Programming new Scanner

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MikeB89
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Programming new Scanner

Unread post by MikeB89 »

So I'm trying to program my new scanner. Got a Uniden BCT15x. I found on radio reference a list of all the frequencies I can use as well as the GPS coordinates which I plan on using for the programming.

I'm just slightly confused with it. There is nothing labeled for Waverly Yard in West Michigan and Grand Rapids yard has a 400 type frequency for it. I know on my little handheld it isn't a 400mhz frequency that shows up. If I use that 400Mhz will I still here the yard?

Just wanted to reach out to anyone that may have an idea about these yards and the possible GPS coordinates as well.

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Tom49801
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Re: Programming new Scanner

Unread post by Tom49801 »

MikeB89 wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:49 am
So I'm trying to program my new scanner. Got a Uniden BCT15x. I found on radio reference a list of all the frequencies I can use as well as the GPS coordinates which I plan on using for the programming.

I'm just slightly confused with it. There is nothing labeled for Waverly Yard in West Michigan and Grand Rapids yard has a 400 type frequency for it. I know on my little handheld it isn't a 400mhz frequency that shows up. If I use that 400Mhz will I still here the yard?

Just wanted to reach out to anyone that may have an idea about these yards and the possible GPS coordinates as well.
Road channel 008 is 160.230 MHz, Channel 014 is 160.320 MHz (you'll hear form EC1 being given for the Plymouth sub-division & L301 & the train's job briefings inside Grand Rapids yard) channel 035 is 160.635 MHz for EC1's on the Grand Rapids sub-div.

At times as trains are arriving Grand Rapids, sometimes you'll hear Rouge Tower on the main road channel (008) telling them to talk to such & such train on channel 52, 54 or 57 (could be other channels, too, but Rouge will tell the train which one) since they're working at the same time. These channels are all in the 160 & 161 MHz band. This link has a directory for all of the AAR channels & their frequencies:
https://www.radioreference.com/db/aid/7747

Heard today channels 12, 53 & 70 are also used inside Grand Rapids Yard.

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SD80MAC
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Re: Programming new Scanner

Unread post by SD80MAC »

Western Michigan CSX channels are 08, 12, 14, 25, 35, 53, 70, and 91.
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MikeB89
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Re: Programming new Scanner

Unread post by MikeB89 »

SD80MAC wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:00 pm
Western Michigan CSX channels are 08, 12, 14, 25, 35, 53, 70, and 91.
Okay I appreciate this but are you able to tell me exactly which one is for what? Which was is specific to waverly yard? Do the all yards use the same frequency?

MikeB89
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Re: Programming new Scanner

Unread post by MikeB89 »

Tom49801 wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:56 am
MikeB89 wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:49 am
So I'm trying to program my new scanner. Got a Uniden BCT15x. I found on radio reference a list of all the frequencies I can use as well as the GPS coordinates which I plan on using for the programming.

I'm just slightly confused with it. There is nothing labeled for Waverly Yard in West Michigan and Grand Rapids yard has a 400 type frequency for it. I know on my little handheld it isn't a 400mhz frequency that shows up. If I use that 400Mhz will I still here the yard?

Just wanted to reach out to anyone that may have an idea about these yards and the possible GPS coordinates as well.
Road channel 008 is 160.230 MHz, Channel 014 is 160.320 MHz (you'll hear form EC1 being given for the Plymouth sub-division & L301 & the train's job briefings inside Grand Rapids yard) channel 035 is 160.635 MHz for EC1's on the Grand Rapids sub-div.

At times as trains are arriving Grand Rapids, sometimes you'll hear Rouge Tower on the main road channel (008) telling them to talk to such & such train on channel 52, 54 or 57 (could be other channels, too, but Rouge will tell the train which one) since they're working at the same time. These channels are all in the 160 & 161 MHz band. This link has a directory for all of the AAR channels & their frequencies:
https://www.radioreference.com/db/aid/7747

Heard today channels 12, 53 & 70 are also used inside Grand Rapids Yard.
For EC1 is the also RN or RL dispatcher?

