Besides all the cell and cordless phones, there are lots of other nifty low power transmitters in use by your neighbors like cordless headphones, speakers, intercoms, baby monitors, etc. I'm accepting info on frequency ranges for these types of devices for my next update to Stupid Scanner Tricks, so flip over that Space Ranger walkie-talkie and let me know its frequency, Kennith.

What=phones & intercoms
frequency=195 kHz and 3 & 5 MHz
This is for listening to those plug in phone jacks.. GE makes them along with another company called IntelleJack. They sell for about $60 U.S. The base unit that connects to the phone line and the AC socket transmits on 3.245 MHz (for mine) in the NBFM mode. The remote unit transmits on 5.260 MHz in the NBFM mode. I am using a SW receiver (DX-394) to listen to them. Using a mobile mag-mount CB antenna I could hear them at S 9%2B for about 2 blocks after that they faded out quickly.

On 195 kHz in the FM mode is those plug in intercoms that radio shack makes. Simplex, range about 10 houses.

Here's another interesting trick: if your listening to someone's cell call and are within about 30 feet you can hang up their call - First find their input frequency.. search 824-850 or whatever. add 45 MHz to see if you hear them on the output along with the phone line audio... then if you add 10.7 to that frequency (if you have a radio shack scanner) and punch it in it will generate a low power carrier on their phone .. because the phone thinks it lost the cell frequency it will hang up in about 3 seconds.
William

[Here is the Cliff Notes version of this great trick. Print this out and tack it to your dashboard for those long boring road trips!]
1) Find input frequency
2) Find Output frequency by adding 45 MHz.
3) Add 10.7 (Ace, Icom, Realistic, Regency), 10.8 (Regency, Realistic, Uniden) or 10.85 (Uniden) MHz to output frequency.
4) wait about 3 seconds on that channel.

What=Police in car camera mics
frequency=171.085 Nashville Mi
Anywhere within 5 - 10 blocks away from a traffic stop the general public can hear what an officer has to say when dealing with the public. If perchance the officer forgets to turn the mic off after the stop ( which I do frequently ) one could hear very interesting things about people, places, things, as well as bosses and policies. Many different companies now install these in car cameras for the police departments and all have wireless mics with them. You may have to figure out what company got the bid and sweet talk them out of it. Remember, if it is a big city, they will have to have diff. freqs so it shouldn't be too hard to find.
Q

What=hotel & Bussiness
frequency=this is the purpose
You take a scanner near a small bussinuess and put the scanner in the back of your car and search all the frequencies with the attena off the scanner to detrmine what the frequncy is. This is not really a stupid trick it's a just a good trick.
Andrew

What=School Bus Drivers
frequency=464.800
It's the actual sounds of Henry County, Georgia's finest ladies and gentlemen calling in about fights and wrecks they get into. Some mornings it gets to a riot to listen to! If your lucky in the afternoon, there is a fight or a wreck to listen to a bus driver cry over!
David Kotowski

What=anti-shoplifting systems
tune scanner to 8.10Mhz-9.30Mhz checkpoint (hi-q tags) 8.2Mhz mainly 57.75-58.75Khz sensormatic (magnetic) books, cd's and tapes.915-927Mhz Kongo (microwave Resonant) Adhesive Lables
Dave in norcal

What=Satellite Audio
frequency=60-80
This is an old trick for those of you that have C%2FKu satellite receivers, and scanners that can tune 60-80MHz.Monitor the 70 MHz output from your satellite receiver by connecting a short cable to the scanner's antenna input. If your satellite receiver does not have a 70 MHz output, leave me email and I will give you some tips on how to sample this frequency in your satellite receiver.The most common IF frequency for satellite receivers is 70 MHz.SCPC (Single Carrier Per Channel) audio can be tuned in on certain satellites (GE Satcom C5, ANIK E-2, Galaxy 6, GE Satcom SN2, etc).Radio and special services from all over North America can be heard.Have fun!
buzsat@worldnet.

Try scanning the 800-815 area if in range of the Federal Protective Service on 415.2. I work in the area and when their officer is in range, I can make his handitalkie do clicks and clunks. Poor guy never could figure it out.
fun exponentiatlly. For example, the electrical system of my car, especially the car radio, beeps at about 32-33MhZ when the car first turns on, or after it turns off (the radio beeps reminding me to take it out (it's detachable)).
When I get really really bored I just listen to the really faint morse code sounds you get between shortwave stations. I don't know morse, of course...that would take the fun out of it.
I even found the frequency of my LeapFrog infrared to RF extension system...I can hear myself change channels now.

