Podcast 283 - A Change is coming to CB Scanning

[@cidcolead1115]

I am new to modern scanners, but long time on Amateur Radio and CB. I am using a BCT-15X for our county trunked systems, which keeps it busy even with the small antenna. I use FreeSCAN and built a Conventional System I called Civilian and in that system built Groups for CB AM and CB FM along with FRS GMRS and MURS. To use CB AM or FM, I connect a Hy-Gain SPT-500 5/8 wave vertical. I did this so I could see what traffic is on there AM or FM using scan, instead of my regular radio. It works great.

[@udx-294tn5]

Awesome idea!

[@Greg-et2dp]

Scanner school 🏫 this is awesome my friend

[@danielcollins7588]

Alot of construction workers use CB to communicate with truckers when dropping off loads, construction sites, gravel yards wll have a sign to tell you what channel to go too. CB is not dead at all CB

[@johnegan4826]

love you videos hope all is well

[@RC944jim]

Great info Phil, keep the great information coming! I hope your doing well as we speak 😊

[@denniscoleman4954]

Good job

[@stardolphin2]

Older programmable scanners couldn't go below 30mhz anyway. None of this matters for those (my scanning adventures began with a Bearcat 250 that not only had that limitation, but couldn't receive aircraft either, so it didn't know AM demodulation at all). Newer ones (and this is mostly mid-1980s forward, like my still-surviving, 1987 vintage, Radio Shack Pro-2004) that get down to 25mhz, usually allow selection of modulation modes other than defaults (in this case, narrowband AM, narrow FM, and broadcast-wide FM). You can get your feet wet today by programming in the 29.600mhz Amateur 10 Meter FM Simplex frequency. Your unit will likely default to AM anywhere in 10 meters, but it should be possible to custom set FM which is allowed at the upper end of that band. There may even be a 10 meter FM repeater within your (potentially long) range at 29.620mhz. Today, I mostly use a Bearcat BCD536HP, but 27.065mhz (channel 9) is the only CB frequency programmed in it (and despite 39 other channels to play with, a local Spanish-speaking group tends to dominate it). Having said that, I would've proposed going straight to one of the digital modes for CB. Preferably (for scannists, at least) P25, as digital-capable scanners come with that as standard because the majority of police departments that use digital, use that format. You have to pay more to add NDXN and/or ProVoice digital capability.

[@greggjohnson6063]

Hey Phil, as for scanning CB, what about setting the modulation to "auto" and let the scanner determine if the signal is AM or FM instead of setting up two lists (1 AM and 1 FM)? Thoughts?

[@Greg-et2dp]

Scanner school my two scanners i listen to cb

[@inter_1097]

I search up my local CB channels here in Ohio and there's nothing to listen to. I used an Online SDR in Uniontown, PA and it's jam packed. I don't get it.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Scanner school my hobbies are painting pictures 🖼 and listening to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my grms license 🤔

[@robertscott8226]

Do you remember when Eminem sang the FCC won't let me be!

[@hatchetjackphillips]

I have a President Thomas CB in my truck. I’ve heard some traffic on FM. I recently heard some Mexicans on channels 19 and 20 on FM. I’m assuming it was skip?