

 Last changed: March 27, 1995.                                |

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                  Introduction to Scanning
                    by Bob Parnass, AJ9S

  [NOTES: This article may not be reproduced in whole or  in
 part   on   CDROMS,   in   bulletin  boards,  networks,  or
 publications which charge for service without permission of
 the author.  Free distribution is encouraged.]

 This  introduction  is  intended  for  people  new  to  the
 scanning  hobby and is oriented to scanning in the USA.  It
 tells where you can buy your first scanner,  what  features
 it  should  have, where to get it repaired if required, how
 to get frequency information, and mentions  a  few  scanner
 clubs worth joining.

 The author writes a monthly "Scanner Equipment" column  for
 Monitoring  Times magazine, published by Grove Enterprises,
 but views expressed in this article are his own.


                        Why Scanning?

 Every day and night, scanner hobbyists are  entertained  by
 what  they  overhear  on  their  radios.  Police cars, fire
 engines,   ambulances,   armored   cars,   trains,   taxis,
 airplanes,  and  buses are all equipped with radios and you
 can listen to them.  You can monitor the local sheriff  and
 fire  departments  to  hear  about events "as they happen,"
 before the news reporters hear about them.  Hostage dramas,
 bank  robberies,  car  crashes,  chemical  spills,  tornado
 sightings are all fair game.  In a  single  afternoon,  you
 can hear a high speed police chase, Drug Enforcement agents
 on a sting operation, and undercover  FBI  agents  as  they
 stakeout a suspect.

 How about listening to  a  presidential  candidate  discuss
 strategy  with his advisor from a 415 MHz radiophone in Air
 Force 1, or a team of G-men protect him while  transmitting
 in the 167 MHz range?

 Baby monitor intercoms are actually  transmitters  and  you
 can hear them between 49.67 and 49.99 MHz.

 Stay ahead of road conditions by listening to highway  road
 crews, snow plows, and traffic helicopter pilots.

 Take your scanner to sporting events and listen to race car
 drivers,  football  coaches, etc., in the 151, 154, and 468
 MHz ranges.

 Monitor the everyday hustle and bustle of businesses,  from
 cable  TV  repair  crews  tracking  down pirate descrambler
 boxes, to security guards at your nuclear  power  plant  or
 mall security guards chasing a shoplifter.

 You  can  even  listen  to  the  order   taker's   wireless
 microphone  at the local McDonald's restaurant on 154.6 and
 35.02 MHz!


                     Is Scanning Legal?

 In the United States, scanning from your home or at work is
 perfectly   legal   in  most  situations.   The  Electronic
 Communications Privacy Act  of  1986  made  it  illegal  to
 listen  to  mobile phones, common carrier paging, and a few
 other types of communication.  A new law outlaws  listening
 to  cordless  phones,  too,  but  many scanners cover these
 frequencies, and it's clear that Americans still listen  to
 whatever  they  want  in  the  privacy  of  their own homes
 despite the laws.

 It  is  now  illegal  for  companies   to   sell   recently
 manufactured scanners which cover or can be easily modified
 to cover the  cellular  phone  frequencies,  but  sales  by
 private individuals will still be allowed.

 Speaking of privacy, federal law also requires you to  keep
 what  you  hear to yourself and not use the information you
 hear on your scanner for personal gain.

 Be aware  that  several  states  have  laws  pertaining  to
 scanning   while  in  your  car.   Indiana  restricts  some
 portable scanners.  A few states  have  enacted  their  own
 laws  against  listening  to cordless phones.  You can find
 out about these restrictions in a 39 page paperback,  ANARC
 Guide   to   U.  S.  Monitoring  Laws,  compiled  by  Frank
 Terranella, available  for  $9.95  +  shipping  from  Grove
 Enterprises, PO Box 98, Brasstown, NC 28902.


                 What Scanner Should I Buy?

