How to Get a Local AM Radio Station On a Scanner
Scanners typically do not have the frequency coverage necessary to be able to pick up local AM radio stations. However, the scanner can be used to pick up the communication between the station's traffic helicopters or from field news crews with the assignment desk, for example. Although the scanner cannot pick up the station's public broadcast, it can pick up replayed broadcasts in real time.
Though scanners are not commonly used to listen to local AM radio stations, it can be another fun and entertaining activity to use the scanner for, in addition to the more popular uses such as listening to police dispatch, ham radio and weather or emergency information.
Items Needed:
- Scanner
- Computer
Instructions:
- Go online to find a frequency database online. These can be found through a simple Internet search.
- Search the database for a local media frequency. It will likely be in the UHF range around the area of 450.000---. This frequency can be picked up by your scanner.
- Turn on your scanner. Press the PGM or PROG button. This is the program button.
- Punch in your desired channel for use with the frequency.
- Enter in the number of the frequency you found on the database on the scanner's keypad. For example, the frequency number you would enter to listen to Los Angeles' AM radio station KFI is 450.7250.
- Press the ENT button on the scanner. Pressing the enter button will store your chosen frequency into the channel you punched in in step 4.
- Press the MAN (manual) button with the numbers assigned to the channel you have chosen. This will select the radio frequency you just added.