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Author Topic: What's up with the local chatter on Aviation Emergency FREQ 121.500MHz AM in WV?  (Read 1099 times)

Offline ThaDood

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As long as I have had scanner radios, capable of RX'ing Aviation VHF AM, I have always had two FREQ's programmed, the chit-chat FREQ 123.450MHz, and the Emergency FREQ 121.500MHz. For decades, I wouldn't hear anything on 121.500MHz. Well, about 15 years ago, in WNY, I heard what sounded like a teen beat-boxing on there. (Some kid got Daddy's Aviation HT?) I've always heard chatter on 123.450MHz, some of that being pretty entertaining to listen to. However, this year, I am hearing all sorts of number exchange chatter on 121.500MHz. None of it sounding emergency-like to me. I would assume that these numbers are flight numbers, but why use a known Emergency FREQ to do so? This is SW West Virginia. Is anyone else hearing these? 
“I am often asked how radio works. Well, you see, wire telegraphy
is like a very long cat. You yank his tail in New York and he
meows in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? Now, radio is
exactly the same, except that there is no cat.”
-Attributed to Albert Einstein, but I ripped it from the latest Splatter .PDF March 2025 issue.

Offline Rob.

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I would hazard a guess that the music might have been from one of those higher powered, made in China, FM transmitters. You just might be slope detecting one of the spurs.

https://www.amazon.com/Transmitter-Broadcast-Station-Church-Professional/dp/B0C3CHKNMY

No clue on the numbers exchange.
- Rob

CT/MA border
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