 Radio Shack and Uniden  (maker  of  Bearcat,  Regency,  and
 Cobra brands) offer a wide choice of scanners.  Radio Shack
 scanners  bear  the  Realistic  label  but   are   actually
 manufactured by both GRE (General Research Electronics) and
 by Uniden.  Personally, I don't recommend Trident nor  many
 of  the  AOR brand scanners, although the AR8000 and AR3000
 have good reputations.

 Programmable  (synthesized)  units  have  replaced  crystal
 controlled  models  as  they  don't  require  crystals  and
 usually have a keypad that permits you to store frequencies
 into  channels.   Programmables are now so cheap it doesn't
 make sense to buy a  crystal  unit  as  your  main  scanner
 unless you get it for under $45 or so.

 You can get a battery operated hand held scanner, a  bigger
 "base"  scanner  which  is  powered from an AC outlet, or a
 mobile scanner which connects  to  your  auto's  electrical
 system.   There  are  tradeoffs -- base and mobile scanners
 have larger displays and almost always provide  more  audio
 than  portables,  and  some  portables  are  more  prone to
 interference when connected to outdoor antennas  than  base
 models.   But  when  severe weather knocks out the power in
 your home, there's nothing like having a  battery  operated
 scanner   to   monitor   the   power   utility  and  police
 frequencies!

 Make sure your first scanner:

  1.  has a "search" feature, which allows it to search  all
      the  frequencies  between two frequency limits of your
      choosing.  The lowest cost programmables can't search.
  2.  covers the 800 MHz band.  Usage of the 800 -  950  MHz
      band  is  growing  fast  and  you will miss out on the
      action unless your scanner covers this band.

 If you're not sure whether you'll like scanning, don't want
 to  spend  much  money,  a  40  channel  radio will do.  In
 general, the more channels and banks, the better.

 Most of the action takes place on  frequencies  between  30
 and 1000 MHz, so don't be misled by scanner models boasting
 coverage from 3 to 2000 MHz.  There's currently not much to
 monitor in the 1000 - 2000 MHz range.

 If you are interested in receiving  short  wave,  that  is,
 signals  in  the 3 - 30 MHz range, it's best to get a short
 wave  radio  specifically  designed   for   that   purpose.
 Although  some  scanners receive the short wave band, their
 performance in that range is often poor.

 Deluxe scanners can be controlled by a  personal  computer,
 although  this  feature  isn't  important  to  many scanner
 owners.

 Almost  all  low  and  mid-priced  scanners  are  prone  to
 receiving  images  -- receiving the same signal erroneously
 on two or more frequencies.  With a few exceptions,  images
 are  undesireable due to the interference they cause, e.g.,
 hearing aircraft transmissions while the scanner  is  tuned
 to  the  local  police frequency.  Premium quality scanners
 use "up  conversion"  circuitry,  a  scheme  which  greatly
 reduces image reception.

 Currently,  the   more   popular   scanners   include   the
 Uniden/Bearcat  BC760XLT  (a/k/a  950XLT)  and discontinued
 Radio  Shack  PRO-2006  base/mobiles,  the   Uniden/Bearcat
 BC200XLT (a/k/a BC205XLT), BC220XLT, and Radio Shack PRO-43
 portables.  A number of owners  report  problems  with  the
 Icom  R1 portable and the older Uniden/Bearcat 8500XLT base
 and 2500XLT portable.  The new Uniden  replacement  models,
 the  BC9000XLT  and  BC3000XLT,  work  very well and are my
 current favorites.

 Considered by many as the best scanner ever made,  the  400
 channel  Radio Shack PRO-2006 has recently been replaced by
 the 1000 channel PRO-2035.  The portable Radio Shack PRO-62
 is a good performer.  All three models employ up conversion
 and are made for  Radio  Shack  by  GRE  (General  Research
 Electronics).   Both GRE and Uniden make scanners for Radio
 Shack.


                      Scanner Antennas

 All scanners come  with  a  built  in  antenna,  permitting
 reception up to about 20 miles or so.

