Search strategies

[Napalm]

I just recently snagged a Pro-2006 with an OS456 board on ebay. Quickly bought ProbeV7.

I've been running chunks of VHF as search banks for the past few days, leaving a 1MHz chunk running for days at a time then going back and identifying based on PL/DPL and listening when able.

What are your searching techniques? I know audio recording would help me a lot but I haven't got that far yet in interfacing the radio with the laptop's sound card (has one of those four pin 3.5mm plugs).

David.

 

[IdleMonitor]

What is it that your trying for? just regular new frequencies found that are or could be active? Finding pl tones etc.?

1 mhz ranges? that's too small, really, go by the bands.

I'm in Ontario, Canada, when I do my searches, I tend to go with 30-54, 138-174, 410-450, 450-470, etc....you're mileage may vary depending on what bands are used in your region.

 

[dave3825]

1 mhz ranges? that's too small, really, go by the bands.

Same here. Unless your hunting something specific in a 1 mhz chunk, bands are the way to go.

 

[Ubbe]

I usually search a bunch of frequencies that makes a BCD536 scanner have a 30 sec scan cycle time, 2000 frequencies or so. Sooner or later if will catch even a brief transmission but usually it's mostly repeaters that stay keyed for a longer time that then are easy to find during that 30 sec.

I don't use search range much but generate scan lists that covers a frequency range where it is easier to exclude frequencies already known and can also have information in their channel name what I have found so far, like CTCSS tones or what category of users I suspect it is.

/Ubbe

 

[Napalm]

Same here. Unless your hunting something specific in a 1 mhz chunk, bands are the way to go.

Not at all. Leave 1MHz chunk running for days at a time you're going to get everything that is ever transmitted and go from there LOL.

What one "band" covers VHF High? 150-162?

 

[Napalm]

I usually search a bunch of frequencies that makes a BCD536 scanner have a 30 sec scan cycle time, 2000 frequencies or so. Sooner or later if will catch even a brief transmission but usually it's mostly repeaters that stay keyed for a longer time that then are easy to find during that 30 sec.

I don't use search range much but generate scan lists that covers a frequency range where it is easier to exclude frequencies already known and can also have information in their channel name what I have found so far, like CTCSS tones or what category of users I suspect it is.

/Ubbe

Yeah that's what I'm doing with probe. Generate the search banks then exporting the logs to a scanning bank to keep track. 1MHz at 5kHz is 201 frequencies. At 50ch/sec thats four seconds. Concentrate on that for a few days to a week and log absolutely everything.

 

[Napalm]

What is it that your trying for? just regular new frequencies found that are or could be active? Finding pl tones etc.?

1 mhz ranges? that's too small, really, go by the bands.

I'm in Ontario, Canada, when I do my searches, I tend to go with 30-54, 138-174, 410-450, 450-470, etc....you're mileage may vary depending on what bands are used in your region.

Those ranges are wayyyyyy too big. You'll miss so much.

 

[IdleMonitor]

Those ranges are wayyyyyy too big. You'll miss so much.

No you won't if your leaving it just go for days or hours at a time.