Clipboard Organiser – Portable Radio Carrying Goes “Low Profile”

I was at Bunnings. Not looking for a new radio case. I never am…

But sitting there on the shelf was a Tactix Clipboard Organiser. And instantly I was transported back a few years. I used one of these many years ago for my Ultralight DXing radios, and for that role it worked brilliantly. Slim. Practical. Tough enough. I hadn’t seen them around for a while, and I’d honestly forgotten how good they were.

Then I did what any radio tragic would do. I pulled out the Pro-107 I happened to have with me. Quick test fit. And that was the moment. With the internal clipboard divider removed, I realised something interesting:

- Pro-107 fits
- Uniden UBC93XLT fits
- Room for accessories
- Antennas, batteries, charger, leads
- Still closes properly

That was enough justification for me. Into the trolley it went.

Why This Works So Well
The beauty of this case is in what it doesn’t look like.
It’s not a Pelican case.
It’s not a bright orange toolbox.
It’s not “radio guy with gear”.
It’s a clipboard.
Builders, electricians and tradespeople carry these everywhere. That means:
It blends in.
It doesn’t scream “expensive equipment”.
It allows for more relaxed, up-close monitoring in public environments.
That low-profile advantage is underrated.

Features That Make It Ideal
- Solid Writing Surface: When closed, you’ve got a proper clipboard. Logging frequencies, jotting down callsigns, noting signal strength, all easy and stable.

-Enough Protection: It’s rigid plastic with over-moulded corners. Not bomb-proof, but more than adequate for scanners in a backpack.

-Internal Storage Space: There’s depth inside for. Telescopic antennas, Spare batteries, Charger, Patch leads, Earphones, Small tools and it still remains slim.

- Backpack Friendly: It slides straight into a standard backpack without bulk. That’s huge for portable scanning.

The Build Process
Once home, it was time to customise.
First step:
Remove the internal clipboard divider.
Then I grabbed some pine lengths I’d picked up at the same time. These became my internal dividers.

Cut pine to size
Covered them in black duct tape
Installed as internal partitions
Added bubble wrap to protect radio screens
Secured everything with more black duct tape
Added a Velcro strap, to keep it safely closed.

Simple. Cheap. Effective.
No 3D printing.
No laser cutting.
No overthinking.
Just practical DIY.
The end result?
It ticks all the boxes.

What It Now Holds
Currently inside:
- RadioShack Pro-107
- Uniden UBC93XLT
- Batteries & charger
- Telescopic antenna
- Earphones
- Leads and small accessories

Everything has its place.
No rattling.
No screen damage.
No digging around in a bag.

Loggings - 09/02/2026

118.70000 - TOWER-LTON

120.70000 - FIA-DEVONPORT

123.45000 - AIR SIMP

123.80000 - ATC-LTON APPROACH

123.95000 - FIA-NW

125.55000 - ATC HOBART

126.50000 - ATC-NORTH

126.70000 - CTAF

127.30000 - CTAF-GT

129.50000 - QANTAS

130.22500 - JETSTAR-LTON

130.35000 - VELOCITY

146.40000 - VK7RAA INPUT

147.00000 - VK7RAA 2M Repeater

156.35000 - MARINE

156.37500 - MARINE VHF 67

156.42500 - MARINE WEATHER

156.60000 - MARINE VHF 12

156.70000 - MARINE VHF 14

156.80000 - MARINE VHF 16

161.07500 - ARTEC

162.15000 - TASRAIL

162.37500 - TASRAIL-MILLERS BLUFF

162.50000 - BORAL

162.52500 - TASRAIL

162.55000 - TASRAIL

162.60000 - TASRAIL-DAZZLER

162.61250 - TASRAIL MT ARTHUR

162.67500 - TASRAIL-MILLERS2

438.05000 - VK7RBH 70CM Repeater

438.55000 - VK7RJG 70CM Repeater

463.02500 - LCC QVMAG(D)

464.27500 - METRO ABLES

464.37500 - METRO FREELANDS

474.12500 - WARREN J SPEERS

476.42500 - UHF CB CH 1

476.45000 - UHF CB 02

476.47500 - UHF CB CH 3

476.50000 - UHF CB CH 4

476.55000 - UHF CB CH 6

476.60000 - UHF CB CH 8

476.82500 - UHF CB CH 17

476.85000 - UHF CB 18 (TIP)