 Portable  scanners  are  supplied  with  a  spring   shaped
 antenna,  covered  by  rubber.   Although  it  is small and
 tolerant of physical abuse, the range of a heliflex antenna
 is  very  limited.   Augmenting  it  with a 19" telescoping
 metal antenna can improve portable reception greatly.

 Outdoor antennas, like the Channel Master 5094A or  Antenna
 Specialists  AV-801  (recently  discontinued),  can  extend
 reliable reception to 100 miles or more.  If you do use  an
 outdoor antenna, be sure to disconnect and ground it during
 storms and when not in use to  avoid  a  lightning  hazard.
 Discone and ground plane type antennas can be more prone to
 lightning strikes because they are not at "DC ground."



                   Coaxial Cable Feedlines

 If your antenna installation requires more than 50 feet  of
 feedline,  use RG213/U or high quality RG8/U coaxial cable.
 RG213/U  has  a  non-contaminating  jacket  and  will  last
 longer.   Each  has  an  outer  diameter  of  about 13/32".
 Similarly sized Belden 9913 cable  and  clones  have  lower
 attenuation  but  are  difficult  to  bend, require special
 connectors, and can accumulate moisture inside  because  it
 they are hollow.

 If you must use a small diameter cable for long  runs,  use
 RG6/U.   Avoid  RG58/U (7/32" OD) due to its losses at high
 frequencies.  RG8/X (1/4" OD) is suitable for  short  patch
 cords.



                 Where Can I Buy A Scanner?

 Almost every community has at least one Radio Shack  store,
 and  you  can  find  scanners there.  Discount chain stores
 like Wal-Mart, K-Mart,  Service  Merchandise,  and  Circuit
 City   sell   scanners,   but  carry  just  a  few  models.
 Department stores, like Sears Roebuck and Montgomery Wards,
 sometimes offer low end scanners, although at high prices.

 The best buys on new scanners are from reputable mail order
 radio dealers, for example:


    - Grove Enterprises, 300 S. Highway 64 West,  Brasstown,
      NC  28902.   For  a  free catalog, call (704)837-9200.
      Telephone (orders only): (800)438-8155.

    - National Tower Company, PO Box 15417, Shawnee Mission,
      KS 66215.  Telephone (913)888-8864.

    - The Ham Station, 220 N. Fulton  Ave.,  Evansville,  IN
      47719-0522.  Telephone (800)729-4373, (812)422-0231.

    - Marymac Distributing  (Katy,  TX)  sells  Radio  Shack
      scanners at discount, but charges a 20% restocking fee
      for returned merchandise.  Telephone (800)231-3680 and
      (713)392-0747.

    - Scanner World (Albany, NY). Telephone (518)436-9606.

 Beware of inflated "shipping and handling" charges  and  be
 sure to include these when comparison shopping.

 Many ham radio dealers,  like  Amateur  Electronics  Supply
 (Milwaukee, WI, (800)558-0411), also sell scanners.

 Used scanners may  be  found  at  hamfests,  flea  markets,
 garage  sales,  or  listed  in the classified advertisement
 section of your newspaper.


                   Modifying Your Scanner

 If you  are  handy  with  a  soldering  iron,  you  may  be
 interested  in  modifying  your  scanner to add features or
 enhance its performance.  Be warned this usually voids your
 warranty.  By federal regulation, new scanner models cannot
 be easily modified to tune the cellular phone bands.

 Modification article files can be copied from  several  ftp
 sites including the /pub/ham-radio/mods directory at:


        ftp.cs.buffalo.edu
        garfield.catt.ncsu.edu
        oak.oakland.edu (IP address 141.210.10.117)

 KD4MOJ maintains a scanner modification server  for  people
 without  FTP  access.   You  can  request a list of scanner
 modifications by sending electronic mail with the words GET
 INDEX.TXT to FTPmail@exchange.tlh.fl.us


                    Scanner Repair Shops

 Is your scanner broken?  Aside  from  sending  the  scanner
 back  to  the  manufacturer  for repair, here are least two
 companies which repair scanners:

   1.  Electronic Repair Centers (telephone 708-455-5105)  -
       Several  people  have  been  pleased with good repair
       service from Electronic Repair  Centers  in  Franklin
       Park,  Illinois.  Although they are not authorized to
       perform warranty work, this outfit has been repairing
       Bearcat  scanners  for  several years.  They charge a
       flat rate of fixing scanners, and shipping is  extra.
       Electronic  Repair  Centers will fix Regency scanners
       if they can obtain the parts.

