Narrative:

Taxied out to runway 30R via pappa. After reaching approaching end of runway switched to 118.5 for tower. After several mins realized that we only heard clrncs for 30L, so I put #2 communication onto 120.05, the other tower frequency. I monitored #2 and the captain monitored #1. I received clearance to position and hold on 30R, 'be ready for an immediate.' I acknowledged and then put 120.05 into the #1 communication. The #1 communication has 2 channel capability with a toggle switch to select the frequency you want. Captain confirmed correct frequency. I turned off #2 communication and completed before takeoff checklist. Neither one of us noticed that the toggle switch was still on 118.5. After about 1 min on the runway we heard a turbo propeller go overhead. At that time the tower for 30L said if we were on his frequency to go over to the other tower. We did, and were instructed to taxi down to romeo, exit the runway and get back in line. We have at least 4 audio panels in our medium large transport's and each one operates a little differently. This non standard radio panel contributed to this, but also stl has north and south tower frequencys, but there is no dividing line to show where the split is made. Detroit metropolitan has east and west frequencys, but they show very clearly on the taxi chart where the division is made. Additional, some airports with split frequencys have the correct frequency on a sign at the runway.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG MONITORED THE WRONG FREQ AFTER ENTERING THE RWY. ACFT ON FINAL HAD TO GO AROUND.

Narrative: TAXIED OUT TO RWY 30R VIA PAPPA. AFTER REACHING APCHING END OF RWY SWITCHED TO 118.5 FOR TWR. AFTER SEVERAL MINS REALIZED THAT WE ONLY HEARD CLRNCS FOR 30L, SO I PUT #2 COM ONTO 120.05, THE OTHER TWR FREQ. I MONITORED #2 AND THE CAPT MONITORED #1. I RECEIVED CLRNC TO POS AND HOLD ON 30R, 'BE READY FOR AN IMMEDIATE.' I ACKNOWLEDGED AND THEN PUT 120.05 INTO THE #1 COM. THE #1 COM HAS 2 CHANNEL CAPABILITY WITH A TOGGLE SWITCH TO SELECT THE FREQ YOU WANT. CAPT CONFIRMED CORRECT FREQ. I TURNED OFF #2 COM AND COMPLETED BEFORE TKOF CHKLIST. NEITHER ONE OF US NOTICED THAT THE TOGGLE SWITCH WAS STILL ON 118.5. AFTER ABOUT 1 MIN ON THE RWY WE HEARD A TURBO PROP GO OVERHEAD. AT THAT TIME THE TWR FOR 30L SAID IF WE WERE ON HIS FREQ TO GO OVER TO THE OTHER TWR. WE DID, AND WERE INSTRUCTED TO TAXI DOWN TO ROMEO, EXIT THE RWY AND GET BACK IN LINE. WE HAVE AT LEAST 4 AUDIO PANELS IN OUR MLG'S AND EACH ONE OPERATES A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. THIS NON STANDARD RADIO PANEL CONTRIBUTED TO THIS, BUT ALSO STL HAS N AND S TWR FREQS, BUT THERE IS NO DIVIDING LINE TO SHOW WHERE THE SPLIT IS MADE. DETROIT METRO HAS E AND W FREQS, BUT THEY SHOW VERY CLEARLY ON THE TAXI CHART WHERE THE DIVISION IS MADE. ADDITIONAL, SOME ARPTS WITH SPLIT FREQS HAVE THE CORRECT FREQ ON A SIGN AT THE RWY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.