[great trick - what was that frequency again?]

Most (if not all) Wal-Marts now use Motorola handhelds for in-store communication. These use the interant frequencies of 151.625, 154.570, or 154.600. I have also noticed that not all employees have access to the handhelds; only certain "higher level" types. I came to this conclusion after spending an extensive amount of time sitting in the parking lot of various Wal-Marts and listening to their communications. Gossiping about customers and other employees (presumably the ones without "ears") is quite common.
Anyway, here's what you do: first, monitor from the parking lot with your own scanner and determine which frequency is in use at that particular store. Then, go back to the Automotive department. Look at the car stereo display. Along with all the tuners, speakers, CD players, and cassette decks, you'll also find one or two mobile scanners mounted in the rack and operating (usually the cheap Bearcat 16-channel model, and sometimes also a Beartracker will be there) Make sure the scanner is hooked up and operating, and then punch in the store's frequency. Set the scanner on "manual" so that it stays on that channel (or, even better, program it into all 16 channels!) Set the squelch and then turn the volume up full-blast. Now, get away quick and wait for the radio to go off. Watch the look of astonishment on Wally Salesdroid when he/she realizes that it's his manager/department head/etc. that is blasting from the speakers! Especially effective if Wally isn't one of the "privileged" few that has been issued a Motorola!

What=Railroads
frequency=457.9375
Most Railroads in the U.S. use 457.9375 as the EOT (End of Train) frequency. This freq is used by the FRED (Rear end device) That nasty contraption that eliminated the caboose. When you hear something on this channel, it's a series of Braaps, and bloops that actually indicates brake pipe pressure, and whether or not the train is moving. If you like to ³chase² trains, this frequency can be a great indicator of when there is a train approaching since it is low power and not repeated. When a train is traveling down level track and no brakes are being applied, there usually is a transmission every 40 seconds or so, but when the train is slowing down or attempting to stop, there will be almost constant transmissions on this channel. Railroad radio usually resides in the sub-band between 160.100 - 161.590, but this channel is good to leave in a second radio when you are chasing. The Norfolk Southern is unique in that it uses a high power VHF frequency (161.115) for this purpose.The longest distance I have ever heard a FRED was in the Colorado Mountains around the town of Bond. Train was 20 miles away and the FRED Transmissions were loud and clear. Most of the time, 1-2 miles is normal with a handheld radio.
Brian

What=Railroad rear-end device
frequency=457.9375
They've replaced the caboose with a box, roughly the size of a bread box, that sits on the end of the train, hooked up to the air line. It transmits telemetry data to equipment in the locomotive, either every 40 seconds, or whenever the train's speed or air pressure changes. It sounds like a short burst of warbling. The range is a few miles, and is useful for letting you know there's a train in your vicinity. If you live near a train yard (like I do), there can be a whole lotta warbling going on.
Mike Tierney

What=the police in Oslo, Norway
frequency=170.400

[Ufda!]

I don't think that ALL of the MILLIONS sold have died, so there must still be some in use around the US.
Here are the base and handset freqs:
Channel-----------------Base freq---------------Handset freq
=============================================================
1A----------------------1.69 Mhz----------------49.830 Mhz
7A----------------------1.71--------------------49.845
13A---------------------1.73--------------------49.86
19A---------------------1.750-------------------49.875
25A---------------------1.77--------------------49.89
Some of the higher priced scanners can probably tune into the base freqs. I have many other interesting freqs, but little time to type at my speed. You may want to mention that they new breed of wireless phones (not cellular) are located between 902 to 928 Mhz. Let me know if you verify these working in your area (the base freqs). They should be easier to pickup than the 46/49 combinations.

What=phones & intercoms
frequency=195 kHz and 3 & 5 MHz
This is for listening to those plug in phone jacks.. GE makes themalong with another company called IntelleJack. They sell for about $60 U.S.The base unit that connects to the phone line and the AC sockettransmits on 3.245 MHz (for mine) in the NBFM mode.The remote unit transmits on 5.260 MHz in the NBFM mode.I am using a SW receiver (DX-394) to listen to them. Using a mobilemag-mount CB antenna I could hear them at SSB for about 2 blocks after that they faded out quickly. On 195 kHz in the FM mode is those plug in intercoms that radio shack makes. Simplex, range about 10 houses.

