PRO-2042 1000-Channel Programmable Home Scanner (200-0464) Guide to the Action Bands Faxback Doc. # 31530 United States Broadcast Band In the United States, there are several broadcast bands. The standard AM and FM bands are probably the most well known, and you can monitor the FM band on your scanner. There are also four television audio broadcast bands - the lower three transmit on the VHF band and the fourth transmits on the UHF band. You can use the scanner to monitor all three of the VHF bands and the UHF band. Frequency Range (MHz) Allocation 54.0 - 72.00 VHF Television 76.0 - 88.00 VHF Television 88.0 - 108.00 Standard FM 174.0 - 216.00 VHF Television 470.0 - 805.75 UHF Television International Broadcast Bands Several shortwave bands are allocated for international broadcasting because of the nature of propagation of high frequencies. The bands are sometimes identified according to the approximate wavelength of the signals in meters. You can use the scanner to monitor the 11-meter band. Frequency Range (MHz) Band (Meters) 25.60 - 26.10 11 Typical Band Usage HF Band (3.00-30.0 MHz) Mid Range, Citizen's Band..............................25.00-28.00 MHz 10-Meter Amateur.......................................28.00-29.70 MHz VHF Band (30.00-300.0 MHz) Low Range..............................................29.70-50.00 MHz 6-Meter Amateur........................................50.00-54.00 MHz FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band.......................54.00-72.00 MHz Land Mobile Service....................................72.00-76.00 MHz FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band.......................76.00-88.00 MHz FM Radio Broadcast, Wide Band.........................88.00-108.00 MHz Aircraft.............................................108.00-136.98 MHz U.S Government.......................................137.00-144.00 MHz 2-Meter Amateur......................................144.00-148.00 MHz High Range............................................148.00-17400 MHz FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band.....................174.00-216.00 MHz New Mobile Narrow Band...............................220.00-222.00 MHz 1 1/4-Meter Amateur..................................222.00-225.00 MHz Military Aircraft....................................225.00-287.80 MHz UHF Band (300.00 MHz-3.0 GHz) Military Aircraft....................................311.00-384.00 MHz U.S Government.......................................406.00-450.00 MHz 70-Centimeter Amateur................................420.00-450.00 MHz Low Range............................................450.00-470.00 MHz FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band.....................470.00-806.00 MHz Public Service.......................................806.00-823.98 MHz Conventional Systems.................................851.00-856.00 MHz Conventional/Trunked Systems.........................856.00-861.00 MHz Trunked Systems......................................861.00-866.00 MHz Public Safety........................................866.00-869.00 MHz High Range..........................................894..01-902.00 MHz 33-Centimeter Amateur................................902.00-928.00 MHz Private Trunked......................................935.00-940.00 MHz General Trunked......................................940.00-941.00 MHz Fixed Services.......................................941.00-944.00 MHz Studio-to-Transmitter Broadcast Links................944.00-952.00 MHz Private Fixed Services, Paging.......................952.00-960.00 MHz Aeronautical Navigation.............................960.00-1240.00 MHz 23-Centimeter Amateur..............................1240.00-1300.00 MHz As a general rule, most radio activity is concentrated on the following frequencies: VHF Band Activities Frequencies (MHz) Government, Police, and Fire...............................153.785-155.980 Emergency Services.........................................158.730-159.460 Railroad...................................................160.000-161.900 UHF Band Activities Frequencies (MHz) Land-Mobile Paired.........................................450.000-470.000 Base Stations..............................................451.025-454.950 Mobile Units...............................................456.025-459.950 Relay Repeater Units.......................................460.025-464.975 Remote Control Stations....................................465.025-469.975 NOTE: Remote control stations and mobile units operate at 5 Mhz higher than their associated base stations and relay repeater units. Specified Intervals Frequencies in different bands are accessible only at specific intervals. For example: Band Type Specified Interval (KHz) VHF, HAM, and Government...............................................5.0 Aircraft..............................................................25.0 All Others............................................................12.5 NOTE: Your scanner automatically rounds the entered frequency down to the closest valid frequency. For example, if you try to enter a frequency of 151.473, your scanner accepts it as 151.470. BAND ALLOCATION To help decide which frequency ranges to scan, use the following listing of the typical services that use the frequencies your scanner receives. These frequencies are subject to change, and might vary from area to area. For a more complete listing, refer to the "Police Call Radio Guide including Fire and Emergency Services," available at your local Radio Shack store. Abbreviations AIR ...............................................................Aircraft