Scanners
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[edit] Scanner Information
Not really part of ham radio on it's own - but many hams are also Scanner Enthusiasts.
[edit] Casper Frequencies
Here's an old list (late 1990s) of VHF frequencies of interest in the Casper area.
- At the time this list was made, frequencies indicated with an asterisk (*) were known active.
[edit] 2009 update
Here are a few KNOWN semi active frequencies that are sometimes fun to listen in on when the ham bands are quiet. Hopefully this will help make the above list a little less daunting.
[edit] Public Safety
- 155.445 - WHP statewide repeater output. This frequency is used statewide as the primary highway patrol frequency. The WHP is planning on transitioning onto the states VHF digital encrypted system but at this time they are still using the 155.445. Recently I have noticed that portions of WHP around Cheyenne have already switched to the digital system. They still use the 155.445 as a simplex "car to car" frequency for idle chitchat. *UPDATE 10-24-09, A majority of the state is still using this frequency. Cheyenne and Laramie are the only ones (that I know of) who are almost 100% digital. It is only just a matter of time before everybody switches I am told*
- 155.745 - This is the former Natrona county fire dispatch. Since most of the volunteer fire depts. in the county still rely upon this frequency ALL of the 911 calls for the county are dispatched on it. Any other traffic that you hear on the frequency is the county road plows. It is usually a good source of how the roads out in the county are during winter weather.
- 155.295 - This is the primary frequency used for Wyoming Lifeflight based in Casper. They do all of the patient reports and routine position communications here. It is used state wide for both the helicopter and airplane. Very interesting to listen to sometimes. If you are in a decent area of Natrona county, You may also hear the ambulance communications out of Campbell county as they are on this same frequency.
- 154.875 - Wyoming mutual aid hangs out here. This frequency is used statewide by all law enforcement, EMS, and fire agencies as a way to talk to each other. Communications can be heard all over the state.
- 155.940 - This is the OLD dispatch frequency for the town of Evansville's fire and ambulance. Like the Natrona county fire frequency, the only traffic that you will hear on this frequency is the actual dispatch of the units but no other related traffic. Recently they switched to the 800MHZ paging system but the calls can still be heard here.
- 155.970 - This was formerly the Natrona county S.O. repeater. The repeater still exists but the majority of communications have been moved to the 800mhz encrypted system. However the coverage of the 800 system is a little sparse in places of the county so you will occasionally still hear some traffic. This is also the repeater where the county emergency warning sirens are controlled from.
- 155.640 - This is the statewide Game and Fish frequency (Called SALECS). All of the repeaters in the state use this as the output. GandF gets dispatched out of Cheyenne by the WHP. The GandF officers are considered law enforcement and work as part of the WHP. This frequency gets busy around any hunting season. It is kind of fun to listen to GandF make traffic stops and perform poaching stings.
- 168.300 - I had a request to put this here as the wildland fire season heats up. This is the Casper Field Office, of the BLM, frequency that is used for firefighting efforts. It is a simplex frequency so many times you cannot hear the mobile units unless you have a decent receive setup. It is also the output of several of the BLM repeaters around the state. From Casper it is possible to receive chatter from all over Natrona, Carbon, and Campbell county. I have noticed that while many modern ham rigs receive this frequency, some are deaf as a stone.
[edit] Other Government
- 155.280 - This is the primary frequency of the school district. It is nothing but school buses talking about frivolous school activities. Sometimes good for a laugh (as in when one of the students throws up on a bus). If you like LOTS of traffic this is the frequency. On a weekday during the school year this frequency is almost NEVER quiet. It is also only simplex which makes it useful for checking antennas in the receive category.
- 155.220 - Another frequency that I had requested to me this winter was the Hogadon ski area. Here it is in all of its glory. Depending on where the patrol is on the slopes, you can hear most of the units from down in Casper. Obviously this is much busier during ski season. They have been attempting to switch to the Natrona County 800MHZ system but they are in the shadow of the repeater and handhelds do not work very well. I foresee them using this VHF frequency for awhile at least.
[edit] Business
- 155.445 - Rocky Mountain Power. Usually pretty quite - but if there's weather about, can yield some information as to who what and where things are going on.
[edit] Aeronautics
- 118.3 - The main approach and control frequency for the airport. Of course it is AM but it is still pretty active from time to time.
- 126.150 - The automated flight control. Just a recording that constantly streams traffic to the pilots. Cannot be in a scan list as it literally never stops transmitting.
[edit] Casper Digital System - scannable?
Many Casper area Public Service departments are now using an 800Mhz digital system. See this article on Project 25 for background. However, Law Enforcement, and others, are also encrypted. Radios/scanners are on the market that will allow you to listen to 800mhz digital systems. But, to date, we know of no way to decrypt transmissions in real time.
NOTE: Attempts to defeat or "break" any 'over the air' encryption could be a violation of the DMCA and subject to prosecution.
