nathan.chantrell.net

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A radio scanner allows you to tune into any frequency within its range and listen in (for example my Icom IC-R2 has continuous coverage between 0.495 and 1310 MHz with AM/FM/WFM mode). With the right equipment you can also decode data transmissions such as Pager messages and weather data.
Some of the information below is R2 specific but the rest should be of use to owners of any type of scanner.

As of 13 April 2001 the amateur radio aboard the International Space Station is activated and is digipeating packet radio. The worldwide downlink for voice and packet is on 145.80MHz, also try listening for the voice downlink on 143.625 MHz. You can track the ISS here.

Information:

• Icom MAX233 Cloning Cable Schematic for R2, R3 and R-10
• Icom OPC-478 Cloning Cable Schematic for R2, R3 and R-10
• POCSAG Pager Decoding
• How to make a simple Dipole Antenna
• Discriminator output mod for IC-R2
• Frequencies for the Warrington Area
• Frequencies for the Cheshire Area

Downloads:

• Linux:
  • tk2 – GPL IC-R2 Software
  • Multimon – Pocsag program for Linux, decodes pagers using sound card (49k)
• Windows:
  • tk2 – GPL IC-R2 Software
  • Goran Vlaski`s FREE IC-R2 1.0 Software for Windows (79k)
  • R2Pepper IC-R2 upload/download software for Windows (32k)
  • POC32 Pocsag Windows Program decodes pagers using sound card (402k)

Radio Scanning Links:

• alt.radio.scanner.uk newsgroup
• alt.radio.scanner newsgroup
• CPC – Source for cheap SMA connectors/adapters in UK
• UK Frequency Database
• UK Scanner Frequencies
• UK Radio Scanner & Weather Pages
• South Cheshire Scanning
• ICOM IC-R2 Mailing List
• ICOM R2 Information
• alt.radio.scanner FAQ
• rec.radio.scanner FAQ
• Morse Code & Phonetic Alphabet