The scanner mega-thread

[Col_Rugby]

Originally Posted by snett fan55

Thanks Col Rugby,
after seeing your post I went and bought one!Have to say it was hard work as the Maplin staff seemed to know less than I did.But I used it at CSCC meeting this sunday(6th) and it made me very aware of the background efforts/organisation.Silly,really,after all I've only been a spectator for the last 40 years....

Glad to be of help. Hope it continues to enhance your viewing pleasure at many more meetings.

[johngee]

I don't have a problem with anyone having scanners out on post - anything that improves communication has to be a good thing as long as the information gained in this way doesn't cut across procedures and the 'chain of command'. Obviously there is no control over scanners being used in public areas, which is exactly why we need to be very careful and correct in our radio procedures. I think you'll now find (at my meetings anyway ) that 'confidential information' relating to injuries etc. is now conveyed by mobile phone - not totally secure but the best we have.

[Chrisbie]

gentle with me , Im a newbie.
I have posted this in the marshalls forum as I think you guys may know the answer. I spectate at various circuits and I bought myself a small scanner at the beginning of this season. I now understand what a well organised bunch of people you are. It gives me a great insight into how much you do and just how quickly you act.
However..
I am very aware that some of the information you broadcast can be sensitive and as such I always wear an earpiece and never let anyone else know what I hear. I can imagine the distress it could cause if someone overheard that "car 51 has had an off" when their loved one is driving it.
Today at Oulton Park I overheard the scanner of another spectator that was load, it could clearly be heard some distance away from him. He may have been doing this so his friends etc. could hear it.
This is clearly at least thoughtless but is it more than this ?
Is it illegal?

[CombeMarshal]

Like you said, probably not the best etiquate (S?), but as long as it was a scanner and not a 2way radio then, in the eyes of the law there is nothing wrong with it, drivers condition should not be obviously transmitted anyway.
this is where phones win over radios, even worse when you get local farmers on your reserved frequency grrrrr

[Mark Mitchell]

Oulton used to (Still Does?) pick up conversation from the nearby Shopping Centre Security people.

I recall one day being Observer on the Pit Straight and hearing (On the radio) that "He's done a runner and threatening to jump from the balcony!" At first I thought the Clerk was just having a bad day!

[rotorboy]

I've been marshaling for 4 years and always use a scanner, mainly for my own interest. Also useful at Silverstone for advising your I/O that he's causing an open line...;o)))
Having said that you should never react to what you hear over the air, your I/O or Observer is your post chief and should always be the one in charge of any response to events.

[CombeMarshal]

agree 99% with you there, unless what you over hear is 'release cars from pit lane' has saved me before when getting no other warning of early release of cars!!!!!

[tubbylardo]

Is it illegal?

Perfectly legal.

[cornish git]

chinese takeaway at brands hatch, you can always order your food,scanners can be a good thing when you are out the back at b/h and thruxton,so long as you donot act on what you hear.thy are a good tool,and some off the radio you pick up can keep you amused ,but not everone has one so when hear thing and start laughing ,you are not mad .

[tubbylardo]

Besides having a scanner at Brands you can listen to the banter between Sue and the Rescue Unit...

[CombeMarshal]

yeah, sometimes at the wrong time! tut tut!

[thepits!]

Originally Posted by tubbylardo

Is it illegal?

Perfectly legal.

1/ Marshalling - Provided you don't act on it.
2/ The rest of the world - Provided you don't act on it for gain.

[Guinness2702]

Originally Posted by CombeMarshal

agree 99% with you there, unless what you over hear is 'release cars from pit lane' has saved me before when getting no other warning of early release of cars!!!!!

And don't forget the occasional, 'car on fire' just around the corner that you can't see and can go along and help with, as happened to me, last weekend.

[hamsteruk23]

Good job that there was no car '51' at the meeting yesterday !!!! Or maybe they have numberwanged themselves !!!

[PVDA]

Originally Posted by Mark Mitchell

I recall one day being Observer on the Pit Straight and hearing (On the radio) that "He's done a runner and threatening to jump from the balcony!" At first I thought the Clerk was just having a bad day!

Did you offer to assist said CoC by applying a small amount of pressure to his back

There was a certain Sector Marshal (I/O in pommie speak) who hated Scanners with a passion until at one event I wandered up to him and said "You do realise you are transmiting your conversation on your radio at the moment don't you"
He jumped up out of his chair which released the radio PTT button and the person in Race Control (who knew me well) said "What did you tell him that for Paul, the conversation was just starting to get interesting".

Strangely enough he hasn't had a problem with Scanners since.

[BSA Susie]

I'm a flaggie and have used a scanner for the last 4 years and find in invaluable. I never act on the info heard but it does help to let you get ready and know what is going on where you can't see the whole of the circuit.
No sensitive info is ever put over the radio, any medical info is in code anyway or if CMO uses his phone instead.
Chief marshals I have talked to also see their benefits but have stopped short on my recommendation of publishing the frequencies in final instructions. I hate those first few minutes of the meeting trying to find the channel if it is not the normal ones.

