ODNR Channel Plan:

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has a statewide system of repeaters that are radio-controlled from Columbus. Regional ODNR offices, state parks, nature preserves and other ODNR facilities have access to the system in their area. Most mobile communication is simplex with park offices, lifeguard stations, etc., but regional radio traffic is almost always passed through a repeater. Every mobile unit has at least sixty channels, and can operate anywhere in Ohio without the need to reprogram state access frequencies.

Please note the local option channels (1-6): Most ODNR enforcement communication goes through local police and sheriff radio systems, with the state repeater system as a backup. This works well, since a game warden in rural Gallia County will need help from the local Sheriff in case trouble occurs. The nearest game warden may be 50 miles away.

ODNR frequencies of interest:
Channel 7 - (151.355 MHz) is the statewide park office frequency. This is a simplex arrangement designed to cover a few square miles around the state park, and this frequency is normally busy. Most communication is low power, so you'll need a good antenna or live close to a State Park!

Channel 8 - (151.28 MHz) is a statewide car to car channel, designed for "mobile only" communication that won't interfere with the park offices or tie up a repeater channel. This is usually a very quiet frequency.

Channel 9 - (154.935 MHz) provides access to the statewide LEERN (Law Enforcement Emergency Radio System) network. 154.935 MHz is monitored in every Ohio county by the State Highway Patrol. Most state prisons and youth detention centers monitor the frequency, and a few Sheriff's Offices have LEERN base stations but this is a rarity in Southeast Ohio. At one time, almost every law enforcement vehicle in Ohio had direct access to LEERN. Remember those old GE Mastr II radios with the cool-looking RED microphone? Many police agencies still have LEERN programmed into their multi-channel high band radio equipment, but most do not monitor the frequency all the time.

Channels 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 - These channels provide direct
"talk-around" capability on the repeater frequencies, and are organized by district. Channel 10 is District 1 / No repeater. Channel 34 is District 3 / Repeater 4. Channel 47 is District 4, Repeater 7. You get the idea. It's a neat system. Someone really thought this one out .....

Southeast Ohio (District 4) repeaters can be monitored by programming 159.435 MHz in your scanner. You will hear all traffic on ODNR Channels 40-49.

The ODNR frequency plan:
1 Local option
2 Local option
3 Local option
4 Local option
5 Local option
6 Local option
7 151.355 Park simplex
8 151.28 TAC-1 car to car
9 154.935 Ohio LEERN
10 159.39 District 1 (Central) simplex
11 159.39 Franklin County
12 159.39 Logan County
13 159.39 Morrow County
14 159.39 Ashland County
15 159.39 * future expansion
16 159.39 * future expansion
17 159.39 * future expansion
18 159.39 * future expansion
19 159.39 * future expansion
20 159.375 District 2 (NW) simplex
21 159.375 Hancock County
22 159.375 Logan County
23 159.375 Ashland County
24 159.375 Erie County
25 159.375 Lucas County
26 159.375 Fulton County
27 159.375 Paulding County
28 159.375 * future expansion
29 159.390 * future expansion
30 159.30 District 3 (NE) simplex
31 159.30 Summit County
32 159.30 Columbiana County
33 159.30 Tuscarawas County
34 159.30 Geauga County
35 159.30 Ashtabula County
36 159.30 Lorain County
37 159.30 Erie County
38 159.30 * future expansion
39 159.30 * future expansion
40 159.435 District 4 (SE) simplex
41 159.435 Athens County
42 159.435 Washington County
43 159.435 Muskingum County
44 159.435 Guernsey County
45 159.435 Columbiana County
46 159.435 Hocking County
47 159.435 Ross County
48 159.435 Scioto County
49 159.435 Gallia County
50 159.405 District 5 (SW) simplex
51 159.405 Greene County
52 159.405 Butler County
53 159.405 Clermont County
54 159.405 Brown County
55 159.405 Adams County
56 159.405 Auglaize County
57 159.405 Logan County
58 159.405 * future expansion
59 159.405 * future expansion

*** NOTE: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is moving to the new Ohio MARCS system and in some areas this change is already complete. Only scanners capable of monitoring APCO Digital systems can monitor the New Ohio MARCS System.
For more information please visit the ScanOhio MARCS page.