Wiki on how to scan the unknown

[belvdr]

It was requested in another thread for advice on scanning the unknown. I'd love to see these entered into the wiki, so newbies (including myself) can learn how to use their SDR or scanner to find new, interesting things. I don't mind doing the legwork of entering into the wiki if someone has notes they are willing to send my way. I'll likely need help from a wiki expert, as I have only updated entries, not entered new ones.

Anyone willing to offer up documentation on how to scan for the unknown, regardless of mode? Also, if the wiki admins don't want this entered, that's fine too, but I'd love to capture the notes here for personal use.

 

[RaleighGuy]

Have you listened to this podcast from @w2lie ?

The Secrets are in the Searches - Scanner School

There is a whole world out there to monitor. Put your scanner in search to find it! Here are some hints to get you started.

www.scannerschool.com

 

[belvdr]

Have you listened to this podcast from @w2lie ?

The Secrets are in the Searches - Scanner School

There is a whole world out there to monitor. Put your scanner in search to find it! Here are some hints to get you started.

www.scannerschool.com

I have not. Thanks for that info!

 

[RaleighGuy]

@belvdr
There is a lot of information out there, a quick search in the Radioreference.com search box (top right) returns thousands of wiki articles, forum posts, and other information. Will adding another Wiki article help when most people don't utilize the search function and just rely on others to spoon feed them the info?

Here are just a few examples when I ran a search "finding new frequencies".

Finding Air Traffic Frequencies - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

How to get, Hard to get Frequency?

Hi all, New at this and love it. I would like to know is there a way to get frequencies that police use that we can't get? I live in Liberal Kansas and my brother is a Detective and he will no let me have them. Is there a way to get them, and how do I get a Frequency finder ? Galaxy had on with...

forums.radioreference.com

Finding Frequencies

What methods does everyone use to discover frequencies in their area? Spectrum analyzer or frequency counter? I know Close Call can also be helpful.

forums.radioreference.com

Hunting out new and exciting frequencies

Hunting out new and exciting frequencies By Paul Blundell (paulgblundell@yahoo.com.au) The VHF / UHF radio spectrum is full of many different people and groups who are all using two way radios for various purposes, some of these are groups such as CB and Amateur radio operators who either have...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[belvdr]

@belvdr
There is a lot of information out there, a quick search in the Radioreference.com search box (top right) returns thousands of wiki articles, forum posts, and other information. Will adding another Wiki article help when most people don't utilize the search function and just rely on others to spoon feed them the info?

Here are just a few examples when I ran a search "finding new frequencies".

Finding Air Traffic Frequencies - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

How to get, Hard to get Frequency?

Hi all, New at this and love it. I would like to know is there a way to get frequencies that police use that we can't get? I live in Liberal Kansas and my brother is a Detective and he will no let me have them. Is there a way to get them, and how do I get a Frequency finder ? Galaxy had on with...

forums.radioreference.com

Finding Frequencies

What methods does everyone use to discover frequencies in their area? Spectrum analyzer or frequency counter? I know Close Call can also be helpful.

forums.radioreference.com

Hunting out new and exciting frequencies

Hunting out new and exciting frequencies By Paul Blundell (paulgblundell@yahoo.com.au) The VHF / UHF radio spectrum is full of many different people and groups who are all using two way radios for various purposes, some of these are groups such as CB and Amateur radio operators who either have...

forums.radioreference.com

The entire point is to consolidate the info into the wiki instead of scouring thousands of posts. I don't consider that spoon feeding. Many of the results from that search aren't even geared toward finding unknown RF data.

 

[nd5y]

Common Frequencies - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[RaleighGuy]

The entire point is to consolidate the info into the wiki instead of scouring thousands of posts. I don't consider that spoon feeding. Many of the results from that search aren't even geared toward finding unknown RF data.

Not opposed to a Wiki article, nor saying having a wiki article is spoon feeding anyone. I think it is a great idea, but my point is the info you asked about to help you write a wiki article is already online in the forums, in the wiki, from Scanner Guys YouTube vids and Scanner School podcasts, also a large number of people won't take the time to look for the new wiki article, they'll continue to ask in the forums unfortunately.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Anyone willing to offer up documentation on how to scan for the unknown, regardless of mode? Also, if the wiki admins don't want this entered, that's fine too, but I'd love to capture the notes here for personal use.