What=Baby Monitors
frequency=43 - 50 MHz
It the new thing for busy families. They purchase a baby monitor to listen to what the baby is doing in the bedroom. You can listen to this continual broadcast. Sounds boring; It is unless the baby is kept in the Master Bedroom and you can listen to EVERY intimate chit chat between mom and dad in their bed. If you own a baby monitor, use it only in the babies room, and turn it off when you dont need to listen. Also remember that many of the monitors sold have the same freq, your neighbor could be listening in TOOOOOO.
S. Russell 66

What=scrambled phones
frequency=46.610-46.970
Take a C.B. Walkee Talkee, key it up with an elastic band wrapped around the PUSH TO TALK button and put it up to your scanner speaker. Then turn on a shortwave radio to the frequency the C.B. is set to. NOTE: The shortwave has to have a BFO switch. If so, switch it on the IN position. Then tune the BFO PITCH or (clarifier) so you can descramble the cordless conversation.
PORCHDRIVER

What=cell phones on other freq
frequency=870 to 894
My un-moded SC-150b picks up the 870 to 894 mhz cell phone band when tuned to 895 to 919 mhz and it works very good. I bet other scanners can do this also, what do you think?
anonymous Blue Box Freak

What=your own phone call
frequency=whatever wireless phone
Don't have a speaker phone but you have a cordless phone and a scanner at home? Well scan your own base transmit frequency on your scanner, turn the volume up so you can hear it but not too loud to have a feedback, place the cordless handset somewhere close enough and talk a bit louder. The other side should hear you okay. If you are only dialing ³Talking Yellow Pages² like numbers, you don't even have to worry the outgoing sound quality, just hold the handset and punch the keys, while listening to the scanner, it beats moving back and forth from your ears and out in front). If you like it so much, you can put a mic plug into your handset so you have a better outgoing sound, and closer to a real speaker phone. Well, if you think about it, it will also work on your cellular phone as long as it is using the analog mode (AMPS in North America). But it takes a bit longer to scan though), unless you have the Scout type, or a freq. counter, and work the downlink back using mathematics.
David Tse

What=your walkman or discman
frequency=88-108
Okay, you have got only a walkman but you are tired of the headphone, or especially the earphones which make your ears sore. Get either a mono or stereo FM transmitter (low power) and tune it in with your scanner, as long as it can do Wide-FM. Now you are free from the headphone/earphone).
David Tse

What=CATV box auth.data
frequency=97.5-110
hello all, want to listen to the data that tell your CATV box what to do, e.g. ( turn on a pay-per-view event, etc, turn off box, channel map data ,etc)here are some freq's
JERROLD 97.5, 106.5, 108.5 (108.5 being most common)
PIONEER 110.0SCI.
ATL. 97.5, 106.5, 108.5 (108.5 being most common)

What=crashsounds
frequency=0 to 0.2
well its quite easy. Turn your scanning radio of and throw it, as far as possible, out of your window, and listen to the crash. It will not sound the same with each scanner. Some of the crash sounds may differ, for example, my yupiteru mvt 7100 made a very heavy sound around 11 khz, but it also could be heard arround 5 khz. My pro 43 sounded, while being smashed towards a wall at about 45mph, just the same as my portable telephone Hagenuk Homehandy CD. Check it out! its very easy...I¹m interested, how other scanners sound, smashed to hard equipment, or on the Floor or where ever you want..
Write to Olaf.May@t-online.de
Olaf May, Gustavstrasse 3, D 47226, GERMANY

[Is this a trick picked up from before the unification, Olaf? And what do Germans think of Norm McDonald?]

What=FBI drug busts
frequency=150.6000
I was watcing "Top Cops" one day and they were doing some sting operation or something. They were of course talking on their talkies and I saw one of the talkies. It said 150.6 or something like that. It's worth looking at. I don't hear much from it because I live here in a small town. No action here where I live. Dr M Brooks, wonder@uncc.campus.mci.net

[Mel, is that you?]

