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This is an approximate look, to help in searching frequencies on a scanner or shortwave
radio. Just be aware, having the right frequency may not be enough, in tuning to a certain
frequency. The time of day, atmospheric conditions, location, mode you're in (AM, SSB,
Narrowband FM, Wideband FM, etc.), and your equipment, are also equally important. You'll
find most transmissions are broadcasted in Narrow- band FM. Some main exceptions are shortwave
(AM & SSB), commercial AM radio (AM), commercial FM radio (Wideband FM), television (Wideband FM),
citizens band radio (AM & SSB), aeronautical communications (mostly AM), and some military
VHF/UHF (Wideband FM). Most all scanners will pick a default mode for you, depending on what
frequency band you are in. But many scanners also let you manually switch between modes
(AM, FM, etc.) and frequency search spacing (5 khz, 12.5 khz, etc.) if the default modes are
not correct. Happy Listening!!!
FREQUENCY USES/SERVICES
(in Megahertz unless
otherwise indicated)
10 - 150 khz Military/government, submarine communications
(.01 - .15 MHz)
150 - 535 khz Longwave Band, beacons, foreign broadcasts, maritime.
(.15 - .535 MHz)
535 - 1700 khz Your standard AM radio dial.
(.535 - 1.7 MHz)
1.7 - 30 Shortwave/High Frequency Band. Broadcasting, two-way
government, military and commercial communications,
amateur radio, CB radio (approx. 27 MHz), others.
Shortwave
Approx. Range Meter Band
1.8 - 2.0 160*
2.3 - 2.495 120
3.2 - 3.4 90
3.5 - 4.0 80*
3.9 - 4.0 75
4.75 - 5.06 60
5.9 - 6.2 49
7.0 - 7.3 40*
7.1 - 7.35 41
9.4 - 9.9 31
10.1 - 10.15 30*
11.6 - 12.1 25
13.57 - 13.87 22
14.0 - 14.35 20*
15.1 - 15.8 19
18.068 - 18.168 17*
17.48 - 17.9 16
18.9 - 19.02 15
21.0 - 21.45 15*
21.45 - 21.75 13
24.89 - 24.99 12*
25.6 - 26.1 11
28.0 - 29.7 10*
(In general, the lower shortwave frequencies are received
better during the night, while higher frequencies are received better during the
day. There are also some amateur radio bands between many of these
shortwave bands(*). Consult a shortwave guide for more detailed information.)
30 - 50 Very High Frequency Band. Government, business,
walkie-talkies. Also, cordless phones and 'baby monitors'
found about 46 - 49 MHz.
50 - 54 Amateur radio 6 meter band.
54 - 72 TV Channels 2-4.
Channel 2 Audio (Wideband FM) 59.75
Channel 3 Audio (Wideband FM) 65.75
Channel 4 Audio (Wideband FM) 71.75
72 - 76 Manufacturing, remote control, eavesdropping bugs, etc.
76 - 88 TV Channels 5-6.
Channel 5 Audio (Wideband FM) 81.75
Channel 6 Audio (Wideband FM) 87.75
88 - 108 Your standard FM radio dial.
108 - 136 Aeronautical communications (AM).
136 - 138 Satellites.
138 - 144 Military communications.
144 - 148 Amateur radio 2 meter band.
148 - 150.8 Military use.
150.8 - 174 Business, highway, law enforcement, government weather,
maritime.
174 - 216 TV Channels 7-13.
Channel 7 Audio (Wideband FM) 179.75
Channel 8 Audio (Wideband FM) 185.75
Channel 9 Audio (Wideband FM) 191.75
Channel 10 Audio (Wideband FM) 197.75
Channel 11 Audio (Wideband FM) 203.75
Channel 12 Audio (Wideband FM) 209.75
Channel 13 Audio (Wideband FM) 215.75
216 - 220 Maritime and aeronautical.
220 - 222 Land mobile communications.
222 - 225 Amateur radio.
225 - 400 Military aviation and space.
400 - 406 Military and government.
406 - 420 U.S. Government.
420 - 450 Amateur radio.
450 - 470 Ultra High Frequency Band. Business, industry, military,
fire, local government.
470 - 512 TV Channels 14-20, shared with law enforcement.
512 - 825 TV Channels 21-69, others.
825 - 849 Cellular telephones (receivers/handsets).
849 - 851 Aeronautical telephones (ground-based towers).
851 - 866 Business, public safety, trunked systems.
866 - 869 Public safety, law enforcement, trunked systems.
869 - 894 Cellular telephones (towers).
Note: Even though listening to cellular telephone calls
is technically illegal in the United States, one will
usually do better listening to calls on the tower frequencies,
as opposed to the handset frequencies. This is because most
cellular phones transmit less than one-watt of output. So
unless the cellular phone is very close to you, you will have
much more luck scanning the more powerful towers, which
transmit/receive for each cell site.
894 - 896 Aeronautical telephones (handsets).
Note: In scanning airplane telephones, you will usually do
better listening to the handset frequencies, instead of the
tower frequencies, unless you are very near a ground
transmitter. But, in any event, call traffic heard on handset
frequencies is very scant.
896 - 901 Private land mobile units.
902 - 928 Land mobile, amateur radio, personal communication units,
cordless telephones.
928 - 932 Radio paging.
935 - 940 Business radio.
941 - 944 Government and non-government fixed services.
944 - 952 Broadcasters' studio-to-transmitter links.
952 - 960 Private fixed services, paging.
960 - 1240 Aeronautical navigation.
1240 - 1300 Amateur radio.
1300 - 1350 Aeronautical navigation.
1350 - 1400 Radio location.
1400 - 1427 Radio astronomy.
1427 - 1429 Point-to-point, mobile, space.
1429 - 1660.5 Various satellite transmission uses.
1660.5 - 1668.4 Radio astronomy.
1668.4 - 1700 Meteorological aids.
1700 - 1850 Meteorological satellites, U.S. Government.
1850 - 1990 Fixed point-to-point, microwave.
1990 - 2110 Broadcast studio-to-transmitter links.
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