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[last changed 09-Dec-99]
See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge The latest version of this file can be accessed via my web page at: http://www.rdrop.com/users/billmc FCC License Data Sources Bill McFadden billmc@agora.rdrop.com Changes preceeded by "|". Please e-mail corrections and additions to me. INTRODUCTION This is a list of FCC license data sources available to scanner hobbyists. The FCC master contains a wealth of data about every non-federal-government license in the United States (over three million records). Many of the sources listed contain a subset of this data, although some contain all or nearly all of it. Federal government licenses are not administered by the FCC, and the data is not available to the public. Also available are subscription services from companies like ISI and CET. Since they charge by the minute, they are not really practical for the hobbyist and hence are not included in this list. Prices are rounded to the nearest dollar and include shipping, if known. Another listing of FCC databases has been compiled by Rich Wells at: http://www.strongsignals.net/htm/fccfrqdb.htm ----- WEB-SEARCHABLE DATABASES ----- You can search the FCC master for free from these web sites: | https://haifoss.fcc.gov/beta/genmen/index.hts http://www.perconcorp.com/db_srch.htm ----- DOWNLOADABLE DATABASES ----- SCANWARE ASSOCIATES ScanWare Associates has developed a PC-based database program called the FCC Frequency Retrieval System. FCC data for all states is available, covering all services and all frequencies. However, it is not being updated frequently. Scanware has chosen to discontinue developing this software, but the good news is that the software and data are now FREE! It is being hosted by the West Virginia Educational Network. See: | http://ednet.wvsc.edu/~fcc ----- PURCHASABLE DATA ----- BETTY BEARCAT The Bearcat Radio Club sells FCC data in several forms. The Betty Bearcat series of regional directories covers US public service frequencies in 8 volumes. Also available is the Betty Bearcat CD-ROM that contains public service data for the entire US and a DOS-based database search program. Betty Bearcat directories are $17 each, and the CD-ROM is $27. They are available from The Hobby Radio Stop at 937-299-6440 (info), 800-423-1331 (orders), or http://www.bearcat1.com/scanners.htm. C.E.T. CET sells records of all stations inside a 30-mile radius for $80. (Major cities cost extra.) A 70-mile search costs $178. The data is provided on floppy disks and is available in ASCII columnar and comma-delimited formats. CET does not provide data for licenses that do not contain specific geographic coordinates (i.e., mobile-only systems) or specific operating frequencies (e.g., amateur radio). To do the search, CET requires the latitude and longitude of the center of the 30-mile radius. I calculated mine from a USGS topographic map I obtained at a local nautical supply store. Alternatively, you can obtain the coordinates for your town from the US Census Bureau at http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/gazetteer/. For my area, the server returned the coordinates of the main post office. CET can be reached at 800-445-0297. CSP TECHNOLOGIES CSP Technologies sells FCC data on CD-ROM. ScannerBase covers the entire US and comes with a database search program. ScannerBase used to cost $34 but is now being sold for $4 a copy while supplies last! In addition, the newest version, Scannerbase XE, is available for free download from CSP's web site. CSP Technologies can be reached at 888-857-4240 (voice) or http://www.csp-tech.com/. GROVE Grove sells FCC data on CD-ROM and floppy. The CD-ROM covers the entire US and is available with or without mapping support. The mapping version brings up a map with the requested station plotted on it. The regular version is $104, and the mapping version is $174. Floppies are available by state for $44 per state (add $10 for CA, FL, TX). The disk comes with a database search program. Grove Enterprises can be reached at 800-438-8155 (voice) or http://www.grove.net/. MR. SCANNER Mr. Scanner offers custom printouts of public service frequencies by county, or the entire FCC master for a city or town. Also available is public service data on floppy disk and a CD-ROM of all FCC data for the entire US. The floppy disks and CD-ROM come with a database search program. County printouts are $4 each, and city printouts are $6 each. Floppies are $25 for the first state, and $10 for each additional state. The CD-ROM is $37. They are available from The Hobby Radio Stop at 937-299-6440 (info), 800-423-1331 (orders), http://www.bearcat1.com/mrscan.htm (printouts), or http://www.bearcat1.com/menu09.htm (disks). PERCON PerCon sells FCC data on CD-ROM. The Spectrum CD covers the entire US and comes with a