How Audiscan Works

All typical radios emit radiation. This radiation is transmitted in the form of a radio frequency. (Note the backside of most radios that state: "This appliance complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules and Regulations"). Since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates all broadcasting, they also set limitations on this radiated signal which is a miniature form of broadcasting. Although all radios are designed as a radio receiver, this signal that is emitted from the car radio makes each car a small radio transmitter when the radio is turned on. It is this signal that Audiscan began to work with over 20 years ago. Of course, this signal is very minute, but with tremendous advances in electronic technology in recent years and some real "breakthroughs" by Audiscan research in receiving micro-signals, the reception and definition of these signals have become routine. The Audiscan Report is based on the reception and use of this technology, and more detailed information can be found in the Methodology portion of the Audiscan Outline contained on this page.

Audiscan picks up the re-transmitted signal from a motor vehicle and defines it.

The pre-programmed scanning equipment tells which frequency the vehicle is tuned to.

All scans are taken in the market's metro area.

The type of vehicle, time, and place of the reading are recorded along with the area it is received.

After all scans are completed, the results are placed in the Audiscan office computer.

The frequency data is credited to the corresponding call letters and tabulated into categories.

A complete hardbound report is published and supplied to subscriber(s).

What a Typical Audiscan 4,000 Report Contains:
Areas Scanned

1) General Business - 1,700 total readings in 5 time periods--readings taken in traffic at or near shopping centers, malls, and main business arteries

2) Industrial - 600 total readings in 2 (drive time) periods--readings taken in traffic at or near industrial (work) areas

3) Educational - 600 total readings taken in 2 (drive time) periods--readings taken in traffic at or near high school and college areas (youth traffic)

4) Downtown - 500 readings in 4 time periods--readings taken in downtown traffic

5) Residential - 500 readings in 5 time periods--readings taken in residential areas (traffic only)

Actual locations scanned in each category are also shown.

Time periods covered are: 6am to 10am, 10am to 3pm, 3pm to 7pm, 7pm to 10pm, and 10pm to 1am.

Other categories extracted from these 4,000 readings include Saturday, Sunday, and Weekday.

Although discerned by the scan operator, car type categories and car age estimate categories are also supplied.

Overview includes: Survey dates, "radios in use", AM-FM comparisons, and other metro audience information.

Chart Types include format preferences, illustrated time period preferences, and audience divergence according to area. (shows how each station's audience changes in different metro areas).

Complete methodology of an Audiscan 4,000 Report is contained in the Audiscan Outline on this page.

PRIVACY STATEMENT

At no time is any sound heard from the vehicle or passengers in the vehicle, and no signal is broadcast by the scanning equipment (other than radiation). The only information that is received from the signal that is transmitted from the scanned vehicle is the electronic frequency information about the station that it is tuned to. The entirety of the signal is sent out from the vehicle on public domain and received on public domain. No information about the driver or passengers is ever obtained. It is emphasized that the only purpose of the scanning equipment is as a receiver.

Copyright © 2002 Audiscan All Rights Reserved