The scanner mega-thread

[Slipstick]

I had a scanner after my second meeting. I appreciate the theory that your PC or IO will tell you anything you need to know....but sometimes in the real world when they're nice and dry in the box and I'm soaking wet and 50m away on the other side of the track I quite like knowing e.g. cars on circuit, last car past the chequer etc. without having to rely on them .

Steve

[Heardy1982]

I am in my second year of marshalling and was considering getting a scanner. I have made a personal choice for now not to get one. As concerned it will be a distraction and might be listening to the radio and miss a car coming towards more. Although at times I have thought why is there a safety car or red flag but usually my post chief or i.o has said a few minutes later or sooner why something has happened or the last car to take chequered flag.

[mattthompson79]

Just finished my first year and haven't found not having a scanner a disadvantage. Anything I've needed to know has been relayed to me and I feel that when dealing with an incident it's important to just concentrate on that.

If you're in earshot of the tannoys then I find the circuit commentary really helps and actually livens up the racing. Anything to help with six car field, three hour race in the middle of October!!!!!

In fact I'd say the most off putting thing for a new marshal is where everyone else on post has scanners and this is all they seem to discuss. Find it incredibly rude and sets the wrong impression. On the basis of this, when circuits do move to digital and only those who need it have access, then things will be better.

[Slipstick]

Each to his/her own. When or if I find that I am no longer allowed to know anything about what's happening around the circuit I will no longer be marshalling. I've never regarded being kept ignorant as an advantage. At work we used to call that "mushroom management" .

Steve

[skeee]

I've never understood why so many are against scanners. Maybe because for years, I had a PM radio at work I've never found a scanner distracting but I can appreciate it may not be a good idea for the first few months of marshaling. But when you're stuck out in the woods or down in the Bombhole at Snett etc they're invaluable not just for you but for the entire post.
Sometimes even when the marshal channel is digital the 'other' rescue/safety car channel could be open, so the scanner is still useful.

If you're not in hurry maybe wait a few months as some might sell theirs as more circuits stop using open channels.

[FRENCHIE44T]

Originally Posted by khisanth

Hi all

I am sorry in advance if this has already been covered in an earlier post

My sister has just started marshaling. I would like to buy her a scanner for Christmas so she can listen to the marshals radio and maybe the commentaries. Someone advised that circuits are now starting to go digital.

Any advice on scanners or what other marshals use would be greatly appreciated

Dont take this the wrong way, but if your sister is a NEW Marshal and I was asked to spend the day with her on the bank and saw she has a scanner, I would refuse.

[Beej1]

Originally Posted by mattthompson79

Just finished my first year and haven't found not having a scanner a disadvantage. Anything I've needed to know has been relayed to me and I feel that when dealing with an incident it's important to just concentrate on that.

If you're in earshot of the tannoys then I find the circuit commentary really helps and actually livens up the racing. Anything to help with six car field, three hour race in the middle of October!!!!!

In fact I'd say the most off putting thing for a new marshal is where everyone else on post has scanners and this is all they seem to discuss. Find it incredibly rude and sets the wrong impression. On the basis of this, when circuits do move to digital and only those who need it have access, then things will be better.

I couldn't agree more, just finishing my first year in orange and luckily I have only had 1 bad day but that day felt like I was on post on my own. I was handed some flags and left in the box on my own. (makes you learn quickly though I suppose, although I wouldn't know if I was right or wrong).

I would say OP, if you do ever use a scanner, don't use it as an excuse to ignore people, use it as an aid and make sure you share your new found information with the group.

[Shelagh]

It took me years to get a scanner but I did find it useful when I had it - for information only: Why's there a Red Flag, How long will clearing up take, etc....

Like anything, it is how you use it. I agree that being on post with folks who are so wrapped up in their earpieces is no good. You don't communicate and therefore don't learn.

And, having done jobs requiring radios, I hate them.

[Bryan Degerlund]

Originally Posted by Shelagh

It took me years to get a scanner but I did find it useful when I had it - for information only: Why's there a Red Flag, How long will clearing up take, etc....

Like anything, it is how you use it. I agree that being on post with folks who are so wrapped up in their earpieces is no good. You don't communicate and therefore don't learn.

And, having done jobs requiring radios, I hate them.

Sheila, very first words to me when we first met, in the Britcar 24hr Assembly area at Silverstone -- "Hello, I'm Sheila, can you take the radio".

[Mike Kelly 1]

Ive been marshalling since 1997 and have never had a scanner. I dont plan on buying / obtaining one either!