   2.  G & G Communications (telephone 716-768-8151) -  This
       family  owned  company  repairs  scanners  and stocks
       parts for several older models.  G & G sometimes buys
       old scanners, too.  They are located at 9247 Glenwood
       Drive, LeRoy, NY 14482.


          Where Can I Obtain Frequency Information?

 To avoid chaos, the FCC licenses two-way  radio  users  and
 assigns  them  specific frequencies.  Groups of frequencies
 are allocated to specific types  of  users,  so  you  won't
 usually find fire departments using the same frequencies as
 taxi drivers, for example.

 Scanner enthusiasts can obtain frequency  information  from
 several  sources,  including  books,  government microfiche
 records, or other listeners.

 Books: The most convenient  source  of  fire,  police,  and
 local  government  frequencies  is Gene Hughes' Police Call
 Radio Guide, published each year in 9 regional  volumes  by
 Hollins Radio Data, and sold at Radio Shack and larger book
 stores.

 I also recommend the book, Monitor  America,  published  by
 SMB  Publishing  (now  known as Scanner Master Publishing),
 and available from Grove Enterprises for about $30.  A  new  |
 3rd  edition  is  expected  in early 1995.  Monitor America
 contains several pages of police, fire,  local  government,
 news  media,  sports,  federal  government,  and commercial
 broadcast frequencies  for  all  50  states.   It  contains
 detailed  communications  system profiles and precinct maps
 for major metropolitan areas.  Police and fire radio  codes
 and  unit  identifiers  unique to local agencies are listed
 for several cities.  This differs from Police  Call,  which
 gives  a  more sterile, but uniform treatment of licensees,
 listing even the smallest of towns.

 Uniden has published several regional directories using the
 "Betty  Bearcat"  name,  although  there  are  much  better
 directories   available   from   Scanner   Master   (Newton
 Highlands, MA, tel. (508)655-6300) for some regions.

 The  most  readily  available  source   of   sensitive   US
 government  frequencies is still Tom Kneitel's 168 page Top
 Secret  Registry  of  US  Government   Radio   Frequencies.  |
 Published  by  CRB  Research,  the 8th edition is available  |
 from Grove  Enterprises  for  about  $22.   Kneitel's  book
 contains frequency listings for NASA, military, FBI, Secret
 Service, DEA,  IRS,  Border  Patrol,  arsenals,  ammunition
 plants,  missile  sites,  and  others  in the 25 to 470 MHz
 range.

 Commercial Magazines:  Although  national  in  circulation,
 local  frequency  information  is  sometimes  available  in
 Grove's Monitoring Times (tel. 704-837-9200) and  Kneitel's
 sensationalistic  Popular  Communications,  (tel.  516-681-
 2922).  National Scanning  Report  is  a  national  scanner
 magazine   published   bimonthly  and  is  affiliated  with
 Uniden's Bearcat Radio Club.   It  will  likely  disappoint
 experienced  scanner  hobbyists  and  is  better suited for
 beginners.  The best  scanner  frequency  lists  are  often
 found  in  club publications, not commercial magazines, and
 are discussed later.

 Government Records: Every year, the US Government sells FCC
 license  information,  in  the  form  of microfiche, floppy
 disk, and magnetic tape,  to  the  public  through  the  US
 Department   of  Commerce  National  Technical  Information
 Service (NTIS).  The high cost of buying government records
 limits their appeal to hardcore enthusiasts.  You can write
 for a catalog of FCC Master Frequency Database items to the
 NTIS, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.

