One of the most useful resources for anyone interested in radio scanning is a reliable list of frequencies that are actually in use. While online databases and frequency allocation records provide a great starting point, they don't always tell the full story of what is happening on the airwaves locally.
With that in mind, I've been building my own Long Term Active Frequencies Database for Launceston, Tasmania, based on ongoing monitoring, frequency searches and observations made over an extended period.
More Than Just a Frequency List
There is a difference between knowing that a frequency has been allocated to a particular service and knowing that it is actively being used. The ACMA Radiocommunications Licence Information Database and other online resources can help identify potential users, locations and services. However, a licence doesn't necessarily mean a frequency is currently active, nor does it tell you how frequently it is used.
By spending time scanning and searching the bands, it is possible to build a more realistic picture of local radio activity. A frequency that appears quiet during a short listening session might turn out to be regularly active at particular times of the day or on certain days of the week.
Why Long-Term Monitoring Matters
Radio activity can be unpredictable. Some users transmit constantly throughout the working day, while others might only appear occasionally or during specific operations.
Keeping records over an extended period helps identify patterns, including:
Regular activity: Frequencies that consistently produce traffic.
Time-dependent activity: Users who are active during particular hours or days.
Occasional users: Frequencies that are quiet for long periods but still produce identifiable activity.
Changing usage: Frequencies that become more or less active over time.
Previously unidentified activity: Signals that can be investigated further using additional searches and observations.
Rather than relying on a single reception report, a long-term database provides a more useful reference for deciding where to focus future scanning sessions.
Building a Local Picture of the Airwaves
My interest is primarily in monitoring radio activity around Launceston and the surrounding areas of northern Tasmania.
The aim is to develop a practical reference that reflects what can actually be heard locally, rather than simply reproducing information from published frequency lists.
This involves combining information from several sources, including online frequency and licence databases, ongoing scanning, band searches and recorded activity.
Where possible, observations can be compared over time to help establish whether a frequency remains active and whether its usage appears consistent with previous findings.
Of course, reception depends on a range of factors, including location, antenna setup, terrain, propagation and the equipment being used. A frequency that is active at one monitoring location may not be heard at another.
A Database That Will Continue to Evolve
A long-term frequency database is never really finished.
Frequencies change hands, equipment gets replaced, businesses change their operating arrangements and radio systems are upgraded or decommissioned. Something that was active last year may be silent today, while a previously unused frequency may suddenly become interesting.
That is part of what makes radio scanning such an enjoyable hobby: there is always something new to discover.
My intention is to keep refining the database as new observations are made, using real-world monitoring to supplement the information available from published sources.
The result is intended to be a practical, locally focused resource for my own scanning activities and a record of how the radio environment around Launceston changes over time.
The Value of Getting Out There and Listening
Online databases are useful, but they can only take you so far. Some of the most interesting discoveries come from simply spending time scanning, searching unfamiliar parts of the bands and investigating signals that don't immediately make sense.
That is the approach behind this project.
The Long Term Active Frequencies Database – Launceston, Tasmania, is about recording what is actually happening on the airwaves, not just what a database says should be there.
As the records grow, I hope to build an increasingly useful picture of local radio activity and have a better starting point for future scanning sessions.
Last Updated: TBC