476.90000 - UHF CB CH 20

477.07500 - UHF CB CH 27

477.10000 - UHF CB CH 28

477.13750 - UHF CB CH 69

477.16250 - UHF CB CH 70

477.20000 - UHF CB CH 32

477.30000 - UHF CB CH 36

477.35000 - UHF CB CH 38

477.40000 - UHF CB CH 40

477.41250 - UHF CB CH 80

488.55000 - CSE CROSS COM

494.92500 - LAUNCESTON AQUATIC CENTRE

Weekend Away Playing Radios in the North East of Tasmania - 07/02/2026 - 08/02/2026

Sometimes the best radio adventures happen when you mix a change of scenery, a quiet RF environment, and a bit of flexibility. This weekend in Tasmania’s north-east ticked all those boxes, a short getaway where my wife and I both got to enjoy our own hobbies, while I managed some truly memorable radio listening.

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Saturday – Ringarooma River

Saturday was spent at the Ringarooma River, with my wife happily fossicking along the riverbed. While she searched for gems, I set myself up on the river bank with a portable radio setup.

This location turned out to be gold from an RF perspective. The lack of man-made noise, combined with open terrain and distance from major infrastructure, created ideal listening conditions. What followed was one of those rare sessions where the dial just keeps delivering.

The absolute highlight was my first ever logged DX on the 27 MHz CB band from the USA. Hearing American stations roll in on CB, from a quiet Tasmanian riverbank, was something I’d hoped for but never really expected.

Logged Stations – Ringarooma River (Saturday)

Frequency (MHz)	Callsign / Description
27.005	27 MHz CB
27.025	27 MHz CB
27.085	27 MHz CB
27.205	27 MHz CB
28.265	10 m Beacon (VK5WI)
118.7	TOWER-LTON
125.55	ATC Hobart
126.5	ATC-North
126.7	CTAF
130.35	Velocity
130.3	ATC Mt Tassie (VIC)
165.45	TASGRN Mt Horror (Data)
165.725	TASGRN Welbough Pass (Data)
414.075	TFS UHF Alarm (Data)
476.575	UHF CB Ch 7

For a casual setup while sitting by the river, this was an exceptional haul, and the USA CB reception alone made the day a personal milestone.

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Sunday – Mount Poimena (Blue Tier)

Sunday morning my wife headed off on a gem hunting tour, which gave me a perfect window to head up to Mount Poimena, the highest point on the Blue Tier at 816m ASL.

The drive and walk up are part of the experience, weaving between massive boulders and bushland before a short (about 20 minute) walk to the summit. Along the way I encountered a baby Eastern Brown Snake (often referred to politely as a “danger noodle”). It was given plenty of space and right of way, no radio contact is worth arguing with a Eastern brown snake.

At the top, the reward was full panoramic views across the Blue Tier and out toward the east coast. From a radio perspective, it was outstanding. Elevated, open, and quiet, just about perfect.

Once again, 27 MHz CB DX from the USA was flowing in strongly, and this time across a wide spread of channels. (There’s a video below showing just how strong the signals were.)

Logged Stations – Mount Poimena (Sunday)

Frequency (MHz)	Callsign / Description
26.965	27 MHz CB
26.985	27 MHz CB
27.005	27 MHz CB
27.025	27 MHz CB
27.085	27 MHz CB
27.135	27 MHz CB
27.165	27 MHz CB
27.205	27 MHz CB
27.215	27 MHz CB
27.225	27 MHz CB
27.265	27 MHz CB
27.285	27 MHz CB
27.305	27 MHz CB
27.335	27 MHz CB
27.385	27 MHz CB
29.6	10 m Ham Simplex
123.8	ATC-LTON Approach
126.5	ATC-North
127.8	ATC Flinders Island
146.7	2m Ham Hobart (VK7RHT)
147	VK7RAA 2 m Repeater
150.425	Forestry Tasmania (Data)
156.8	Marine VHF 16
163.875	TASGRN South Sister (Data)
165.5875	TASGRN Den Hill (Data)
165.775	TASGRN Flagstaff Hill (Data)
167.375	TASGRN Companion Hill (Data)
414.075	TFS UHF Alarm (Data)
438.05	VK7RBH 70 cm Repeater
461.575	TASWater South Sister (Data)
461.625	TASWater Anson Bay (Data)

This was one of those sessions where you lose track of time — just scanning, logging, and soaking in the view.