BIFC .....................................Boise (ID) Interagency Fire Cache BUS ...............................................................Business CAP .......................................................Civil Air Patrol CB ...........................................................Citizens Band CCA .........................................................Common Carrier CSB ...................................................Conventional Systems CTSB ..........................................Conventional/Trunked Systems FIRE .......................................................Fire Department HAM ....................................................Amateur (Ham) Radio GOVT ....................................................Federal Government GMR ...................................................General Mobile Radio GTR ...................................................General Mobile Radio IND ....................................................Industrial Services (Manufacturing, Construction, Farming, Forest Products) MAR .................................................Military Amateur Radio MARI ................................................Maritime Limited Coast (Coast Guard, Marine telephone, Shipboard Radio, Private stations) MARS .......................................Military Affiliate Radio System MED .............................................Emergency/Medical Services MIL ..........................................................U.S. Military MOV ..........................................Motion Picture/Video Industry NEW ......................................................New Mobile Narrow NEWS ...........................................................Relay Press (Newspaper reporters) OIL .................................................Oil/Petroleum Industry PFSP .........................................Private Fixed Services/Paging POL ......................................................Police Department PUB ........................................................Public Services (Public Safety, Local Government, Forestry Conservation) PSB ..........................................................Public Safety PTR ........................................................Private Trunked ROAD ............................................Road & Highway Maintenance RTV .......................................Radio/TV Remote Broadcast Pickup TAXI .........................................................Taxi Services TELB ......................................................Mobile Telephone (Aircraft, Radio Common Carrier, Landline companies) TELC .......................................................Cordless Phones TELM .................................................Telephone Maintenance TOW .............................................................Tow Trucks TRAN ...............................................Transportation Services (Trucks, Tow Trucks, Buses, Railroad, Other) TSB ........................................................Trunked Systems Tvn ................................................FM-TV (Audio Broadcast) USXX .................................................Government Classified UTIL ...............................................Power & Water Utilities WTHR ...............................................................Weather High Frequency (HF) - (3 MHz-30 MHz) High Band-(25.00-27.63 MHz) 25.020-25.320 ..........................................................IND 25.870-26.470 ..........................................................RTV 26.62 ..................................................................CAP 26.965-27.405 ...........................................................CB 27.430-27.630 ..........................................................BUS 10-Meter Amateur Band - (28.0-29.7 MHz) 28.000-29.700 ..........................................................HAM Very High Frequency (VHF)-(30 MHz-300 MHz) Low Band-(29.7-50 MHz-in 5 kHz steps 29.700-29.790..........................................................IND 29.900-30.550....................................................GOVT, MIL 30.580-31.980.....................................................IND, PUB 32.000-32.990....................................................GOVT, MIL 33.020-33.980.................................................US, IND, PUB 34.010-34.990....................................................GOVT, MIL 35.020-35.980..........................................BUS, PUB, IND, TELM 36.000-36.230....................................................GOVT, MIL 36.250..................................................Oil Spill Clean up 36.270-36.990....................................................GOVT, MIL 37.020-37.980.....................................................PUB, IND 38.000-39.000....................................................GOVT, MIL 39.020-39.980..........................................................PUB 40.000-42.000..............................................GOVT, MIL, MARI 42.020-42.940..........................................................POL 42.960-43.180..........................................................IND 43.220-43.680...............................................TELM, IND, PUB 43.700-44.600.........................................................TRAN 44.620-46.580.....................................................POL, PUB 46.600-46.990...................................................GOVT, TELC 47.020-47.400..........................................................PUB 47.420..................................................American