There is this pesky little device called the
RF Explorer, but I don't find it super accurate.
In 90% of cases the RF Explorer has the accuracy needed to get the job done, especially if you have the 3G Combo which has a little
bit better filtering on the 2.4gHz side of the device. Just take several averages of a 10mHz chunk at a time and you'll get pretty decent resolution for the price. Every time I consider dropping cash to get something better the RF Techs at the rental shops I go to always tell me not to bother, as the RF Explorer gets the job done in most circumstances and is what they recommend before dropping $5k on something. The only times I've needed something more accurate were gigs done right off Times Square, and at that
point I generally get an actual RF Tech onsite when things get too dumb.
I haven't asked why, but the RF Explorer was the device I was always told to scan with, as opposed to the Receivers. My guess is probably compatibility with IAS, but even verification scans against the initial coordination were always done with an RF Explorer and not on receivers.
I guess I was looking for it just to help frequency coordination, as a step up from just trusting the Zip Code input the various software's can use.
You're right down the
road from me, and I can tell you that a ZIP Code entry is fine on most gigs. There are only a handful of venues in Manhattan I scan in, and only because I don't have the patience to run around to every neighbor and input their coordination by
hand or to see if a building is cutting out enough outside noise to fit more RF into otherwise occupied space.
The only gigs ZIP Code entry won't cut it are ones where you know you'll have neighbors and can't physically coordinate with them in person (i.e. You know press will show up, but don't know who). A scanner is nice if you have time to interpret the data, but as long as the source you're drawing the data from via ZIP is kept updated it tends to be fairly accurate if not over-cautious.