 The FCC has an agreement with PerCon (tel. 716-386-6015), a
 private  company,  to  sell  FCC license information to the
 public on CDROMs.  You can buy the full license information
 for  a  multi  state  region  or  a  less  detailed license
 database covering the the entire USA  on  CDROM  for  about
 $100.   The  new  PerCon  Spectrum  CDROM sells for $29 and
 contains a handful of fields for every FCC license  in  the
 US.  It works well.

 Grove enterprises sells FCC license  information  on  CDROM
 for  $100.   The  fields  are  similar to PerCon's Spectrum
 CDROM,  but  the  transmitter  and  licensee  location  are
 intermixed  which makes query results confusing.  The first
 release  has  problems  with  mistakes  in  the  data   and
 documentation,  and  I  look  forward  to  a new release to
 correct these shortcomings.

 Over 15% of the FCC  licenses,  including  many  fast  food
 restaurants, contain transmitter latitude and longitude but
 specify no transmitter city.  To determine the location  of
 those   transmitters   requires   using  the  latitude  and
 longitude information.

 As I have already done for dozens of radio enthusiasts  and  |
 companies  across  the  country, I will locate FCC licensed  |
 and selected FAA transmitter  sites  in  an  area  of  your
 choice,  and  produce  a custom report.  To make it easy to
 locate transmitters, the report includes an 8-1/2"  by  11"  |
 scaled  color  map marked with transmitter sites and cities
 (no streets).  I call this innovation RadioMap(TM) service.

 It allows you to identify antenna sites  (including  paging
 and   cellular   phone   cell   sites)  and  visualize  the
 transmitter  locations  in  your  neighborhood,  near  your
 office, at an airport, and other places of interest -- from
 VLF through microwave.  Industry uses RadioMap  reports  to
 survey  the  "radio  environment"  prior to installation of
 radios and wireless microphones at customer sites.

 This is completely different from, and independent  of  the
 Grove Enterprises CDROM.

 Ham radio stations are not  listed.   The  RadioMap  report
 includes frequencies, callsigns, and licensee names.  For a
 flat fee, you choose the center location, and I choose  the
 range,  depending  on  transmitter  site density.  A 5 mile
 range (100 sq. mi. area) works well in most suburban areas.
 In  rural  areas, ranges of up to 10 or more miles (400 sq.
 mi. area) are possible,  while  ranges  of  1  to  2  miles
 produce  best  results in urban cities, e.g., Manhattan and
 downtown Chicago.

 I will produce custom RadioMap reports for areas in any  of
 the 50 states.  Send $25.95 (check or money order) for each  |
 RadioMap report, your name, address, and telephone  number,
 along  with  center  location  (nearest  intersection  of 2
 streets, or latitude & longitude)  to:  Bob  Parnass,  2350
 Douglas  Road, Oswego, IL 60543.  tel. 708-554-3839 6-10 PM
 central time.                                                *


            Do Your Own Frequency Detective Work

 When you try listening to a frequency for the  first  time,
 you'll want to know who you're hearing.

 Although FCC rules require radio users  to  identify  their
 operations  with  their  assigned call letters, most ignore
 the regulation.  This often makes it difficult to know  who
 is  transmitting.   Moreover,  many  radios  are  now being
 placed in service illegally, without  first  obtaining  the
 required FCC license.

 There  is  a  challenge  in  deriving  new  spectrum  usage
 information  on  your  own.   Sometimes it requires several
 days of  listening,  taping,  and  compiling  fragments  of
 information.   Other  times,  the  frequency information is
 there for the taking - without hassle.

 You can approach from two directions:

   1.  Listen first: Monitor a frequency or frequencies, and
       try  to determine who's transmitting and what purpose
       the channel serves.  Once you identify the user,  log
       the information.