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Overall Thoughts

It was a great weekend away. We both got to do things we genuinely enjoy, without pressure or compromise. From a radio perspective, the standout moment was logging my first USA DX on the 27 MHz CB band, something I’ve chased for a long time.

The combination of quiet RF locations, elevation, and good conditions made the north-east of Tasmania shine yet again. I’m already looking forward to a return trip, with hopes of even more DX, more memories, and maybe a little less snake-dodging next time.

Software - RomeoSierraDB

An Offline Radio Scanning Database, Built by a Radio Tragic, for Radio Tragics

As a long-time radio enthusiast, I’ve tried just about every logging solution out there, spreadsheets, online loggers, phone apps, notebooks, and half-finished projects that didn’t quite fit how I actually monitor radio.

Most of them had the same problems:

- Required an internet connection

- Were overcomplicated

- Didn’t suit VHF/UHF/SHF monitoring

- Stored data “somewhere in the cloud”

Or simply got in the way of enjoying radio, so I built RomeoSierraDB (RadioScanningDB)

What is RomeoSierraDB?

RomeoSierraDB is a local-only, offline radio monitoring logger designed for real-world monitoring across HF, VHF, UHF, and SHF. It runs entirely on your device, stores data locally, and saves everything to a single portable database file that you control. It is written in Python.

No accounts.

No cloud.

No tracking.

No nonsense.

Just logging radio.

Why Offline Matters

Radio monitoring often happens:

In remote areas

During outages

Late at night

Away from reliable internet

RomeoSierraDB works completely offline. You open your database file, log your monitoring, and RomeoSierraDB automatically saves changes back to that same file. Simple and reliable.

Who Is It For?

RadioFreakDB is ideal for:

- Scanner listeners

- VHF/UHF hobbyists

- Amateur radio operators

- Shortwave listeners

- Aircraft and marine monitors

Anyone who prefers simple, predictable tools

It’s especially suited to people who value:

- Low footprint software

- Offline reliability

- Full control over their data

Still Evolving

RomeoSierraDB is a living project. Planned and possible enhancements are being developed, but the core philosophy won’t change:

Radio first. Software second.

Final Thoughts

Radio monitoring should be enjoyable, not a chore. Logging should support the hobby, not dominate it.

RomeoSierraDB exists because I wanted a tool that respected that idea, and now I’m using it every day. If you’re a fellow radio tragic who likes things simple, offline, and under your control, RomeoSierraDB might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Download - A public version will be available in the next few weeks.

Main Screen

Data Entry Screen

Search Screen

Report Screen

Video - Uniden CloseCall v GRE Signal Stalker - Which Works Best For Me

 

RadioShack Pro 107 iScan Review

The Radioshack Pro-107 iScan is an analog handheld trunking scanner manufactured by GRE America Inc. for RadioShack. It represents a technically capable multi-trunking receiver that uses an SD card and proprietary software to deliver flexible scanning and advanced trunk system monitoring.

Architecture & Operating Concept

• Database-Driven Operation: The scanner stores the entire USA RadioReference frequency and trunking database on an included 2 GB SD card, which can be updated or customised via PC. Traditional manual channel programming is replaced by object-oriented memory management — objects such as talkgroups, systems, agencies and playlists make organisation highly flexible.

• User Interface: Navigation uses media-player-style buttons and a backlit alphanumeric display capable of showing 16-character alpha tags for talkgroups, systems and user objects. There is no traditional keypad for direct frequency entry; programming and detailed list management are done on a computer.

Frequency & Receiver Performance

• Wide Frequency Coverage: Spans key VHF and UHF segments, covering from 25 MHz up to 1300 MHz across multiple tunable ranges including air, marine, public safety and utility bands. Step sizes vary by band segment to match standard channel spacings. It does miss the 70-80MHz VHF band, which might be an issue for some people, if you scan users in that band.

• Receiver Design: Utilises triple-conversion superheterodyne architecture for improved selectivity and stability across bands. Integrated CTCSS and DCS tone search capabilities are supported directly from the interface.

• Scan & Search Rates: Capable of scanning up to around 75 channels per second in conventional mode and about 85 channels per second in search mode, providing fast acquisition of active signals.

Trunking & Data Capabilities

• Multi-Trunking Support: The Pro-107 tracks analogue trunk systems including Motorola Type I/II (SmartNet/SmartZone), EDACS (wide/narrow/networked) and LTR systems directly via the SD database. Digital signalling is not decoded; only conventional analogue talkgroups and control channels are supported.