[Shelagh]

Originally Posted by Bryan Degerlund

Sheila, very first words to me when we first met, in the Britcar 24hr Assembly area at Silverstone -- "Hello, I'm Sheila, can you take the radio".

You're right, Bryan. I hate them (radios)!

Pity we didn't have any fire extinguishers, eh? But you live and learn, especially at our age!

And, despite it being us plus Alan Tyson's Mum, we blinking well got all those cars out onto the grid every time. So if that doesn't earn us all a pat on the back big time then I don't know what would!

That's another story to dine off.

[Shelagh]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly 1

Ive been marshalling since 1997 and have never had a scanner. I dont plan on buying / obtaining one either!

Mike Kelly doesn't need a scanner. He just has to be there for it all to happen around him.

[Shelagh]

And has Mike Kelly "only" been marshalling since 1997. You babe!

Why does it seem so much longer?

[Mike Kelly 1]

Originally Posted by Shelagh

Mike Kelly doesn't need a scanner. He just has to be there for it all to happen around him.

[Jordan.bird]

Hi there,

Hope you guys can help me.

Can you send me a list of up to date track frequencies.

Thanks

Jordan

[Terrible-Tones]

Silverstone is entirely digital - just to let you know.

[bardy66]

Here is a list of frequencies, I suspect some are no longer used but some may be of use:- Scanner Frequencies
Aintree 165.1625
Blyton Rally Cross 169.3375
Brands Hatch 169.3375
Cadwell Park 169.3375
Castle Combe 169.3375
Croft 165.2125
Donington Park 166.7625
Donington Park 169.0125
Donington Park 169.3375
Lydden Hill 169.3375
Mallory Park 169.3375
Oulton Park 169.3375
Rockingham 169.3375 With Tone Lock
Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb 169.2250
Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb 167.2000
Silverstone 167.9750 main e.s.
Silverstone 169.8375 Pits
Silverstone 169.2125 Paddock
Silverstone 169.0625 e.s.2
Silverstone plus various other for yellow/ blue flags etc.
Snetterton 169.3375
Thruxton 169.3375

[PabloTeK]

Originally Posted by Terrible-Tones

Silverstone is entirely digital - just to let you know.

No it's not.

[Terrible-Tones]

Originally Posted by PabloTeK

No it's not.

I meant for all practical purposes

and stop winking at me, people will get the wrong idea LOL

[flag01]

There is a good meeting at Wadwell park on the 24july

[Slipstick]

There's one at Cadwell Park too...but I'm not sure what it has to do with radio frequencies ?

Steve

[j_hampton2000]

For most events they use a digital DMR radio system.

For large events (such as F1 and WEC) they bring in a digital MRTC system.

But for smaller club events they use an analogue MRTC system, on the following frequencies:

165.9875 & 170.7875
166.4000 & 171.2000
166.5625 & 171.3625
166.7000 & 171.5875
166.9750 & 171.7500

[Terrible-Tones]

Originally Posted by j_hampton2000

For most events they use a digital DMR radio system.

For large events (such as F1 and WEC) they bring in a digital MRTC system.

But for smaller club events they use an analogue MRTC system, on the following frequencies:

165.9875 & 170.7875
166.4000 & 171.2000
166.5625 & 171.3625
166.7000 & 171.5875
166.9750 & 171.7500

Assuming you mean Silverstone?

If so then ES channel (i.e. Incident Officers, Breakdown etc) is always digital, even for small club meetings. This is by virtue that the circuit own and use their own system for this purpose. The exception seems to be the GP where a hired system is bought in, but it is also digital.

The Flag/Observers channel will mostly depend on the incoming club, who will supply their own radio system, or use the existing telephone network.

Pablotek will correct if needed, but I am fairly sure BRSCC have used a digital system for the last couple of years. I am not quite sure what 750 use, but it tends to extend only to Specialist areas, not circuit wide afaict. Some clubs, such as VSCC don't suppy radios, so use the existing landline stuff on circuit for PC's.

[PabloTeK]

Originally Posted by Terrible-Tones

Pablotek will correct if needed, but I am fairly sure BRSCC have used a digital system for the last couple of years. I am not quite sure what 750 use, but it tends to extend only to Specialist areas, not circuit wide afaict. Some clubs, such as VSCC don't suppy radios, so use the existing landline stuff on circuit for PC's.

Depends, we have our own analogue radios but for the larger meetings generally MRTC give us some shiny new digital ones!

[Terrible-Tones]

Originally Posted by PabloTeK

Depends, we have our own analogue radios but for the larger meetings generally MRTC give us some shiny new digital ones!

Ta