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How to Find Scanner Frequencies

  last changed June 29, 1996                                   |
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          HOW DO YOU FIND THESE SCANNER FREQUENCIES?
                     by Bob Parnass, AJ9S
   [NOTE: This article may not be reproduced in whole  or  in
  part   on   CDROMS,   in   bulletin  boards,  networks,  or
  publications which charge for service without permission of
  the  author.   It  is  posted  twice  monthly on the USENET
  groups    rec.radio.scanner,     alt.radio.scanner,     and
  rec.radio.info.   It  is also available electronically from
  the rec.radio.scanner ftp archive on  the  official  USENET
  FAQ        library        ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-
  group/rec.radio.scanner.]
  I am often asked, "How  do  you  find  these  frequencies?"
  Scanner  enthusiasts  can obtain frequency information from
  several sources,  including  books,  government  microfiche
  records, or other listeners.
                             Books
  The most convenient source of fire and  police  frequencies
  is  the  Police  Call,  published  each  year in 9 regional
  volumes by Hollins Radio Data, and sold at Radio Shack  and
  larger book stores for under $13.  Police Call is basically
  a computer printout of FCC license information in the fire,
  police,  local government, and conservation services in two
  lists: by licensee name within  state,  and  by  frequency.
  Later  editions  have included a few pages of local airport
  and nonsensitive federal government frequencies.  The  1996
  edition  contains  selected  business frequencies, too, but
  callsigns are listed only for local government  and  public
  safety licensees.
  I highly recommend Richard  Barnett's  1992  book,  Monitor
  America,  published  by Scanner Master Corp.  A 3rd edition
  is  expected  soon  and  will  be  available   from   Grove
  Enterprises  for about $30.  This second edition is crammed
  full of police, fire, local government, news media, sports,
  national park, and commercial broadcast frequencies for all
  50  states.   The  information  was  compiled  mainly  from
  members  of  the  world's  largest scanning club, the Radio
  Communications  Monitoring  Association  (RCMA).    Monitor
  America  contains  detailed  communications system profiles
  and precinct maps for major metropolitan areas.  Police and
  fire  radio  codes  and  unit  identifiers  unique to local
  agencies are listed for several cities.  This differs  from
  Police  Call,  which  gives  a  more  sterile,  but uniform
  treatment of licensees, listing even the smallest of towns.
  A 3rd edition is expected in early 1995.
  Scanner Master also publishes regional frequency guides for
  Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and
  other states.
  Aeronautical frequencies are covered  in  the  Aeronautical
  Frequency   Directory,   written   by  Bob  Coburn,  W1JJO.
  Although  most  of  the  information  is   about   civilian
  aviation,   Bob   included  sections  on  military  mid-air
  refueling and CAP.  The 401 page third edition is available
  from Official Scanner Guides (P.O. Box 525-NS, Londonderry,
  NH 03053).  The same publisher sells the Maritime Frequency
  Directory  and  frequency  guides  for  several New England
  states.  Some of these books are  available  through  Radio
  Shack, too.