Planning
Collecting Information
Getting your scanner programmed and scanning takes a few steps. This helps guide you through these steps that will make it easier for you to start scanning.
1.Collect information about the system(s) you want to monitor.
Do you want to listen to your local police and fire departments? How about the highway patrol, ambulance service, and aircraft? You might even want to listen to your local utility company as they track down a break in electrical service in your area.
Make a list of the agencies you want to listen to, then look up the frequencies and systems used by those agencies. The Internet is a great source for current frequencies and information about scan- ning. Here are a few useful sites:
•http://www.scannermaster.com/ - frequency resources and home of Police Call.
You can also call them at 1 800 SCANNER (hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday.)
•http://www.radioreference.com/ - the Internet's premier source for
•http://www.bearcat1.com/ - frequency information from National Communications.
•http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports/index.cfm - conventional frequency information on file with the US Government
Tips:
•Scanners are designed to monitor complex radio systems. That means that programming your scanner might seem like a daunting task at first. Be patient if you don't get it right the first time. You can also seek out help locally for the systems you want to scan by visiting the forums section of http://www.radioreference.com/forums.
•Before you start to program your scanner, decide how you want to organize the frequencies you want to scan. For example, some areas are best organized by
Planning
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