What kind of stuff will I be able to hear?

[GR]

Hi y'all

I currently have a Pro 96 handheld scanner. If I get a HF scanner what will I be able to hear that I can't on the Pro 96?

I'm not very familiar with the technical mumbo jumbo. Is there any kind of license required for using a HF scanner?

Thanks,
GR

 

[CryptoJoe]

I hope you didn’t buy that scanner for HF! You should be able to pick up CB, anything else AM or FM above 25 MHz. There is the 10 meter ham band, maybe a little AM between 29.00 and 29.20 MHz and a little FM between 29.52 and 29.70 MHz. I doubt you’ll find much of anything exciting. Best thing is, you don’t need a license to listen to HF!

 

[LarrySC]

The term is HF Receiver. Most have scanning modes. Coverage is 0 to 30 MHz. Larger outside antenna needed. I monitor US Coast Guard, North Africa Air Traffic Controllers. Basic receiver prices start at $1000 and go up-up-up. Portables run $200 and up-up-up. Lots of ham radio, ship to shore, US Air Force, and many modes are digital. This is a big step and should be studied carefully before juming. Good Luck, Larry

 

[GR]

What?

No, I didn't buy it for HF.

The only part of your post that I understood was that I'd be able to listen to CB. As I stated in my original post, I don't understand all that technical mumbo jumbo. Will I be able to listen to people from across the US or will it be limited to local CB only? What else besides CB is there to listen to? Is it just Ham freqs? If it's only CB and Ham freqs, then the Pro 96 covers both of those. However, I suspect there's more to HF. Please elaborate WITHOUT getting all technical.

Thanks,
GR

I hope you didn’t buy that scanner for HF! You should be able to pick up CB, anything else AM or FM above 25 MHz. There is the 10 meter ham band, maybe a little AM between 29.00 and 29.20 MHz and a little FM between 29.52 and 29.70 MHz. I doubt you’ll find much of anything exciting. Best thing is, you don’t need a license to listen to HF!

 

[GR]

Thanks Larry. That's the kind of info I was looking for. Looks like you posted that while I was typing. Will I be able to hear long distances with a hand-held in Texas?

 

[ka3jjz]

You are correct in that there is much more to HF than just the hams and CB. However, in terms of the PRO96, that's about it. The 25.5-26.1 mhz band used by some broadcasters in the past is virtually empty - without getting into the details, it has to do with the fact that we are very low in the solar cycle. On occasion, there have been some reports of point to point feeds between FM stations and mobiles, but those really happen when the sun is cooperating. With a good antenna, yes, you can hear quite far when the sun cooperates.
Bottom line; if you want to listen to HF, get a radio designed for it. 73s Mike