How Many Scanners Can One Effectively Monitor at the Same Time? Re:[MilCom] Milcom/Milair Maxium Channels for Effectiveness?

[Albert Miles]

Ken and group,

I only make use of two scanners(bc780's) and two shortwave 
receivers(rx320's) all of which are tasked with mil monitoring.
The one piece of equipment that has proven to be invaluable for determining 
which receiver the audio is coming from is the New Communications Solutions 
NCS-3230 Multi-Rx.
This little box handles six channels of audio and spatially places the sound 
in your head through stereo headphones.
The same thing can be done through outboard speakers but somewhat less 
effectively.
As for determining the frequency, my receivers are computer controlled using 
ScanStar software for the bc780's and Scan320 which is a great freeware 
program from Tom Lackamp for the rx320 TenTec receiver.
Since I must work to afford the above and the roof to put them under, I make 
use of unattended recording especially with the ScanStar software for the 
780's.
The recordings are time and date stamped by the Spectrum Commander software.
Sangean VersaCorders are used for unattended recording of the 320's, 
however; by the nature of shortwave and the nearly impossible use of 
squelched scanning, I usually park them on a frequency of interest(usually 
Coast Guard) and review the recordings by FF/CUE until I hear voice comms.
I have just recently returned to the list after a long time-consuming 
college adventure that will wrap up soon...Hopefully, I will be able to make 
some semi-intelligent posts to the list of milcomms going on in the Central 
Virginia area... I do not have any military experience like some of the fine 
folks on here do; but I never grow tired of listening in on the Pilots who 
protect our shores...
There is much for me to learn here about mil monitoring, I look forward to 
hearing from all of you!

Regards,

Albert,  W4QWX.






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken" <rfinder1 at verizon.net>
To: "MilCom" <milcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 12:17 PM
Subject: How Many Scanners Can One Effectively Monitor at the Same Time? 
Re:[MilCom] Milcom/Milair Maxium Channels for Effectiveness?


> Thanks to all who have responded...
>
> Based upon what most of you stated it appears that the best method is to:
> *Use multiple scanners to scan various milcom/milair frequencies
> *Normall Frequency monitored usage (e.g. channel loading) determines how 
> many frequencies will be placed in the scan group for a scanner.  E.g. 
> The higher the usage, the less channels to scan.
>
> So it also appears that it might be better to buy older (technology) 
> scanners, that are on sale than to buy one of the new higher priced but 
> much larger capacity scanners.
>
> Now comes the next question  --- For milcom/milair monitoring, how many 
> scanners can one effectively monitor at one time?
>
> While mobile, in my vehicle I use 1 mobile & 2 portables scanners.  2 
> scanners are hooked up (via Grove's antenna splitter SPL02) to an external 
> semi stealth antenna (Pro Comm CD144MBN, magnetic mount).  I find it 
> difficult to determine what scannner the audio is coming from.  Of course 
> one has to also pay attention to driving!!!!
>
> Home Base wise, I generally run 2 to 3 scanners.  Since I can observe each 
> scanner, it's much easier to determine which scanner the audio is from. 
> My guess would be 5 scanners at the max (that are in the scanning mode, 
> not fixed to one frequency)????
>
> What's interesting is that you look at some other hobbyists information 
> showing multiple scanners:
> http://hometown.aol.com/scanaddict/index.html  (34 base radio scanners!!!)
> http://www.milaircomms.com/shack.html (looks like 9 base radio scanners)
>
> Would be interesting to get comments from hobbyists who use multiple 
> scanners mobile & fixed base wise, and what techniques they employ to 
> determine where the audio is coming from (and also to see what frequency 
> is active)....
>
> Ken
>
>
>
>
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