As far as radios are concerned a good software defined radio will pick up anything from very low to ultra high frequencies. A good one like the RSP1A from SDRplay will run about 100 dollars. You can also pick up a SDR dongle for about 30 bucks. The dongle can pick up any of the VHF & UHF frequencies. The RSP1A is a low cost entry-level receiver-it is a powerful wideband full featured 14 bit SDR and perfect as an all round general coverage communications receiver plus much much more.
A tip : As someone who works in IT and communications for a few railroads, IF you use one of those cheap Chinese Baofeng radios or any of the new or surplus market commercial or ham stuff please do not program transmit capabilities into it on railroad frequencies. If you have a license to transmit on HAM, etc then those are fine for you to set up but ever since those cheap Chinese radios starting flooding the markets, we have had many cases of people interfering with comms to some extent from accidentally hitting the PTT button to purposely transmitting. The safest recommended listening device will be a modern scanner radio that can track and decode NXDN (Kenwoods Digital modulation format) as well as operate in legacy analog mode.
The EOTD stuff is not useful unless you have the program to decode it. You could use it to DF a train but most Class A railroad EOTD's have a 4 watt UHF transmitter in it so it can literally be anywhere from 1/2 a mile up to 10 miles from you, depending on location and conditions. Same goes for the DPU but keep in mind that just because a train has locomotives at both ends or in the consist does not mean they are DPU active, they could be part of a power move or DIT (Dead In Tow)
@@Elfnetdesigns you are right of course. I am a railroader,. I still find the undecoded signals useful on line of road when I'm trying to determine if there are trains around.
@@hnf1930 your a great teacher thank you sir for your wisdoms of course thats what you meant silly me not paying attention lol or just pure overwhelmed cause i love these trains just like you blessings too you and your family and friends
@@hnf1930 i am wondering about the train numbers. I live in Marshville and the track that runs through is the Monroe Sub. Usually when i see people listing on scanners they are able to find the train designated numbers. They start with a letter and it's numbers after that.
What tips do you have for someone learning specific channels for railroads in their area? When i scan all AAR channels i pick up traffic from a nearby yard. That frequency doesn't agree with what radio reference has listed. Not that radio ref is the bible. I am still trying to find road frequencies to hear conductor call outs. Still have yet to hear a defect detector but i can hear EOT pings to know if a train is nearby.
You can use the auto scan on most scanners and it will pick up what ever is close, then you can lock that channel in. You can also use facebook groups to locate the radio channels for your area. Let me know what area you are in and I can help you find the channels
@@southernkansasrailfan3746 Several of his comments were deleted. I am still shocked that someone could get so upset that a RAILFAN channel would show a train!
It is how to RAILFAN with a scanner.......it is a RAILFAN channel, show I show trains......I did not think anyone would want to stare at a radio the entire time....silly me.
As far as radios are concerned a good software defined radio will pick up anything from very low to ultra high frequencies. A good one like the RSP1A from SDRplay will run about 100 dollars. You can also pick up a SDR dongle for about 30 bucks. The dongle can pick up any of the VHF & UHF frequencies. The RSP1A is a low cost entry-level receiver-it is a powerful wideband full featured 14 bit SDR and perfect as an all round general coverage communications receiver plus much much more.
Thank you for the information, I have pinned your comment for others to take advantage of
A tip : As someone who works in IT and communications for a few railroads, IF you use one of those cheap Chinese Baofeng radios or any of the new or surplus market commercial or ham stuff please do not program transmit capabilities into it on railroad frequencies. If you have a license to transmit on HAM, etc then those are fine for you to set up but ever since those cheap Chinese radios starting flooding the markets, we have had many cases of people interfering with comms to some extent from accidentally hitting the PTT button to purposely transmitting.
The safest recommended listening device will be a modern scanner radio that can track and decode NXDN (Kenwoods Digital modulation format) as well as operate in legacy analog mode.
Any good recommendations for radios?
GREAT VIDEO! I live in a train town and got a kick out of your video. Thanks for the train footage!
I am happy you enjoyed it, I hope it made you smile. We all need a little break once and awhile!
Great video! I enjoyed it!
Thank you so much!
I really need to learn how to use one ☝🏻
Sure makes it easier and alot of more fun!
Thanks for the help
I always worry about missing a signal while I am scanning. I try to scan all AAR channels plus EOT HOT DPU frequencies.
I monitor CSX and NS, never fails that the line I need to listen to is covered up by the other...lol
@@hnf1930 I just discovered SDR radios. I have one ordered and am hoping it will help me with figuring out what is happening out on the rail.
The EOTD stuff is not useful unless you have the program to decode it. You could use it to DF a train but most Class A railroad EOTD's have a 4 watt UHF transmitter in it so it can literally be anywhere from 1/2 a mile up to 10 miles from you, depending on location and conditions. Same goes for the DPU but keep in mind that just because a train has locomotives at both ends or in the consist does not mean they are DPU active, they could be part of a power move or DIT (Dead In Tow)
@@Elfnetdesigns you are right of course. I am a railroader,. I still find the undecoded signals useful on line of road when I'm trying to determine if there are trains around.
hi may i ask what you mean by 123 ? are you refering to the first 3 digits in a frequency channel ? thanks and hello from bolinas california
Hello, the train number was 123. Most all scanner addresses will have a six digit number, such as 155.160. Thank you so much for watching.
@@hnf1930 your a great teacher thank you sir for your wisdoms of course thats what you meant silly me not paying attention lol or just pure overwhelmed cause i love these trains just like you blessings too you and your family and friends
Great video, are you familiar with the Monroe Subdivision? If so i have some questions
I Am
I may can help
@@hnf1930 Can you help me? I have a baofeng BF-F8HP. How can I set up on the sub so I can hear them?
@@kingdomsbricks4762 Which Sub?
@@hnf1930 i am wondering about the train numbers. I live in Marshville and the track that runs through is the Monroe Sub. Usually when i see people listing on scanners they are able to find the train designated numbers. They start with a letter and it's numbers after that.
What tips do you have for someone learning specific channels for railroads in their area? When i scan all AAR channels i pick up traffic from a nearby yard. That frequency doesn't agree with what radio reference has listed. Not that radio ref is the bible.
I am still trying to find road frequencies to hear conductor call outs. Still have yet to hear a defect detector but i can hear EOT pings to know if a train is nearby.
You can use the auto scan on most scanners and it will pick up what ever is close, then you can lock that channel in. You can also use facebook groups to locate the radio channels for your area. Let me know what area you are in and I can help you find the channels
What scale is that #2817 engine next to you there on the bench?
That one is O scale
Why are you showing a 400 car train?
You should watch the video before leaving a comment, you have a greater chance of not looking like an idiot.
@@hnf1930 I watched the video Melvin. That is why made the comment.
@@hnf1930 That was a tad rude
@@southernkansasrailfan3746 Several of his comments were deleted. I am still shocked that someone could get so upset that a RAILFAN channel would show a train!
I wish I did have a video of a 400 car train.....that would be awesome!!
As a matter of fact, why show any cars. The subject is radios and how to use them, isn't it?
It is how to RAILFAN with a scanner.......it is a RAILFAN channel, show I show trains......I did not think anyone would want to stare at a radio the entire time....silly me.