maritime scanner/radio on cruise? About This Page:

[bobyetman]

Has anyone ever taken a scanner/radio that recieves the maritime channels on-board with them and listened to the various ships? Would think this would be real interesting, especially going into and out of port. I have a scanner that receives those channels, just wondering if I should take it.

[Dave Marx]

Haven't heard of it, but if it floats your boat...

Those of us who have to consider airline baggage costs? It'd have to be a small, hand-held unit. That would also be handy in any case, as I like to watch the process, so if I was tethered to a 110 v. unit in the stateroom, there's a lot I might miss seeing - I like being on deck 10/12-13, where it's easy to walk to port, starboard, fwd or aft, based on what's happening.

In my case, I'd only be awake to listen-in when the ship's headed out of port.

[bobyetman]

My scanner is the size of a walkie talkie, I also use it at air shows, so it's easy to carry and I use a headset/ear plug with it, so space is not an issue.

[Papa Mouse]

Bob I know what you are talking about and it will be fun. I use to have a larger receiver than what you have.

For other readers basically the larger the set you have the more bands and frequencies you have. Even slightly larger sets have 110 voteage and battery (interchangeable) power.

I assume Bob's set also has AM, FM and stero radio, plus 2 bands of shortwave stations, 1 aircraft band, 1 ship which he claims now, 1 coast guard band and most likely 1 police and 1 fire department.

My set, which was quite larger, was used mainly as a base station (at home on the table) but I could take it with me.

In addition to the regular radio stations and shortwave bands I had all the frequencies of all the aircraft, police, fire departrments, ships and some government agencies.

Example on police. Let's say Orlando, FL police was on one band which had 100 cars. Several cars would be on a channel where only a few cars could hear one of the dispatchers, so many cars on another frequency to hear another dispatcher and down the tine. That is why on T.V. you've heard where a police dispatcher might have a car to go to frequency or channel 2. A smaller set might only have a few frequencies and each frequency can only be monitored one at a time. The set I had could scan 10 different frequencies at the same time and stop automatically on the station broadcasting which let me monitor what was happening. With a push of a button I could stay on a channel and another to continue scanning.

Using the ten I could mix the frequencies and as an example monitor the local police, the highway patrol (or state trooper) federal police if involved in a car chase, etc.

Now multiply the number of frequencies in one town (or city) by the number of frequencies in the city police, by the highway patrols by goverment agencies by the number that's coverage, Don't forget to multiply this total by the number of cities in the 50 states.

Of course what I could monitor was limited to what could be heard. Affected by such things as the power, range (distance), weather conditions, etc. With an outside antenna you can increase you range of reception.

I have spent many hours monitoring different frequencies. It is fun.

GO for it Bob.

If Possible be up on deck ten, outside, away from the stern and all possible noises. Deck ten is for height over the horizon where radio waves will be coming. Your range will be incresed after sunset and with a clear sky.

A store such as Radio Shack should have books with all the frequencies listed but I don't believe you will need it. If you need the frequencies around you town just take a pencil and paper and write them down.

Write down the callsigns of the Disney Cruise Ships so you know which ones are talking.

Wonder........C6QM8
Magic.............C6PT7
Dream............C6YR6
Fantasy..........C6ZL6

Research other company's cruise ships that might be near your area. Do a live search to locate them.
Rearch the site that lists the approximate time the Disney cruise ships report their location. Also the ship you are on and monitor it. Make a list of other ships you monitor and look them up when you return.

Write a small report as to date and time you monitored them and where you were and write them. I am sure you will get a reply UNLESS they used morse code or another means of reporting.

Monitor the other frequencies you have.

To quiet? Then monitor the regular radio (including shortwave).

[dmpyron]

Thanks for the signs. I'll try working them some time in the next few weeks.

A warning, if you think that some countries have issues with FRS radios, "they" (Mexico) will come down on you "like a ton of bricks" if you have a scanner. Ten years ago they wouldn't even look at you, but that was before ...

I usually rent a scanner for the races since I can't justify spending the money on one race a year plus an occasional extra. Don't ask me why I'm not going to the USGP this year.

[bobyetman]

That's good to know about Mexico and the scanner, I'll be sure to not take it off the ship. Thanks for the tips.