   2.  Compile first: Take advantage of opportunities,  such
       as  examining the frequency label on a guard's radio,
       or reading the FCC  license  hanging  on  the  "radio
       room"  wall, to compile frequency lists, then monitor
       the listed  frequencies  to  confirm  that  they  are
       really  in  use.   Readers  are urged to abide by the
       rules of good taste and local laws in the  quest  for
       frequency  information.   Don't trespass, wait for an
       invitation.

 Most listeners use a combination of both approaches.

 You can examine the FCC license on premise.  I  have  found
 the  actual  FCC  radio  license,  complete  with frequency
 assignments, hanging on the walls of places like  the  mall
 security  office  or  company guard shack.  You can examine
 the labels on radio equipment.   Frequency  information  is
 engraved  on  labels on the back of many walkie-talkies, or
 inside the battery compartment, like in the Motorola  HT220
 model.   Most  pagers  have labels on the bottom or inside.
 Like passwords taped onto terminals, it's not  uncommon  to
 find labels embossed with frequencies or call letters glued
 to the front of base stations.

 You  can  make  your  own  opportunities  for  eyeing   the
 equipment  or  take  advantage  of "open house" events.  If
 information is displayed publicly, then a reasonable person
 could  assume  it's  not  government secret.  Hobbyists are
 urged  to  exercise  a  modicum  of  restraint   and   good
 judgement, however.

                   How Can I Use Equipment
                 to Uncover New Frequencies?

 If you don't know the exact frequency, but have  a  general
 idea  of the range (e.g. 150 - 152 MHz), use your scanner's
 "search"  mode.   Most  programmable  scanners  afford  the
 ability  to  search between two frequency limits set by the
 user.  A few models, like the ICOM R7000/R7100, and R1, and
 older  Bearcat  250  and  Regency K500, have the ability to
 automatically store  active  frequencies  found  during  an
 unattended search operation.

 To find the frequency of a hotel communications system, one
 fellow  installed  his Bearcat 250 in his car and parked in
 the hotel lot, leaving  the  scanner  in  the  "search  and
 store"  mode.   He  left  the  antenna  disconnected so the
 scanner  would  only  respond  to  a  transmitter  in   the
 immediate vicinity.

 Aside from a scanner and antenna, the most useful piece  of
 equipment  for sleuthing is a voice actuated (VOX) cassette
 tape recorder.  You don't need a  high  fidelity  model  or
 anything fancy, a Radio Shack CTR-82 will do.  It's best to
 use a shielded, attenuating cable to feed the scanner audio
 into  the  recorder  rather  than relying on the recorder's
 internal microphone.

 VOX recorders allow one to compress a whole day's worth  of
 monitoring  onto  a  single tape.  I often leave a recorder
 "armed" and connected to a scanner at home while  I  am  at
 the  office or doing something else.  When call letters are
 mumbled, I can play and replay the tape until  I  hear  and
 understand them.

 Test equipment can aid  in  the  quest  for  new  frequency
 information.  I've used a spectrum analyzer connected to an
 outside antenna, and a frequency counter for close-in work.


                Are There Any Scanner Clubs?

 One of the best parts of the hobby is sharing it with other
 radio  buffs.   Trading  information  with  other hobbyists
 about frequencies,  communication  systems,  and  receiving
 equipment is more valuable than any pile of magazines.

 The   world's   largest   scanner   club   is   the   Radio
 Communications  Monitoring  Association (RCMA).  Founded in
 1975, the RCMA is the  "first  national  and  international
 organization   of  monitor  radio  listeners."   There  are
 several regional  chapters  which  hold  regular  meetings.
 Club  dues  are $24.00 per year, which includes the monthly
 RCMA Journal, which consists  of  approximately  95  pages.
 Although  the  focus  is  on  VHF  and UHF ranges, there is
 coverage of HF utility stations below 30 MHz.

 Inquiries about RCMA membership  should  be  sent  to  RCMA
 General Manager, P.O. Box 542, Silverado, CA 92676, USA.