simple database search program. Regional CDs cover subsets of the US but come with a more powerful database manager and provide more detail about each license. Also available is a Ham callsign and repeater database CD. Spectrum costs $37, and the Ham and Repeater Database is $22. Regional CDs are $137 for the first CD, $102 each additional CD ($560 for the entire 6 CD set). Data is updated twice a year. PerCon can be reached at 716-386-6015 (voice), 716-386-6013 (fax), support@perconcorp.com, or http://www.perconcorp.com. The Spectrum database can be searched free of charge via Percon's WWW page. POLICE CALL This is probably the most cost-effective source of public service license information. The detail is limited, but the information that is there is often more useful than the FCC master. For example, an entry in Police Call that reads, "Portland Police, Net 3, North Precinct," reads, "Portland, City of" in the master. Police Call has been merged with its sister publication, Beyond Police Call, and now includes a limited selection of business listings. Police call is available in 9 volumes covering different regions of the US. It can be purchased at Radio Shack stores for $13 per volume. PRO DATA Pro Data is a database manager program for license data. It does not come with its own data but can import data from APF, Percon, ScanWare, and UFDBF database files. Pro Data costs $60. For more information, write to prodata1@gte.net, or visit http://home1.gte.net/prodata1/index.htm. RADIOMAP SERVICE Developed by long-time Usenet contributor Bob Parnass, this service provides a custom report of frequencies, callsigns, and licensee names for a specified area in any of the 50 states. Coverage areas of 4 to 256 square miles will be chosen by Bob depending on transmitter site density. Standard and deluxe reports are available. Both reports include a color plot with transmitter sites marked. The deluxe report adds a custom frequency allocation histogram, a 0 - 1,000 MHz "spectrum analyzer-like" display showing spectrum usage by the transmitters in the map coverage area. To create the report, Bob requires the latitude and longitude (or nearest street intersection) of the center location. Standard reports are $29.95, and deluxe reports are $34.95. Write to Bob Parnass at 2350 Douglas Rd, Oswego, IL, 60543; call him at 630-554-3839 between 6-10 PM central time; or visit http://www.megsinet.com/~parnass. APPENDIX Here is table of data fields in the FCC master. Fields provided by various products are indicated by "#" or the field length, if known. PERCON PERCON POLICE SCAN DESCRIPTION SIZE CET GROVE SPECTRUM REGION CALL WARE CSP Frequency (or Lower Limit) 16 11 12 16 16 # 11 # Upper Frequency Limit 16 16 11 Callsign 10 8 10 10 10 # 10 # Service Code 2 2 2 2 2 # 2 # Licensee DBA Name 40 32 40 30 40 # 40 # Licensee State 2 2 2 2 # Licensee Zip 9 5 9 9 # Licensee Address 35 30 35 Licensee City 20 15 12 20 20 # Licensee Name 200 100 Applicant Phone 10 10 Transmitter Latitude 6 6 6 6 6 6 # Transmitter Longitude 7 7 7 7 7 7 # Transmitter Elevation 5 5 5 5 # Transmitter Height 5 5 5 5 Transmitter HAAT 5 5 5 Transmitter Effective Height 5 5 5 TX Antenna Structure Height 5 5 5 Transmitter Address 80 80 Transmitter City 20 10 20 20 # 20 # Transmitter County 30 10 20 20 30 30 # Transmitter State 2 2 2 2 2 # 2 # Class of Station 4 4 4 4 # 4 # Type of Message Service 1 1 Area of Operation 1 1 Radius of Operation 4 4 4 Antenna Type 10 10 Antenna Elevation Angle 6 6 Antenna Azimuth 6 6 Antenna Polarization 3 3 3 Antenna Gain 4 4 Antenna Path Length 6 6 Antenna Beam Width 8 8 ERP Out 8 4 8 8 ERP Units 2 1 2 ERP Indicator 1 1 Power Out 8 4 8 8 Power Out Units 2 1 2 Power Out Indicator 1 1 Emissions 15 15 15 License Issue Date 6 6 License Expiration Date 6 4 6 # Operation Begin Time 4 4 Operation End Time 4 4 Number of Vehicle Mobiles 4 4 4 4 # 4 # Number of Portable Mobiles 4 4 4 4 # 4 Number of Aircraft Mobiles 4 4 4 4 # 4 Number of Marine Mobiles 4 4 4 4 # 4 Number of Pager Mobiles 5 4 5 5 5 Originating Database ID 1 1 Authorization Type 1 1 CP Authorization Number 2 2 Area of Operation Descript. 100 100 Paint & Lighting Specs 33 33 Special Conditions 100 100 TX Latitude Direction 1 1 TX Longitude Direction 1 1 Type of Last Contact 1 1 Date of Last Contact 6 6 Number of Units 4 4 Reverse Azimuth 6 Path Connection Latitude 6 Path Connection Longitude 7 CP = Construction Permit, ERP = Effective Radiated Power, HAAT = Height Above Average Terrain -- Bill McFadden billmc@agora.rdrop.com http://www.rdrop.com/users/billmc There's a newbie born every minute. -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 80,000 Newsgroups - 16 Different Servers! =----- User Contributions:
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Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:12 PM
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