• Talkgroup Handling: Objects represent talkgroups and systems, meaning the number of talkgroups and sites is effectively limited only by SD card capacity and database size rather than fixed memory counts.

Interfaces & Power

• USB Connectivity: A single USB/PC interface cable provides firmware update access, data transfer and optional external power at 5 V. However, the USB interface doesn’t directly mount the SD card; an external SD reader is needed for full filesystem access.

• Power Options: Runs on two AA cells (alkaline or Ni-MH) or external USB power; internal charging via USB is supported when rechargeable cells are fitted.

Additional Technical Features

• Signal Stalker II: Near-field activity detection sweeps frequency ranges and locks on active signals.

• Search & Priority: Includes multiple predefined search ranges, one user-defined search range, priority object settings and weather priority/alert support.

• Alarms & Indicators: Programmable audible and visual alerts can be associated with objects, with support for unsquelch delays and adjustable signal threshold behaviours.

• Memory Limits: Conventional channels and trunk talkgroups scale with SD card space; specific trunking limits (e.g., up to ~32 control channels per trunk site) are imposed by the scanner’s firmware and database structure, not by rigid scanner memory counts.

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Technical Summary

The Pro-107 iScan is best categorised as a software-centric analog trunking scanner: its strength lies in database integration, broad frequency coverage and flexible object-oriented memory rather than hardware channel limits or direct manual programming. While not a digital mode scanner, it remains technically interesting for users focused on analogue trunk system monitoring and rapid database-based configuration.

Extreme Scanning Story - Job Interview

Getting Up Close and Personal – A Job Interview Allowed for Some Close Radio Monitoring

Some radio users are easy to figure out. Others sit there for years, listed in databases, hinted at in licence records, but never quite revealing themselves on air. This one fell firmly into the second category.

The target was a large manufacturing company. According to ACMA database entries, they were licensed for radio use, yet despite occasional monitoring, nothing had ever been positively logged. That suggested low-power usage, tight coverage, or simply that you needed to be very close to hear anything meaningful. The problem was geography: the site was in a remote area, with nearly three kilometres of private road leading in, no safe or sensible place to pull over, and nowhere you could sit with a radio without looking very out of place.

Then an opportunity appeared. The company advertised a job, one I could genuinely do. I applied, and before long, I was offered an interview at their head office and factory. Suddenly, “getting close” had a perfectly legitimate reason.

So, on the day of the interview, I might have packed a few radios along with my paperwork. I was told to drive to the security gate and ask for the IT contact. As I rolled up, I might have had my Uniden UBC126AT running in Close Call temporary store mode. And it might have caught a hit at exactly the moment the security guard keyed up their radio to check where I was supposed to park.

I might have arrived about twenty minutes early and politely asked if it was okay to wait in my car while I made a quick phone call. No issues. The car was parked, engine off. I might have had my radio go-case sitting on the passenger seat, casually disguised under a jumper.

While I was inside the interview, I might have left the UBC126AT still running in Close Call temporary store mode. Alongside it, I might have had my UBCD436PT doing a wide UHF search, with the recording feature enabled, quietly listening while I talked about skills, experience, and team fit.

After the interview, on the way out, I might have stopped at the security station and asked a harmless question, just long enough to glance around and see if any radios were sitting in plain sight. Nothing obvious, but it was worth the look.

A few kilometres down the road, safely clear of the site, I stopped briefly. I might have checked what had been logged and made a few quick notes before heading home. That’s when the real picture came together.

Back home, reviewing both the Close Call hits and the recorded UHF search audio, four active channels stood out clearly:
Security on 471 MHz, using a specific CTCSS tone
Deliveries also on 471 MHz, but with a different CTCSS tone
Electrical on 474 MHz, with no CTCSS logged
Automated alerting on 475 MHz, carrying recorded voice messages about alarms and production numbers.

After years of uncertainty, the mystery finally made sense. Low power, tightly managed, multiple functions split by tone and frequency, exactly why they’d been so hard to pin down from a distance.

Overall, it was deeply satisfying to finally nut out this user and understand how their radio system actually worked. I wasn’t sure how strict their security would be, and I was quietly relieved that my radio gear came and went without a single question.

Sometimes, the best monitoring sessions don’t happen in a paddock or on a hilltop. Sometimes, they happen in a suit, with a resume in hand, parked quietly just inside the front gate.

