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VHF & UHF channels local to Bexar County

VHF & UHF channels local to Bexar County

If you’re in Bexar County, Texas, and own a Baofeng BF-5RM radio, you can tap into a variety of VHF (136–174 MHz) and UHF (400–520 MHz) channels used for public safety, amateur radio, and other communications. While there’s no single “official” list for casual use, this post compiles practical VHF and UHF frequencies commonly used in Bexar County, perfect for programming into your BF-5RM. Whether you’re a ham radio enthusiast or just curious about local communications, this guide will help you get started.

VHF Channels Local to Bexar County, TX

Below is a curated list of VHF frequencies used in Bexar County, covering public safety, amateur radio repeaters, and NOAA weather channels. These are scannable with a Baofeng BF-5RM, but you’ll need to program them into your radio’s memory channels for effective scanning. Important: Transmitting on licensed frequencies (e.g., police, fire) requires proper authorization.

1. Public Safety VHF Frequencies

Bexar County uses a mix of VHF, UHF, and trunked systems (like the Bexar County 700/800 MHz system). However, some VHF frequencies are still active, especially in rural areas or for interoperability:

  • 155.7525 MHz (VHF National Calling Channel) – Used for emergency coordination (narrowband, FMN).
  • 154.2800 MHz (Fire Mutual Aid) – Common VHF fire interoperability channel.
  • 155.3400 MHz (EMS/Ambulance) – Used by Acadian Ambulance and other EMS in unincorporated Bexar County.
  • 155.4750 MHz (Law Enforcement Interop) – National VHF law enforcement mutual aid channel (VLEMR).

2. Bexar County Fire Alarm (VHF Dispatch)

Bexar County Fire Alarm dispatches many volunteer fire departments (VFDs) on VHF:

  • 154.2500 MHz – Primary fire dispatch for Bexar County VFDs (PL tone: 167.9 Hz).
  • 154.2950 MHz – Fireground tactical channel (simplex).

3. Amateur Radio VHF Repeaters

Bexar County has a vibrant ham radio community with several VHF repeaters in the 2-meter band (144–148 MHz). Here are some popular ones:

  • 146.940 MHz (-0.6 MHz offset, PL 123.0 Hz) – San Antonio Radio Club (W5SC) repeater.
  • 147.260 MHz (+0.6 MHz offset, PL 103.5 Hz) – Widely used repeater in Bexar County.
  • 146.820 MHz (-0.6 MHz offset, PL 162.2 Hz) – ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) linked repeater.
  • 145.270 MHz (-0.6 MHz offset, PL 88.5 Hz) – General-use repeater in the San Antonio area.

4. NOAA Weather Radio

The BF-5RM supports NOAA weather scanning. Bexar County falls under the San Antonio transmitter:

  • 162.550 MHz (WX1) – San Antonio NOAA Weather Radio (KHB35), covering Bexar County.
  • Other NOAA frequencies (useful near county edges):
    • 162.400 MHz (WX2)
    • 162.475 MHz (WX3)

5. Miscellaneous VHF Channels

  • 151.625 MHz – Itinerant business band (low power, often used by local events or construction).
  • 156.800 MHz (Marine Channel 16) – VHF marine distress and calling (less common inland but scannable).

How to Program and Scan These on Your BF-5RM

Follow these steps to program the frequencies into your Baofeng BF-5RM for scanning:

  1. Switch to Frequency Mode: Press VFO/MR to enter VFO mode.
  2. Enter Frequency: Use the keypad to input the frequency (e.g., 154.2500).
  3. Set PL/CTCSS Tone (if needed): Press MENU, navigate to Menu 13 (CTCSS) or Menu 11 (DCS), enter the tone (e.g., 167.9 Hz), and save.
  4. Save to Memory: Press MENU, go to Menu 27 (MEM-CH), select a channel number (e.g., 001), and press MENU again to save.
  5. Repeat: Add all desired frequencies to memory channels.
  6. Scan Channels: Switch to Channel Mode (VFO/MR), then press and hold *[SCAN] to scan programmed channels.

Important Notes

  • Legal Use: You can listen to these frequencies, but transmitting requires an appropriate license (e.g., a ham radio license for amateur frequencies or agency authorization for public safety channels).
  • Dynamic Updates: Frequencies, especially for public safety, may change as Bexar County transitions to trunked systems. Check resources like RadioReference.com under Bexar County, Texas, for real-time updates.
  • Rural vs. Urban: VHF is more common in rural parts of Bexar County, while urban areas like San Antonio rely more on UHF and trunked systems.

Get Scanning!

This list should help you start scanning VHF channels local to Bexar County with your Baofeng BF-5RM. Whether you’re monitoring public safety, exploring ham radio, or staying updated with NOAA weather, these frequencies offer a window into local communications. Need help programming specific channels or want frequencies for a particular town or agency in Bexar County? Drop a comment below, and I’ll tailor the info for you!