Scanning Tips HF / Shortwave Tower Climbing Check List
Last Updated: 25 Jul 2003
This sections contains tips which I think are useful.
An invaluable tool for evaluating trunked systems and discovering new IDs is a DOS program called Trunker. Knowing only the control channel allows you to determine the system ID, frequencies being used and various other system parameters. Using this tool to acquire new group IDs speeds up the process but identification still takes actually hearing them in action.
Here's a tip for programming your scanner: When programming Motorola systems into your trunking scanner, place the control frequencies first. This will allow the scanner to find the control channels faster and begin searching for IDs.
Metal book ends make great handheld scanner stands. Simply bend the book end to the desired angle for viewing your scanner and hang your scanner on the belt clip.
Use a wireless CD to car stereo adapter to play the audio over your car stereo. You can also use a cassette adapter, but I prefer not to have my tape player running constantly. Mechanical parts do wear out.
Magnetic mount cellular antennas make great antennas for monitor 800Mhz trunked systems. I use one at work mounted in the ceiling above the air conditioning ducts. You might also try mounting it on a metal filing cabinet.
To aid in listening to HF and Shortwave, I found a excellent tip for keep up with the bands on my R8500. First I program the lower limit of the band along with the step size and mode for the band. Next I label the memory location to indicate the type of band and the upper frequency. To use this system, simply select the memory location from there you can tune to the top of the band. I have listed a few examples below:
| Band | Memory | Label |
| 31 Meter Broadcast Band | 9400 kHz, AM, 5 kHz Step | BC-9900 |
| 25 Meter Broadcast Band | 11600 kHz AM, 5 kHz Step | BC-12100 |
| 40 Meter Amateur Band | 7150 kHz LSB, 100 Hz Step | 40-7300 |
| 20 Meter Amateur Band | 14150 kHz USB, 100 Hz Step | 20-14350 |
This is a checklist I use when working towers. This seems to cover things I have encountered so far.
Tower Assembly / Disassembly
Tower Climbing Rules