Guide to Radio Scanning in Launceston Tasmania - January 2026

The radio scanning scene in Launceston Tasmania is changing, with a number of users leaving the bands for other communication methods, such as mobile phones, data terminals or using UHF CB. A new shared radio network for all government radio users (TASGRN) has been deployed and is now fully in use by a large number of government radio user, some of these used to be very active on VHF Mid Band frequencies, this has also changed the nature of what can be scanned.

Tas Fire Service / Ambulance Tasmania / Tasmanian Police / SES: All on the new TASGRN, 100% Encrypted. You can’t scan them.

VHF Airband: Very active across the state. Best frequencies:

118.1	TOWER-HOBART
118.7	TOWER-LTON
121.5	AIR EMERGENCY
123.45	AIR SIMP
123.8	ATC-LTON APPROACH
126.4	HELI RESOURCES
126.5	ATC-LTON
126.7	CTAF
127.3	CTAF-GT
127.475	SHARP AIRLINES
129.5	QANTAS
130.125	JETSTAR-HOBART
130.225	JETSTAR-LTON
130.35	VELOCITY
136.125	JETSTAR
136.55	VELOCITY

Amateur Radio: Active at times, some use of DMR and other digital modes.

29.6	10M HAM SIMP
53.875	VK7RAA 6M
145.025	2M HAM SIMP
146.4	VK7RAA INPUT
146.45	2H HAM SIMP
146.5	2M HAM SIMP
146.575	2M IRLP
147	VK7RAA-MTARTHUR
438.05	VK7RBH-BENLOMOND
438.425	VK7RJG-DMR
438.55	VK7RJG-MTARTHUR
439.775	VK7RDR-DAZZLER
439.925	NTARC

CB Radio: Both 27MHz and UHF CB are active. 27MHz is mostly hobby use, UHF CB is a mix of hobby and business use.

Business: A mix of VHF and UHF frequencies. Mostly FM, some use of DMR. Some DMR is encrypted. VHF Midband (70-80MHZ) is mostly dead now.

72.275	LES WALKDEN
73.13	B W MANION
75.59	BEAMS BROS
161.075	ARTEC
162.475	BORAL-DAZZLER
162.5	BORAL-MT ARTHUR
412.775	DEPT JUSTICE
413.1	LC STAFF
462.4375	RADIO WAREHOUSE
464.275	METRO ABLES
464.375	METRO FREELANDS
465.4	CSE CROSS COM
467.175	TECS
469.7	UHF RENTAL
471.3	BOAGS
471.525	BASIN CHAIR LIFT
471.7	PFRIFER CRANES
472.225	BOAGS
474.125	WARREN J SPEERS
474.225	VEC CONSTRUCTION
474.85	TRANSPORT INSP
474.925	PFEIFFER CRANES
475.05	MCDERMOTT BUSES
484.8	BOAGS
485.25	CSE CROSS COM
488.55	CSE CROSS COM
488.7	TECS
509.9375	CSE CROSS COM

TasRail: Active 24/7. Statewide VHF network with UHF for local operations.

157.5375	TASRAIL VHF SIMP
157.575	TASRAIL VHF SIMP
157.625	TASRAIL VHF SIMP
157.775	TASRAIL VHF SIMP
158	TASRAIL VHF SIMP
162.6	TASRAIL-DAZZLER
162.6125	TASRAIL-MTARTHUR
473.4	TASRAIL SIMP UHF
473.5	TASRAIL SIMP UHF

Councils: Mix of FM and DMR.

78.0125	WTC WORKS
78.55	GT COUNCIL
163.025	LCC MT ARTHUR(D)
163.075	LCC FREELANDS(D)
163.475	LCC FREELANDS(D)
163.575	LCC MT ARTHUR(D)
463.025	LCC QVMAG(D)
474.375	LCC PARKING(D)
494.925	LCC SWIMMING

UHF Headsets: A number of business now use UHF headsets for in store communication, these are very short range but are also very interesting to listen to.

450.275	JB HIFI
450.35	ANNANCONDA LTON
462.0125	MYER
462.05	HARRIS SCARFE
462.05	BUNNINGS
462.1	OFFICEWORKS
462.225	OFFICEWORKS
462.25	KMART LTON
462.275	SUPERCHEAP LTON
462.325	SPOTLIGHT
462.3875	DAN MURPHYS
462.4125	BCF LAUNCESTON
462.45	PETER ALEXANDER
462.4875	GOOD GUYS
463.4	TARGET LTON
465.3125	TARGET MOWBRAY