What=SCSI devices
frequency=107.8 - 108.1
You can listen to the chirping of that SCSI photo scanner connected to your pc with this really stupid trick. SCSI hard drives also send out a signal, and usually at 107.8MHz
Tom Oates, oatesjam@halcyon.com

What=Medical monitors
frequency=200-207 (15 khz interv)
Know those cigarette pack sized monitors people wear at thehospital? They are linked to a central monitor and use lowpower FM (actually NBFM) to relay patient data. Manufacturers: Nihon Kohden USA Fukuda Denshi USA Siemens Medical Systems Marquette Electronics of Minn.(call the above at their toll free, or check their web pages. They'll send you technical data also.) Listen in on your EKG.... Note: Scanners and cell phones are now prohibited in all hospitals per federal law. Probably a good idea since I'm sure you'd not be happy if you were hooked up to a monitor and someone was scrambling YOUR vital signs! More info on the probition of electronic devices in hospitals can be found in the American Association of Medical Instrumentation Homepage. (Virginia HQ)

What=weather
frequency=162.400-162.600
i got some weather chanals for you 162.550, 162.400, 162.475, 162.525 if you got any frequencies for phila PA area mail me at wildboy22 if you need any other numbers i got a whole bookcase full of them

What=unavailable frequencies
frequency=somewhere else on scanner
To listen to frequencies that you know exist, but are unable to program, simply find the IF frequency of the scanner and double the number. now whip out the calculator and add or subtract this number to/from the frequency (or band) you want to hear untill the result is in a band you CAN get. If the signal is strong enough (there is some loss) magically, it is now within your reach!! This also works when you find a new frequency that is not listed, but you can hear it OR if you get interference from someplace that is not listed for a frequency you are trying to hear, you can find out where it really comes from. You may be looking in the wrong place.
HackerJack of southwest Manitoba

What=Cable TV
frequency=148-174
By removeing my cable placeing it on my scanner I can here cable channels 18,19,20,21,22 on 148.750 154.750 158.750 and 163.750. Also by removeing the vcr cable in which the cable is hooked to the vcr and placing it on the scanner anntena and placeing it on 41.055 you can here all cable channels thought the vcr
Jason

What=Cable TV leaks
frequency=Any cable channel
Tune in any cable TV channel, 145.250 Mhz is usually a nice hot one, drive around and listen for some nice strong leaks. Then you can call your local cable co and tell them to fix their leaks, or if you are too cheap to get cable at home, park there with a cable ready tv and watch some shows! Of course if it leaks out, it leaks in also. Thats why they put things like C-Span on the ham frequencies. How many people in the neighborhood are going to complain when they start hearing some ham on C-Span?
A frustrated ham with a repeater on 145.250 Mhz

What=Your television
frequency=41.150-41.250
Set a search band around this area, because it will vary and you can listen to the tv without turning up the volume. It only plays the sound from what channel you are watching...
Damon

What=warbles
frequency=445.400 plus others
In NATURAL WONDERS you list a frequency 455.400 that warbles when an earthquake is occurring. At RADIO SHACK, there is a Digital Multi-meter that has a PC interface. It is catalog # 22-168. Connect the DMM inputto the external speaker output of the scanner. Connect the special cable (supplied) from the DMM to the computer. Set the software to a scale that shows a varying frequency. You now have a seismograph. When there is no quake, there is a straight line or nearly so. When there is a quake you get the warble (or a varying frequency) an thus, a variation on the line the same as a seismograph.
PHILIP SBGL45A@PRODIGY.COM

What=Aircraft Transponders
frequency=1090 MHz
AM Mode, Like a short buzz from each aircraft as the ground radar illuminates each of them.
jleikhim@nettally.com

What=Inmarsat
frequency=1537 MHz
FM Mode. You can here Armed Forces Radio on this freq. You will need a preamplifier at your antenna. At least a 15dB gain antenna needed. TVRO Dish preferred. Point antenna to south east. Try a TVRO disg with a home made L-Band dipole at the feed point. If you hear AFRTS then tweak up the dish and tune up the band a bit.
jleikhim@nettally.com

What=Russians
frequency=266.8375
Tune around this freq in the FM mode at around 10:00 EDT. You will need a yagi or log periodic antenna. Point to the clark belt above Western Africa.Also try 254.100 MHz FM. You might not need much antenna for this one.I bet you hear a Columbian AM radio station. Why? Beats Me!!