Red Cross 47.440-49.580.....................................................IND, PUB 49.610-49.990....................................................MIL, TELC 6-Meter Amateur Band-50-54 MHz) 50.00-54.00............................................................HAM FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide Band-(54-72 MHz) 59.750.................................................................TV2 65.750.................................................................TV3 71.750.................................................................TV4 Land Mobile Service Band (72-76 MHz) FM-TV Audio Broadcast, Wide band (76-88 MHz) 81.750.................................................................TV5 87.750.................................................................TV6 FM Radio Broadcast, Wide Band (88-108 MHz Aircraft Band (108-136 MHz) 108.000-121.490........................................................AIR 121.500......................................................AIR Emergency 121.510-136.000........................................................AIR U.S. Government Band (138-144 MHz) 137.000-144.000..................................................GOVT, MIL 2-Meter Amateur Band (144-148 MHz) 144.000-148.000........................................................HAM VHF-Hi BAND (148-174 MHz) 148.050-150.345..............................................CAP, MAR, MIL 150.775-150.790........................................................MED 150.815-150.965........................................................TOW 150.980.................................................Oil Spill Clean Up 150.995-151.130.......................................................ROAD 151.145-151.475........................................................POL 151.490-151.955...................................................IND, BUS 151.985...............................................................TELM 152.0075...............................................................MED 152.030-152.240.......................................................TELB 152.270-152.465..................................................IND, TAXI 152.480................................................................BUS 152.510-152.840.......................................................TELB 152.870-153.020...................................................IND, MOV 153.035-153.725.............................................IND, OIL, UTIL 153.740-154.445..................................................PUB, FIRE 154.490-154.570...................................................IND, BUS 154.585.................................................Oil Spill Clean up 154.600-154.625........................................................BUS 154.655-156.240....................................... MED, ROAD, POL, PUB 156.255................................................................OIL 156.275-157-425.......................................................MARI 157.450................................................................MED 157.470-157.515........................................................TOW 157.530-157.725..................................................IND, TAXI 157.740................................................................BUS 157.770-158.100.......................................................TELB 158.130-158.460...................................BUS, IND OIL, TELM, UTIL 158.490-158.700.......................................................TELB 158.730-159.465.............................................POL, PUB, ROAD 159.480................................................................OIL 159.495-161.565.......................................................TRAN 161.580................................................................OIL 161.600-162.000..................................................MARI, RTV 162.0125-162.35............................................GOVT, MIL, USXX 162.400-162.550.......................................................WTHR 162.5625-162.6375..........................................GOVT, MIL, USXX 162.6625...............................................................MED 162.6875-163.225...........................................GOVT, MIL, USXX 163.250................................................................MED 163.275-166.225............................................GOVT, MIL, USXX 166.250....................................................GOVT, RTV, FIRE 166.275-169.400.................................................GOVT, BIFC 169.445.....................................................Wireless Mikes 169.500...............................................................GOVT 169.505.....................................................Wireless Mikes 169.55-169.9875............................................GOVT, MIL, USXX 170.000...............................................................BIFC 170.025-170.150............................................GOVT, RTV, FIRE 170.175-170.225.......................................................GOVT 170.245-170.305.............................................Wireless Mikes 170.350-170.400..................................................GOVT, MIL 170.425-170.450.......................................................BIFC 170.475................................................................PUB 170.4875-173.175.................................GOVT, PUB, Wireless Mikes 173.225-173.375............................................MOV, NEWS, UTIL 173.3875-173.5375......................................................MIL 173.5625-173.5875.................................MIL, Medical/Crash