I have been interested in monitoring radio communications for several years.
I enjoy monitoring local public safety communications as well as air traffic
control communications at the local MSP airport. Unfortunately in the state
of Minnesota, you need a FCC license to have a device that is able to
receive police radio communications in a car. Because of this requirement,
in March 2001 I passed the FCC required test and received a amateur radio
license
and operate every now and again under the callsign KC0MPU.
My car is equipped with two radios. I have a Uniden BC-250D 1000 channel
scanner that is able to receive most frequencies between 2.5Mhz to 1.3Ghz in
all modes. This scanner also includes support for the P25 digital radio
systems, as the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area is migrating to an all
digital radio system.
My car also has a icom ic-706 hf/uhf/vhf radio. This radio is able
to transmit on the HF frequencies, as well as 6 meter, 2 meter and the 440Mhz bands. The ic-706 is also able to receive most frequencies up to 450Mhz in all modes.
For the scanner, I have a Austin Antenna Spectra antenna, and for the ham
radio I use a comet B-20 antenna. Also for the ic-706, I have a
Diamond HV7A antenna.
Inside shot of my car, showing the head unit for the ic-706 HF/VHF/UHF unit,
my map-330 GPS and my bc-250d scanner.
My map-330 GPS and the bc-250d scanner.
The base unit for the ic-706. I have it hidden away
in the center console of my grand prix, and I am able to route the
cables under the center console.
Picture showing my spectra wideband antenna and my comet 2m/440mhz antenna.
Picture showing the spectra wideband again, and the hv-7 HF antenna. The
black marks show the top of the antennas, to get a idea of how long the
hv-7 antenna with the 40 meter coil is.
