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(Continued from Part 2. This concludes the article.)

External Antennas, Detecting Potential threats at greater distances

When using a scanner to sweep the band, or scan a list of frequencies, the scanner is much more sensitive and hears weak signals as well as strong signals. When using the Close Call feature that also sweeps the band, only strong signals that are very nearby (within 100 to 200 yards), might be detected. Some brands of scanners other than Uniden, may also have a similar Close Call feature, and might have more a sensitive receiver Sofware Defined Radio (SDR) frequency counter or a better antenna so they could intercept traffic further away.

To greatly increase the possible range of detection of our Close Call feature, and that of the standard scanner, it should be connected to an exterior antenna that is mounted above the roofline and otherwise, as high above the ground as reasonably feasible. Watch out for power lines, and mount it preferably, at least 15 feet above the ground for the best reception at the lowest height. Remember that in the radio world, height is might. Cable loss will be higher with longer runs, but the height attained can more than offset that line loss. Those interested in the weakest signals could go all out and use LMR400 cable. Folks like myself can use cable TV antenna coax. There are coax connector adapters from ‘F’ type to BNC so that one can easily utilize this cable. Use one antenna per scanner, unless the proper splitter is used, and those splitters should not be the simple cable TV type.

Any antenna that is approximately 18 to 19.5 inches in length will work much better than the attached antenna, and it does not have to be tuned. But if it has a magnetic mount used for vehicles, then attach it to a large metal can, or best yet, a pizza pan, or other sheet metal of similar large size. This kind of antenna needs such a ground plane to operate at it’s best. A high gain dual banded UHF/VHF ground plane antenna can be purchased with an attached ground plane and the correct mounting hardware for building installations, will work even better.

My favorite homemade antenna is the Slim Jim, or lower-cost J-pole. These are ruggedly built and have a gain of about 2.1Dbi. Use one tuned for UHF with a center frequency of 465.000MHz to listen to both UHF and VHF, if only one antenna can be purchase. Use a second one with a center frequency of 149MHz to listen to the VHF band. These make good all-around antennas with a low signal-to-noise ratio.

If an external antenna is needed for a transmitter for 2 Meter, MURS, or GMRS, the scanner can be removed and a transceiver connected to the appropriate antenna. These can be purchased on the Internet from KB9VBR. The frequencies of most interest for preppers are in the UHF/VHF bands good all around, all band antenna made for scanners is the discone type, such as the Tram 1141.

Any external antenna is a game-changer. The Close Call feature, depending on the terrain and foliage, might now pick up 5 watt transmissions from a handheld up to a mile away, instead of only a few hundred feet. It would pick up traffic further away if the signal might be from a mobile transceiver on its highest power setting. That would typically be from 25 to 70 watts depending on the model. The Close Call feature requires a strong signal that exceeds its threshold before it will record the transmission. Putting it on an external antenna on it, greatly increases what the scanner, or any receiver can ‘hear’.

Uniden scanner’s Close Call feature, does provide an advantage, yet I would not rely upon it to hear the very low powered FRS/GMRS radios that transmit at a maximum of 1/4 watt. The Close Call feature could prove to be a lifesaver, however, as with most things, we should understand its limitations. Uniden scanners with the Close Call feature, can be programmed to cover only one, or the other band: either UHF, or VHF, but not both simultaneously. If possible, it would be good to have at least two Uniden scanners that have the Close Call feature, one for VHF, and one for UHF, each on their respective antennas for their band. If I could only have one, then it would be set to VHF frequencies, and I would use a standard scanner to scan a list that includes FRS/GMRS frequencies.Continue reading“A Scanner for TEOTWAWKI – Part 3, by Tunnel Rabbit”

(Continued from Part 1.)

‘Sweeping’ a Band

If one can afford to buy several scanners, then that would be optimal. We should have at least three, given the old adage: “3 is 2, and 2 is 1, and 1 is none.” We can keep one spare scanner in a Faraday cage, and store it elsewhere. Then use the other two scanners: One to scan from a list, and the other to sweep the band, or particular parts of a band. Each scanner will have an operator’s manual to help. If I could only sweep one band, then it would be the 2 Meter Ham band, or sweep all the way from 144 Mhz to 162 Mhz as that is where most of the analog radio traffic will occur.

Advanced Methods of Scanning

Because my Area of Operations (AO) is remote, and where digital is seldom encountered, I put my meager resources into a bank of seven used analog scanners that each are utilized, together and separately, to intercept the most likely frequencies that might have traffic.

Scanners can perform in two different ways. They can be set up to ‘scan’, scrolling through hundreds of specific frequencies that have been programmed in, and to ‘sweep’ a band. Using a scanner to sweep a band, the scanner scrolls through all of the usable frequencies by bandwidth steps within a user-determined preference, that can be limited or expanded by the operator. If we are sweeping the entire VHF band, the time need to complete the sweep is extended to 3 to 4 seconds. If we limit the sweep, the time to complete a sweep is greatly shortened to one or two seconds.

Using several scanners to sweep different portions of the VHF band ensures coverage of that portion of the spectrum, and greatly increases the odds of interception. The technique pretty much eliminates the need for a frequency counter that is marketed as Uniden’s Close Call feature, and the range at which interception can occur is much greater than the Close Call feature allows. And we have the advantage of capturing the frequency even if the dispatcher attendant is distracted, or not present. If we used a digital recorder’s VOX function, we can also capture the traffic, and the frequency as it can remain displayed until the user resets the scanner.Continue reading“A Scanner for TEOTWAWKI – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit”

Introduction: Why Should We Use A Scanner?

To most people, scanners could not be any more sublimely unimportant, and boring, and completely irrelevant pursuit of yesteryear. Especially as we have aged, and because the age of digital radio is here. Apparently, our old dusty scanner is obsolete. So why bother? Because security will be job #1.

Scanning provides a golden opportunity to improve our situational awareness. We must do all that can be done to remove the element of surprise at a survival retreat. A simple scanner is one of those low-cost options that is a significant force multiplier. It is the lowest hanging fruit for a basic security operation. It is of even more importance, if we lack the manpower to conduct patrols. Listening to radio traffic will prove to be twice as important as talking on a radio. If all one can afford and manage, is a couple of inexpensive bubblepack FRS radios and one scanner, then you will be ahead of those who can talk near and far, even on a sophisticated Ham radio. It is better to be radio silent and listening, rather than blathering about, providing intelligence to the enemy. They will be listening, and so should we.

In any type of defense, situational awareness is the absolute key. We can define it better, by defining what it is not. What can be a very useful, yet a secondary purpose, should enough manpower be available and there will likely not be, is to record radio traffic that is in itself, information heard, by jotting down a few details that can be used to develop intelligence over time. While material, developing intelligence is not as important as first maintaining a high level of situational awareness. Situational awareness is critical, and a scanner can go a long way to assist that, if it is properly used. During TEOTWAWKI, I would presume that all telephone services will no longer be operational, and those who have a radio of any kind will attempt to use it.

By using a scanner, those heard talking become a part of our security operation as they can serve at distances well beyond our first layer of defense, as our unwitting eyes and ears. If there were not enough transceivers within my Area of Operations (AO), I would provide one to key persons in particular locations that might have a view, or that is exposed, even if I could not converse with them, or if they did not know who I was or where I was located. With a transceiver, they become an asset to the community, and my extended eyes and ears. With a scanner, one can listen to a variety of transceivers near and far to gauge a situation within an AO, and far beyond the AO. This will help us gauge a threat situation.Continue reading“A Scanner for TEOTWAWKI – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit”