Anyone use a scanner at CCS events? I barely hear the calls let alone understand them, it might be a valuable device. It doesn't help that I pit in spot where my kids don't become road hazards.
It would also be nice to hear about track condition, spills, riders down, schedule changes, ect. This would be for Midwest events. Not sure if that matters but I assume they all use a similar RF frequency.
Is a good idea. BHF has a different frequency than RA though.
Thanks for the info. Is it hard to find the correct frequency at the track. I have never used one before.
BHF should hire whomever installed the PA system at CMP.
That's the only track I've been to where I wanted to say "OMG! Can you turn that thing down??" It was kind of awesome.
If you check with the guy working Control you can find out the frequency the Corner Workers are on. After the last bike gets the Checker the Corner Workers will call the bike around from Corner Station to Corner Station so you'll know when the 5 board will be going up.
FYI.... The Starter and Grid guys are on a different frequency than the Corner Workers to keep the amount of radio traffic to a manageable level.
Scanners are easy to use. Once you know a specific frequency you want to monitor you can lock it in rather than scan dozens of frequencies.
One other thing..... You don't need the real sophisticated scanners that allow you to monitor Police and Fire Departments. A simple, basic handheld unit works great at the track. I think I got mine on eBay for about $80 a few years back. Mine is a Uniden and works great.
If you want to monitor Police/Fire calls you need a unit that will scan "trunk" calls. More money to lock in on the scrambled codes the Police/Fire Department frequencies use.
Great info. I could care less about the emergency frequencies.
I was looking at the Uniden handheld from Radio Shack.
I have 171.045 as the BHF P.A. frequency. They're also licensed for some other frequencies in the 150-160 range.
Seems like they really ought to a low-power FM system so people can tune in with a regular FM radio. That's what most tracks have.
Most tracks uses freqs in the 450-470 Mhz range for ops.
Most scanners cover both of these bands.
The lead flag guy there said each org provides their own transmitter for the FM broadcast. It looks like CCS does not have one.
Can you also listen to it on FM radio station. I know NJMP is 105 what about summit.
Corner worker frequency at BHF is 152.315
(https://www.ccsforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fantastique-arts.com%2Fphotos%2F2368.jpg&hash=642c82b401999e991df1a1dcb2f97d71693de7b0)
I hadn't used my scanner in years, with all this P.A./scanner talk goig on decided to get it out and program the track frequecies into it, what a pain in the ass !! I have Radio Shacks duel trunking hand held and it's complicated or I'm not smarter than a fifth grader. I guess what I'm trying to say is the simpler the better.
A scanner is a great idea since you can only pick up the FM signal at most tracks if you're not in a garage. Also, most PA systems sound like someone's talking thru a kazoo (or only work in part of the paddock due to lightning strikes, like at RA).
For AMA races, they require teams to monitor race control and it helps tremendously. We have a basic RadioShack model (~ $100) that came pre-programmed with race frequencies for NASCAR, Indy, etc, but it was easy to add other freqs. With generators, revving bikes and PA chatter, trying to monitor via the external speaker was nearly impossible so I use an earbud. Works like a charm.
I thought Blackhawk had a regular frequency they use. Aren't there paper's up with like 87.x.... on it?
Quote from: Germany on June 19, 2012, 02:16:45 PM
I thought Blackhawk had a regular frequency they use. Aren't there paper's up with like 87.x.... on it?
The PA is on 88.7FM. Dunno if they broadcast for the bike races. Can always try the next time to see if they do.
I tried to find the channel in May without luck so I asked the main starter guy. He said there is a frequency for the track but the org running that day supplies their own transmitter. He did not know if CCS had one and I did not get a chance to ask. I'm guessing they don't have one, at least not at Blackhawk.