Just tune around. Utilize your scanner's custom search or limit search functionality, I do regular VHF & UHF scans for new (or new to me) stations around me or wherever I may be with my radios. Log & compare hits you receive to what has already been identified in the DB. Take note of the hits that haven't been ID'ed. I keep a detailed Google Sheet so I can log hits easily "on the fly". You can use Radioreference FCC search to identify stations on that particular frequency within range to you to help you narrow down possibilities. I also use maprad.io for its advanced search functionality (Good for partial callsigns, emissions searches, GPS coordinates searches, etc) If you're lucky and catch the station ID its callsign, this will help you confirm who you're hearing (not every station IDs over the air). This is when it pays to know some morse code (at least know the numbers). Once you're confident who the station is & the frequency's primary use, remember to submit your findings to the database. Happy signal hunting!

 

[belvdr]

Just tune around. Utilize your scanner's custom search or limit search functionality, I do regular VHF & UHF scans for new (or new to me) stations around me or wherever I may be with my radios. Log & compare hits you receive to what has already been identified in the DB. Take note of the hits that haven't been ID'ed. I keep a detailed Google Sheet so I can log hits easily "on the fly". You can use Radioreference FCC search to identify stations on that particular frequency within range to you to help you narrow down possibilities. I also use maprad.io for its advanced search functionality (Good for partial callsigns, emissions searches, GPS coordinates searches, etc) If you're lucky and catch the station ID its callsign, this will help you confirm who you're hearing (not every station IDs over the air). This is when it pays to know some morse code (at least know the numbers). Once you're confident who the station is & the frequency's primary use, remember to submit your findings to the database. Happy signal hunting!

Great thoughts. The "tune around" piece is what I was hoping to document. For example, if you're hunting DMR, how do you execute that on an SDR compared to another scanner? Thanks for the input!

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

For example, if you're hunting DMR, how do you execute that on an SDR compared to another scanner? Thanks for the input!

DSDPlus is one way to do it. See forum threads with DSDPlus prefix here.

 

[belvdr]

DSDPlus is one way to do it. See forum threads with DSDPlus prefix here.

Right, and that's why I'm asking if there's interest in wiki articles. Rather than research a bunch of threads, does it make sense to have a few HOWTOs in the wiki, which gives a beginner, like myself, the ability to read a document and get up and running.

Speaking personally, I'd rather have a quick HOWTO to get me started, then I can research and/or ask questions in the forums.

 

[ecps92]

Right, and that's why I'm asking if there's interest in wiki articles. Rather than research a bunch of threads, does it make sense to have a few HOWTOs in the wiki, which gives a beginner, like myself, the ability to read a document and get up and running.

Speaking personally, I'd rather have a quick HOWTO to get me started, then I can research and/or ask questions in the forums.

Searching by Scanner is entirely different from SDR

Scanner, break the search spectrum up into chunks of 1-5 mhz, don't skip over inputs as they can be used simplex as well
IS your area T-Band approved ? don't ignore 470-512

What are you looking for FED?, Business, Public Safety?
Does your radio do the various other modes ? DMR, P25, NXDN?

 

[belvdr]

Searching by Scanner is entirely different from SDR

Yes, I know that.

Scanner, break the search spectrum up into chunks of 1-5 mhz, don't skip over inputs as they can be used simplex as well
IS your area T-Band approved ? don't ignore 470-512

No idea about if it's T-band approved. How would I find that out?

What are you looking for FED?, Business, Public Safety?
Does your radio do the various other modes ? DMR, P25, NXDN?

Any/all. For me, I have an SDS200 and an AirSpy R2.

I feel like my point may be missed. All of these questions are why I think wiki articles would be of importance. In essence, a library of HOWTOs to get someone up and running to scan for DMR, FM, P25, etc using various radios and/or scanners.

 

[ecps92]

Yes, I know that.
No idea about if it's T-band approved. How would I find that out?
Any/all. For me, I have an SDS200 and an AirSpy R2.

I feel like my point may be missed. All of these questions are why I think wiki articles would be of importance. In essence, a library of HOWTOs to get someone up and running to scan for DMR, FM, P25, etc using various radios and/or scanners.

UHF-T Band - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[nd5y]

No idea about if it's T-band approved. How would I find that out?

Is your location in one of the areas listed here?

UHF-T Band - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[belvdr]

Negative, my area is not listed.

 

[nd5y]

Negative, my area is not listed.

There won't be any legal UHF-T band operation outside of those areas.

 

[rrobinso84]

...I also use maprad.io for its advanced search functionality (Good for partial callsigns, emissions searches, GPS coordinates searches, etc)....

Thanks for the map reference!!!