Crews 173.60-173.9875.......................................................GOVT FM-TV Audio Broadcast, VHF Wide Band (174-216 MHz) 179.750................................................................TV7 185.750................................................................TV8 191.750................................................................TV9 197.750...............................................................TV10 203.750...............................................................TV11 209.750...............................................................TV12 215.750...............................................................TV13 New Mobile Narrow Band (220-222 MHz) 220.000-222.000........................................................NEW 1 1/4-Meter Amateur Band (222-225 MHz) 222.000-225.000........................................................HAM Military Aircraft Band (237.9-287.8 MHz) 237.900........................................Coast Guard Search & Rescue 239.800........................................................FAA Weather 241.000...............................................................Army 243.000..........................................................Emergency 255.400.................................................FAA Flight Service 257.800....................................................Civilian Towers 287.800.........................................Coast Guard Air/Sea Rescue Ultra High Frequency (UHF) - (300 MHz - 3 GHz) Military Aircraft Band (319.1-383.9 MHz) 319.100............................................FAA Air Traffic Control 321.000-336.600..................................................Air Force 342.500-344.600................................................FAA Weather 346.400-364.200..............................Air Force Air Traffic Control 381.800-383.900................................................Coast Guard U.S. Government Band (406-450 MHz) 406.125-419.975.................................................GOVT, USXX 70-Centimeter Amateur Band (420-450 MHz) 420.000-450.000....................................................... HAM Low Band (450-470 MHz) 450-050-450.925........................................................RTV 451.025-452.025.......................................IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL 452.0375-453.00.................................IND, TAXI, TRAN, TOW, NEWS 453.0125-453.9875......................................................PUB 454.000................................................................OIL 454.025-454.975.......................................................TELB 455.050-455.925........................................................RTV 457.525-457.600........................................................BUS 458.025-458.175........................................................MED 460.0125-460.6375...........................................FIRE, POL, PUB 460.650-462.175........................................................BUS 462.1875-462.450..................................................BUS, IND 462.4625-462.525......................................IND, OIL, TELM, UTIL 462.550-462.725........................................................GMR 462.750-462.925........................................................BUS 462.9375-463.1875......................................................MED 463.200-467.925........................................................BUS FM-TV Audio Broadcast, UHF Wide Band (470-806 MHz) (Channel 14 through 69 in 6 MHz steps) 475-750.........................................................Channel 14 481.750.........................................................Channel 15 487.750.........................................................Channel 16 805.750.........................................................Channel 69 NOTE: Some cities use the 470-512 MHz band for land/mobile services. Conventional Systems Band - Locally Assigned 851.0125-855.9875.........CSB Conventional/Trunked Systems Band - Locally Assigned 856.0125-860.9875.....................................................CTSB Trunked Systems Band - Locally Assigned 861.0125-865.9875......................................................TSB Public Safety Band - Locally Assigned 866.0125-868.9875......................................................PSB 33-Centimeter Amateur Band (902-928 MHz) 902.000-928.000........................................................HAM Private Trunked 935.0125-939.9875......................................PTR General Trunked 940.0125-940.9875......................................GTR Fixed Services 941.000-944.000........................................GOVT Studio-to-Transmitter Broadcast Links 944.000-952.000........................................................TVn Private Fixed Services, Paging 952.000-960.000.......................................................PFSP Aeronautical Navigation 960.000-1240.000.......................................................AIR 23-Centimeter Amateur Band (1240-1300 MHz) 1240.000-1300.000......................................................HAM FREQUENCY CONVERSION The tuning location of a station can be expressed in frequency (kHz or MHz) or in wavelength (meters). The following information can help you make the necessary conversions. 1 MHz (million) = 1,000 kHz (thousand) To convert MHz to kHz, multiply by 1,000. 30.62 MHz x 1000 = 30620 kHz To convert from kHz to MHz, divide by 1,000. 127,800 KHz = 127.8 MHz 1000 To convert MHz to meters, divide 300 by the number of megahertz. 300 = 1.75 meters 171 MHz (EB 3/25/96)