I use a little
Uniden SC230 scanner that I bought used on
eBay for only a few dollars. Here are a few features to look for when shopping for a radio that will scan railroad frequencies:
- The capacity to receive frequencies of from 160.215 to 161.565 MHz. (This is where most railroads operate their main voice communications networks.)
- The
optional capacity to receive the 450 to 470 MHz UHF band. (
AMTRAK’s On-Board Service personnel sometimes use these frequencies to facilitate family and group activities.)
- A sufficient number of programmable channels for storing all of the frequencies you plan to listen to. (Believe it or not, 20 channels will usually be sufficient!)
- The capacity to lock out certain channels so that they won’t be scanned.
- A “close call” feature that allows searching for nearby active frequencies.
- A “hold” feature that stops the radio from scanning and pauses it on a particular frequency.
- An external earphone jack. (Wearing earphones is a “must” if you plan use your scanner in an open coach or other public spaces.)
Some might also want to add battery-charging capabilities to this list. I use disposable batteries, but make it a point to pack along my scanner’s AC adapter. Most
AMTRAK passenger cars now offer conveniently-located AC power outlets for those passengers who want to use their laptop computers and other electronic devices at their seats. Taking advantage of this amenity can greatly prolong battery life.
Among railroad scanner enthusiasts, the general consensus is that the little “rubber ducky” antennas that come with most scanners should be replaced, since they are not optimized for railroad frequencies. I use a 12-inch all-band antenna. The output power of the portable radios used by the train crews is in the range of from 5 to 10 watts, providing coverage of no more than a mile or so. Since most onboard communications are only intended for other nearby radios, my all-band antenna is more than adequate for receiving them.
A good place to find frequencies for your scanner is to visit the
AMTRAK Radio Frequencies page of the
On Track On Line website:
http://www.on-track-on-line.com/amtrak-freqs.shtml. There, you will find most of the frequencies used by various
AMTRAK trains such as the “Southwest Chief,” the “Capitol Limited,” and the “Texas Eagle.” These frequencies should be reasonably current since they are updated on a regular basis using information provided by rail fans.
Hope this will be of help
