebrewed Off-Center Fed Dipole - The RadioReference Wiki but make each side the same length 5 to 8 feet long and leave out the TV balun.

 

[jjhendo]

One of the perks of a RR premium subscription is the ability to utilize the frequency data search to query the entire RRDB so you can see what's been identified

Does each frequency only have one user, then? More like hf than vhf/uhf? I'm still figuring this out..

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Does each frequency only have one user, then? More like hf than vhf/uhf? I'm still figuring this out..

Hard to say without specific examples

 

[jjhendo]

Some hams enjoy the 6 meter band (50 to 54 Mhz) as it can have some very interesting propagation. They call it the magic band for this reason.

There are beacons and I think FT8 when the bands open so you could monitor the beacons and the FT8 to see what's going on with the band.

Then if it opens cut the scanner loose and see what it might find.

For the ham stuff a horizontal yagi would be best.

Yeah, studying for technician now and really interested in 6 meters.

 

[kc2asb]

Does each frequency only have one user, then? More like hf than vhf/uhf? I'm still figuring this out..

Typically, no. Much like VHF High, UHF, 800MHz, etc, a frequency will usually have numerous licensees in various parts of the country, even in the same state. However, the number of public safety, government and business users on VHF Low has been steadily decreasing.

 

[jjhendo]

The VHF low band is still very interesting listening when propagation is favorable, but it's much less populated than it was 20+ years ago.

I recommend following and reading through this thread. Some of what you are hearing might have already been identified by other RR users. Logging both the frequency and the PL/DPL tone can make identification much easier.

2025 VHF Low Band Logs

33.78000 PL 118.8 some ambulance was getting dispatched to "Old River Beach" first low band hit for me in awhile. II think it might be Alabama

forums.radioreference.com

You can also search the FCC database by frequency for free to try and identify the signals you are hearing:

License Search - Advanced License Search

As far as antennas, I have had good results with a CB vertical, such as the Antron/Solarcon A-99, as well as a 6 meter ham band vertical. A vertical for the 10 meter ham band is another good option. There are commercial VHF low antennas, but these tend to be very costly.

Maybe, but I havent much to go on so far besides a frequency and streets me mentioned..
So I guess 30-50 MHz is 8 meters, but a 6 meter vertical should still work?

 

[mmckenna]

Yeah, studying for technician now and really interested in 6 meters.

You'll want something better than a discone, either way. The low band coverage on most discone antennas is an afterthought. They often put a whip on top that's tuned somewhere in the 6 meter band, but they are really poor performers. Physically short antenna with a very poor ground plane is going to lead to dismal results. The fact you are hearing anything probably means that band conditions are really good, or you've got some nearby users.

Kind of hard to fake a low band antenna. If you are going 6 meters, then you'll absolutely want a real 6 meter antenna. Even if you don't, and want to play on low band, you'll want a better antenna.

 

[dkcorlfla]

Maybe, but I havent much to go on so far besides a frequency and streets me mentioned..
So I guess 30-50 MHz is 8 meters, but a 6 meter vertical should still work?

If you want to try a simple vertical I would think a cut down CB whip (full size not loading coil) would be a quick cheap and easy way to play around a bit on the 30 > 50 Mhz

 

[kc2asb]

Maybe, but I havent much to go on so far besides a frequency and streets me mentioned..
So I guess 30-50 MHz is 8 meters, but a 6 meter vertical should still work?

Keep listening for clues. Some fire departments test their tones in the evening, and identify with their town/city and callsign.

Using a CB antenna or 6 meter vertical for 30-50 MHz is a compromise. They are "close enough" to almost certainly give better results than a discone. However, nothing will beat an antenna that is cut and tuned to a particular band. It's not practical, of course, to have multiple antennas each cut for a different slice of the 30-50MHz spectrum, nor is it necessary for receive-only use.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Here's all the 30-50 listed in the RRDB for the state of Minnesota, but as others have mentioned HF propagates far and wide so you may be hearing things from anywhere in the country. Another perk of the premium sub I brought up in post #2 is the ability to download a spreadsheet of all RRDB identified frequencies in your (or any) state