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Tom49801
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Re: Programming new Scanner

Unread post by Tom49801 »

MikeB89 wrote:
Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:38 pm
Tom49801 wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 8:56 am
MikeB89 wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:49 am
So I'm trying to program my new scanner. Got a Uniden BCT15x. I found on radio reference a list of all the frequencies I can use as well as the GPS coordinates which I plan on using for the programming.

I'm just slightly confused with it. There is nothing labeled for Waverly Yard in West Michigan and Grand Rapids yard has a 400 type frequency for it. I know on my little handheld it isn't a 400mhz frequency that shows up. If I use that 400Mhz will I still here the yard?

Just wanted to reach out to anyone that may have an idea about these yards and the possible GPS coordinates as well.
Road channel 008 is 160.230 MHz, Channel 014 is 160.320 MHz (you'll hear form EC1 being given for the Plymouth sub-division & L301 & the train's job briefings inside Grand Rapids yard) channel 035 is 160.635 MHz for EC1's on the Grand Rapids sub-div.

At times as trains are arriving Grand Rapids, sometimes you'll hear Rouge Tower on the main road channel (008) telling them to talk to such & such train on channel 52, 54 or 57 (could be other channels, too, but Rouge will tell the train which one) since they're working at the same time. These channels are all in the 160 & 161 MHz band. This link has a directory for all of the AAR channels & their frequencies:
https://www.radioreference.com/db/aid/7747

Heard today channels 12, 53 & 70 are also used inside Grand Rapids Yard.
For EC1 is the also RN or RL dispatcher?
Form EC1 would be issued by the same dispatcher that controls his assigned territory, they just go to a different channel to issue it but once in a while they'll just do that on the main road channel.

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Saturnalia
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Re: Programming new Scanner

Unread post by Saturnalia »

I personally recommend just programming in all of the AAR frequencies and then you can very easily flip to the one you want, or as I do, scan all of them all the time.
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MikeB89
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Re: Programming new Scanner

Unread post by MikeB89 »

Saturnalia wrote:
Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:16 pm
I personally recommend just programming in all of the AAR frequencies and then you can very easily flip to the one you want, or as I do, scan all of them all the time.
I did originally want to do this but considering I'm a visual person and still learning chatter I wanted something visual on my scanner that lets me know who I am listening too. My handheld is different though. The BC125AT already has the railroads programmed in it so obviously if I'm at a specific location I know who it is I'm listening too. Just when driving around in some areas where this is a ton of train traffic I got to see who it I'm listening too to know whereI need to go.

I did find out a good simple fix was just importing the information from RadioReference. It has helped tremendously but I noticed some frequencies are missing.

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25heberl
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Re: Programming new Scanner

Unread post by 25heberl »

Just got me access to a radioshack pro-76 have some of the frequencys near me
Funnily the only one I've heard regularly from was 160.485 for the Scott's lawn witch I have seen very few operations on.
Anywhere any tips for the radioshack pro-76?

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pudgy
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Re: Programming new Scanner

Unread post by pudgy »

MikeB89 wrote:
Thu Mar 23, 2023 6:08 pm
SD80MAC wrote:
Wed Mar 22, 2023 1:00 pm
Western Michigan CSX channels are 08, 12, 14, 25, 35, 53, 70, and 91.
Okay I appreciate this but are you able to tell me exactly which one is for what? Which was is specific to waverly yard? Do the all yards use the same frequency?
Waverly and a Holland area uses channels 08, 35, and 70 for operations. Have to cross reference those AAR channels for the frequencies for the scanner.

08 - Road channel and when working on the Dock Track for Padnos
35 - Dispatcher for clearance out of the yard onto the main and getting EC-1 for Fremont Sub north of town
70- in the yard and when working on the Hamilton track south of town.
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