[The STIG]

Originally Posted by BSA Susie

Chief marshals I have talked to also see their benefits but have stopped short on my recommendation of publishing the frequencies in final instructions. I hate those first few minutes of the meeting trying to find the channel if it is not the normal ones.

Susie, do you know that marshals post has a list of frequencies for each circuit? or at least a few of them?

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by The STIG

Susie, do you know that marshals post has a list of frequencies for each circuit? or at least a few of them?

..and anyone can add to it.

[Stack]

Originally Posted by thepits!

1/ Marshalling - Provided you don't act on it.

Several occasions I have.....

Loose parts/loosing fluid on cars-prewarned to look for said offender.
Cars on track/last car after finish- know when to get off/on the track.
Green flag lap- useful when some races do and some don't.
Safety car deployed-time to hunt for the SC board.
Car going round on fire- recently at Rockingham, ready with bottle.

Many more as well including a shout from assembly at Mallory that a car had an oil leak on its way to the grid. I was on post 1 and was able to go up and lend a hand looking under cars and when found, pushing car from grid saving a lot of time.

The only time it is a no,no is if you hear "race stop" don't hang out the red flag. This could be a post chief asking for a race stoppage.

On the red flag debate, if you have a clear veiw of the red flag being displayed at the start/finish line even though you are not on the next up/down track post can you display a red on your post or should you wait for the post before/after yours to display one?

[Asp]

Originally Posted by Stack

Loose parts/loosing fluid on cars-prewarned to look for said offender.
Cars on track/last car after finish- know when to get off/on the track.
Green flag lap- useful when some races do and some don't.
Safety car deployed-time to hunt for the SC board.
Car going round on fire- recently at Rockingham, ready with bottle.

I'd say (with the exception of cars on track/last car) that they're more preparing than acting.
When you hear about the SC being deployed you find the board and get ready. Similarly, there's nothing wrong when hearing "Red Flag" over the scanner about finding the red flag and keeping your eyes peeled for the other posts / lights. Acting would be putting the board out.

That all said, I too have acted on my scanner - in the pits at the Birkett relay when sending out a replacement car. Hand signals down the pitlane from someone with a proper radio confirmed that I had got the right car! - so you're right, it's not quite as black and white a rule as you may thing.

On the red flag debate, if you have a clear veiw of the red flag being displayed at the start/finish line even though you are not on the next up/down track post can you display a red on your post or should you wait for the post before/after yours to display one?

I've always been taught that you need to clearly identify a red flag or a red light - no matter where it comes from. As long as you're completely sure it is a red flag!

[CombeMarshal]

The red flag should be displayed under instruction of the CofC, some tracks have a buzzer, Pembrey that works very well, but commonly it will start from the start line, so as long as you see it there then yeah, display it, Or if radios are in use you maybe instructed over that, just stick it out, but not from conversations heard on a scanner!
Oh, and never call the change of surface flag the yellow and red flag incase you get broken transmission and hear just red flag!

[Shelagh]

As far as I am concerned, the scanner is just another piece of information - and why, when it is available to the spectator, is it not available to me on the bank?

The big thing is that it is used in an advisory/informational capacity, eg you hear something that suggests "better get ready with the red flag", but you only put the flag out when it should be shown. Sometimes the moment's preparation can make all the difference, ie the flag is out sooner than it might have been if you had to scrabble for it rather than have it ready in your hand - and that can make a whole lot of difference.

I note that some of the instructions no longer refer to "not having scanners" - have some organising clubs moved into the modern age?

[HairyDJ]

A short list of recommended (or warning off the poor ones) radio kit would be a useful addition - if you head to Maplins or elsewhere, the choice can be quite wide, as are the prices!

I ended up getting a Maycom AR-108 based on an old thread on here - sometimes gets discounted down from 60-70 quid to about 40-50. I like it for it's tiny size & battery life, but hadn't realised that it wouldn't cover down to some of the rally frequencies - looking for a recommendation for a good bit of kit to cover that range too please!

One (hopefully obvious) scanner point is to only use via earpieces - nice to share with your neighbours, but likely to cause a feedback loop if the IO nearby transmits and you are on speaker mode.

[bludvl_x19]

Just a little OT, but isn't the red flag (and anything else the same colour) referred to on the radio network as the 'tomato' coloured flag or similar? That way, the only time you should hear the word red is when you hear "red flag, red flag, red flag' to avoid any broken transmissions, mis hearings etc?

Michael

[PVDA]

Originally Posted by bludvl_x19

Just a little OT, but isn't the red flag (and anything else the same colour) referred to on the radio network as the 'tomato' coloured flag or similar? That way, the only time you should hear the word red is when you hear "red flag, red flag, red flag' to avoid any broken transmissions, mis hearings etc?

Thing to remember Mick is that the majority of people who post in this part of 10/10ths aren't in Australia so what we do down here may not apply "up there" but you are right various "Codes" have been established to make radio calls easier & quicker.