What=YOUR CAR
frequency=EXACTLY ON 146.52
146.52 MHZ IS THE NATIONAL CALLING FREWQ FOR 2 MTR HAM RADIO AND MOST HAMS WILL MONITOR IT WHILE TRAVELING ACCROSS COUNTRY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT MOST BASE STATIONS AND OTHER MOBILE UNITS LISTEN FOR IT WHEN I PUT MY 2-METER RIG IN THE CAR I RECEIVE A CARRIER ON 146.52 EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A BIRDIE (UNWANTED SIGNAL) SO I CHANGED TO A DIFFERENT BRAND RADIO AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I THEN GOT MY PORTABLE HT AND WALKED AROUND THE CAR AND THE SIGNAL WOULD ONLY GET STRONGER IN THE CAR AROUND THE DASH AREA I STARTED DISSCONNECTING FUSES AND WHEN THE CLOCK WENT OFF ON THE FACTORY CAR RADIO THE CARRIER DISSAPERED THIS IS THE CIRCUIT THAT KEEPS THE CLOCK ON THE RIGT TIME WHEN YOU ARE NOT DRIVING THE CAR I CALLED THE CRYSLER DEALAR AND CONFIRMED IT THE CAR IS A DODGE 88 DIPLOMAT. WHATS REALLY FUNNY ME AND ANOTHER HAM DROVE AROUND FOR TWO HOURS WITH DF EQUIPMENT TRYING TO DETERMINE WHO WAS EITHER JAMMIING OR HAD A STUCK MIKE OR A REAL EMERGENCY ON THE TWO METER HAH RADIO CALLING FREQ 146.52 BY THE WAY YOU HAVE A GREAT WEB PAGE I RUN THE ONLY UHF HAM REPETER IN HAMMOND IND 444.750 I HAVE BEEN ARRESTED TWICE FOR HAVING A SCANNER IN MY CAR IN IND THATS ANOTHER STORY GOOD LUCK THANKS ,DON AAAANFFD
DON L CROZIER KA9QJG

[Thanks Don, and good luck with that stuck Caps Lock key. Sorry to hear of your arrest, but luckily they dropped that felony run-on sentence charge. ;) ]

What=traffic
frequency=450.000 to 460.000
YOU CAN HEAR TRAFFIC INFORMATION A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT GOES ON THE AIR. MAYBE A FEW MINUTES IS WHAT YOU NEED TO GET OFF AT THAT LAST ALTERNATE AROUND THE BACKUP. I LIVE IN ATLANTA AND LISTEN TO WSB AM 750 CAPTAIN HERB EMORY. AFTER SOME LISTENING I CALLED HIM FOR MORE FREQUENCIES AND HE ASKED IF I WOULD LIKE TO BE A TRAFFIC TROOPER. SO I WENT AND BOUGHT A UHF RADIO AND SET IT FOR THEIR FREQUENCIES. NOW I HAVE MY OWN UNIT NUMBER (425).
PICKUP MAN

Just thought I'd let you know another earthquake sensor freq from here in the San Gabriel Valley. 144.29 when there is ground motion has the same kind of warbling sound you described. There is also a voice ID that comes on every once in a while. I believe the transmitter is located in Temple City and it comes in loud and clear (no s-meter) here in Pasadena.
From: Don Woodford

I used my scanner once to listen to the 72-78MHz transmitters used by radio controlled planes and cars. You can hear the modulation and phase of the signal change as you move the throttle, steering wheel, etc. joysticks. Kind of a wierd yawww-eeee-yawwww-eeee sound.

You can also tune your scanner to the clock frequency of your computer CPU or some multiple of it (i.e., 25MHz 486). You can then hear the disk accessing, if you hit it right you can even hear the data being passed around inside as you move the mouse and start a program. You are basically hearing the digital hash being radiated by the circuitry. Our microwave oven runs at 2100MHz or so. I tuned my scanner to about half that (1050) and could kinda hear the magnetron buzzing. Not real clear though.

I once tuned in our radio garage door opener. I think it was around 300MHz or so. Could hear the security code chirping.Also found the frequency of the keyless remote for my car. It is up in the 900MHz range, forgot exact frequency. Could hear coded data burst also.

The electrical system of my car, especially the car radio, beeps at about 32-33MHz when the car first turns on, or after it turns off (the radio beeps reminding me to take it out - it's detachable).

You can cause clicks on the scanned frequency if you are close enough (around 100') to a radio with your scanner. Try scanning the frequency directly or doubling it and then subtracting the IF frequency of your scanner - and internal frequency of noise that your scanner emits.