Tri-Cities Scanner Frequencies
April 2009 Newsletter

Listen to the live scanner at:
http://scannerfood.com/swvafeed.htm

What we Found Railroads Coal Mining Campus Security Lightning Safety

All Aboard!
Trains usually call out signals or mile posts to announce their current position on the Road channels. ARN frequencies, usually known for phone patches can also be used as a conventional repeater. These are sometimes used by high-rail trucks, crew pickup arrangement, etc. "End of Train" devices are the little boxes attached to the last car of a trains coupling. They transmit the air pressure reading back to the lead locomotive. Defect detectors sound an audible voice describing the condition of the train, as a train passes over sensors the defect detector counts the train length, speed, and number of axles. It is not particularly uncommon to hear a "defect". The NS Knoxville District uses CH 2 below as their primary road ch. NS Ch 3 & 5 have facilities located on High Knob and Big A mtn, they provide overall coverage to a wider area than the rail level "milepost" facilities. CSX mainly uses 161.100 and is dispatched via Jacksonville Florida. All AAR (American Association Of Railroad) Frequencies are listed in the Radio PhoneBook
Norfolk Southern Frequency Tone Local CH Description 161.1900   1 Road / Dispatch 161.2500   2 Road / Dispatch 161.4900 103.5 3 Road / Dispatch 160.9500 103.5 5 Road / Dispatch (Appalachia District) 161.5200     Johnson City Yard 160.3050     Defect Detectors 161.1000     Defect Detectors 160.2450     Dispatch to Train 160.8300     Train to Dispatch 160.2750     ARN (Phone Patch / Repeater) 160.5450     ARN (Phone Patch / Repeater) CSX 161.100   Road Channel 161.520   Dispatch 161.160   Yard 160.230   Defect Detectors 161.370   Defect Detectors
End of Train Devices All Others 457.9375 All Others 452.9375 NorfolkSouthern 161.1150     Specialty Train Scanner Antennas

Coal Industry Frequencies Many Frequencies are used under generic licenses, such as "two way radio", "Arthur Stiltner""KY/VA Communications", etc. It can be a challenge to correctly id these. If you live near a coal mine, check out CB frequencies The channel usually corresponds to the mine number, for example. Deep Mine 20, (would use channel 20. Output Input Tone Name 157.6800 152.4200 d051 A&A Security Company Provides Security to many mines in Area 463.8750 468.8750   Dickenson - Russell Coal Cleveland 160.1400     Electricians at Mines (shares frequency with Beacon of Life Ambulance) 158.3100 153.3200 156.7 Greater Wise Inc 152.9450 465.3250 d172 Island Creek Coal (new owners?) 151.8050     McClure Prep Plant 464.8250 469.8250   Moss 3 Prep Plant 460.7500 465.7500 d115 Paramount Coal 152.3900   94.8 Unknown Mine operator 464.8215   100.0 Strip Mines 461.7750   107.2 Coal Trucks 153.0050 153.3200 156.7 Strip Mine Loggers 453.4250 458.4250   DMME (State Inspectors) 453.6500 458.6500 203.5 DMME (State Inspectors) 152.7500 454.1750 100.0 R. Torstrick / Coal Mine Pine Mtn

Campus Security

Campus security will usually use each county's respective sheriff's office frequency as well. Below is a listing of some local universities, Several are not confirmed, the license for the DMME (coal industry section above) is based at a tower behind the MECC campus in Big Stone Gap, its possible they are shared. It indicates multiple sites: Big A, White Top, High Knob, etc under callsign KNHU770 . This may be used for all local colleges. If you have any information on this topic please let us know!

Out In Tone Note 153.9050     Virginia DIT - Virginia Highlands 464.6000 469.6000   UVA Wise - Campus Security 155.7450 158.8200 167.9 SVCC Community College Security 156.0600   d432 Appalachia State University Police 158.8500   141.3 Appalachia State University 151.5350     Emory and Henry College 154.5150     Emory and Henry College Police       Emory and Henry College Virginia Intermont (Unknown which frequencies are for security) 451.300 451.825 451.900 452.800 452.975 456.300 456.825 456.900 457.800 457.975 ETSU is currently in the process of changing systems, they currently operate on a trunked system similar to that of Sullivan County TN. Its rumored they will have a similar or shared system compared to the New Washington County, TN Digital system that's in the works. Frequencies: 856.9375 857.9375 885.9375 859.9375 860.9375 Talkgroups 201-02   Security 1  201-03   Security 2  UNIT NUMBERS 719 ASU Campus PD Police 724 ASU Campus PD Police 725 ASU Campus PD Police 727 ASU Campus PD Police 728 ASU Campus PD Police 731 ASU Campus PD Police 747 ASU Campus PD Police 749 ASU Campus PD Police ASU ASU Campus PD Station 702 Emory and Henry Campus  Police 706 Emory and Henry Campus  Police 901 Emory and Henry Campus  Police 906 Emory and Henry Campus  Police 202 UVA - Wise Police 203 UVA - Wise Police

Lightning Safety

If you're using more than the "back of the set" antenna for your scanner
you may have recently experienced first hand the wonderful acts of nature called lightning.
Theres a couple of things you can do to prevent damage to your scanner, your house, or more
importantly, damage to YOURSELF. Remember, a direct strike will cause damage no matter how well
you are prepared.

Heres a few links

Grounding Communications Systems
Lightning Protection Institute
Lightning Rods

Here's what we're working on...

New LTR Trunked Systems (Still working)
VA Hospital (In the works)
Interoperability
Local Aviation

Major Improvements to the Live Scanner!
(additional height coming soon)




That's it for now, Happy Scanning!

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