                    All Ohio Scanner Club

 A smaller club is the All Ohio Scanner Club.  Its bimonthly
 publication,  The  American  Scannergram, is about 60 pages
 long.  Although concentrating on Ohio and the  Northeastern
 states,  there  is frequency information from other states,
 and plenty of good product reviews and scanning tips.

 Annual dues are $18 and more information is available from:


               Dave Marshall, Managing Editor
               All Ohio Scanner Club,
               50 Villa Road,
               Springfield, OH 45503.

 AOSC questions can also be sent electronically to:


          rccons!aosc_hq@telerama.pgh.pa.us or
          dave.marshall@f240.n108.z1.fidonet.org.
          FidoNet: 1:108/240.0

 AOSC also has a MEMBERS &  EDITORS  Scanner  related  echo,
 AOSCNet,  distributed  via  FTN  on  6 BBS systems, and via
 Internet Mailing list.  For info on the ECHO only, contact:


     R.E. Christian, AOSC PA/AOSCNet Founder
     PO BOX 12763,
     Pittsburgh PA 15241-0763.
     FAX: 412-831-5860.

     Internet: rccons!aosc_pa@telerama.pgh.pa.us
               rccons!aoscnet_hq@telerama.pgh.pa.us
               rick.christian@f220.n129.z1.fidonet.org
     FidoNet: 1:129/220.0

 To receive a file of info on the All Ohio Scanner Club  via
 Internet send to: rccons!ftpmail@telerama.pgh.pa.us

 In body: get aoscinfo.zip

 This will send a UUENCODED info packet to  you.   The  file
 contains  an  outline  of the material you will find in the
 American Scannergram, the AOSCNet, and an  application  for
 membership.   (Note:  This  file  will  not be sent back to
 *.fidonet.org addresses.)


          Chicago Area Radio Monitoring Association

 The Chicago Area Radio Monitoring  Association  (CARMA)  is
 the  foremost  club  for  scanner  radio  hobbyists  in the
 northern Illinois area.  CARMA was formed from the  Chicago
 chapter  of the Radio Communications Monitoring Association
 (RCMA), and we have been meeting since the early 1980s.

 Many CARMA members are active in ham radio  and  GMRS,  but
 the club is devoted to scanning and scanners.

 Meetings are held on Saturdays, most at  area  restaurants,
 about  6  times a year.  Although lunch starts at noon, the
 meetings begin officially at 1 PM and often run until about
 4  PM.  You must purchase a lunch since we get the room for
 free.  Meetings consist of a quick review of club business,
 sometimes  a  special  presentation,  and  a  "round table"
 discussion/question & answer session.  Large quantities  of
 information  and  frequency  lists are often distributed in
 the form  of  free  handouts.   Members  often  sell  radio
 equipment at the meetings, too.

 In addition  to  regular  meetings,  there  are  two  CARMA
 picnic/field  days  during  which  members  meet at a park,
 erect antennas, eat,  and  operate  scanners  from  battery
 power.   CARMA  members  take  organized  tours  of various
 communications facilities in the area.

 Club meeting dates and times are  published  in  the  CARMA
 newsletter,   published   6  times  a  year.   A  one  year
 subscription is available by mailing a $15  check,  payable
 to Kim Moran, to:


                   The Command Post
                   attn. Kim & Ted Moran
                   6143 W. Touhy Avenue
                   Chicago, IL 60646

 Some  CARMA  members  participate  on  the  CARMA  computer
 bulletin  board, run by Will Sperling.  If you have a modem
 and terminal or computer, you can reach the  CARMA  BBS  by
 calling (708)852-1292.

 Here  is  a  tentative  meeting  schedule  for  1995.   All
 meetings  will  be held on Saturdays at locations announced
 in advance.

         February 18, 1995 - Westmont Police Dept.
         April 15
         June 17
         August 19
         October 14
         December 16

 Bring a notebook and your appetite.
-- 

==============================================================================
                       Copyright 1995,  Bob Parnass, AJ9S
           AT&T Bell Laboratories  -  parnass@att.com - (708)979-5414