Frequency Output​	FCC Callsign​	County​	Description​
30​	​	Statewide​	West Jump​
30.5​	​	Statewide​	East Fire​
36.1​	​	Statewide​	Range Control Primary​
36.9​	​	Statewide​	Range Control Secondary​
37.18​	​	Washington​	Cottage Grove Public Works​
38​	​	Statewide​	West Fire​
43.28​	WPNP874​	Statewide​	ASTECH CORP​
43.76​	​	Dakota​	Schmitty And Sons School Buses​
45.16​	KRE265​	Hennepin​	Public Works (day) / Snow Plows​
45.2​	​	Washington​	Bayport Public Works​
45.2​	​	Washington​	Forest Lake Public Works​
45.72​	KDK637​	Washington​	Highway Dept.​
46.56​	KNIW898​	Kandiyohi​	Fire Link​
47.5​	KLV914​	Statewide​	Kottkes Bus Dispatch - Andover​
47.8​	​	Statewide​	East Admin​
49.2​	​	Statewide​	ANG Operations​
49.65​	​	Statewide​	Miller Operations​
50​	​	Statewide​	East Jump​
51.45​	​	Statewide​	West Admin​
53.11​	W0UJ​	Crow Wing​	Brainerd ARC - 6M​

 

[jjhendo]

Antennas for low band are no different than any other band except for being 3 to 5 times as big as high band antennas.

VHF discones commonly used for scanners and ham radio usually have a cutoff frequency of around 100-118 MHz and are useless for frequencies below that. some have a lowband extension on top of the disc but those aren't very good for low band.

You might have to build your own. You could make something like Homebrewed Off-Center Fed Dipole - The RadioReference Wiki but make each side the same length 5 to 8 feet long and leave out the TV balun.

Yeah, I have a Comet DS 150S discone with a 6 meter section on top thats adjustable for SWR but I have yet to try, never have.. KB9BR makes j poles, or did..

 

[jjhendo]

You'll want something better than a discone, either way. The low band coverage on most discone antennas is an afterthought. They often put a whip on top that's tuned somewhere in the 6 meter band, but they are really poor performers. Physically short antenna with a very poor ground plane is going to lead to dismal results. The fact you are hearing anything probably means that band conditions are really good, or you've got some nearby users.

Kind of hard to fake a low band antenna. If you are going 6 meters, then you'll absolutely want a real 6 meter antenna. Even if you don't, and want to play on low band, you'll want a better antenna.

Yeah, that's kinda what I've read. Would a j pole for 6 meters be good for 30 to 50 MHz too, then?

 

[jjhendo]

If you want to try a simple vertical I would think a cut down CB whip (full size not loading coil) would be a quick cheap and easy way to play around a bit on the 30 > 50 Mhz

Ok, I'll look into that, thanks.

 

[kc2asb]

Yeah, that's kinda what I've read. Would a j pole for 6 meters be good for 30 to 50 MHz too, then?

For receiving on 30-50 MHz, it would work well-enough. Certainly better than a discone. The bonus is that you can use it to operate on the 6 meter band when you get your license.

 

[jjhendo]

Here's all the 30-50 listed in the RRDB for the state of Minnesota, but as others have mentioned HF propagates far and wide so you may be hearing things from anywhere in the country. Another perk of the premium sub I brought up in post #2 is the ability to download a spreadsheet of all RRDB identified frequencies in your (or any) state

Frequency Output​	FCC Callsign​	County​	Description​
30​	​	Statewide​	West Jump​
30.5​	​	Statewide​	East Fire​
36.1​	​	Statewide​	Range Control Primary​
36.9​	​	Statewide​	Range Control Secondary​
37.18​	​	Washington​	Cottage Grove Public Works​
38​	​	Statewide​	West Fire​
43.28​	WPNP874​	Statewide​	ASTECH CORP​
43.76​	​	Dakota​	Schmitty And Sons School Buses​
45.16​	KRE265​	Hennepin​	Public Works (day) / Snow Plows​
45.2​	​	Washington​	Bayport Public Works​
45.2​	​	Washington​	Forest Lake Public Works​
45.72​	KDK637​	Washington​	Highway Dept.​
46.56​	KNIW898​	Kandiyohi​	Fire Link​
47.5​	KLV914​	Statewide​	Kottkes Bus Dispatch - Andover​
47.8​	​	Statewide​	East Admin​
49.2​	​	Statewide​	ANG Operations​
49.65​	​	Statewide​	Miller Operations​
50​	​	Statewide​	East Jump​
51.45​	​	Statewide​	West Admin​
53.11​	W0UJ​	Crow Wing​	Brainerd ARC - 6M​

Ok, interesting. Didn't here any of those, but good to know, thanks.

 

[nd5y]

Would a j pole for 6 meters be good for 30 to 50 MHz too, then?

Not for the whole band.