Aircraft Receiver

[Cat Driver]

Where can I find a 1/2 way decent aircraft only receiver that doesn't cost an arm an a leg. 108 to 136 mhz I think.

Thanx,
Cat

 

[IMD262]

You can get a scanner that will cover the civilian airband dirt cheap on Egay.Most scanners that I have owned reveived good on the airband.You may also look into an aviation transceiver that will scan.These two air scanners also cover the AM/FM broadcast band:

Air-Scan V Features
Aviation Interrupt
powered by 115 volt power adapter (included)
or (6) C batteries (not included)
3 scan modes
dual-level priority
5 priority aviation memory locations
rubber-duck antenna with aviation compatible BNC connector
large ferrite bar for improved AM reception
separate telescoping FM antenna
low battery indicator
external power jack
external stereo speaker jack
external stereo headphone jack
AM band 530 – 1630 kHz
FM band 88 – 108 MHz
Aviation Band VHF 118 – 142.975 MHz (8.33 kHz spacing)
squelch & volume control knobs
overall measurement 10"l x 7"w x 3"h
patent pending
5-year warranty

Features: 3 scan modes - 5 priority aviation memory locations - backlit screen - flexible antenna with aviation compatible BNC connector - lightweight; only 12.7 oz. - low battery indicator - external power jack - external speaker jack - AM band 530 - 1630 KHz - FM band 88 - 108 MHz - Aviation Band VHF 118 - 142.975 MHz (8.33 KHz spacing) - single-hand squelch control - 6 5/8”h x 2 3/8”w x 1 7/16”d - 5-year warranty

I hope this helps.

73
Carmen

 

[Cat Driver]

Where can I find that base unit on top there?

I guess I'm hunting one that scans the whole a/c band without having to program all of the freq's in to it.


Cat

 

[W5LZ]

Most scanners will cover the VHF aircraft band, some will cover both VHF and UHF. Guess it just means shopping to find the one with the features you want. Basic requirements are the bands desired and the ability to use AM mode. After that it's more a matter of which suit$ you best.
- 'Doc

One way to get around programing in all the frequencies is a scanner that scans between an upper and lower band edge. Just two things to program in with that type of thingy.

 

[Cat Driver]

How about one of the better bearcats? I didn't know you could program one to scan the whole band, but that is what I was really after I guess.


Thanx, Ron B.

 

[W5LZ]

I'm not really that familiar with Bearcat scanners so really have no idea of what they are capable of. Best suggestion is to read about a few of them to get an idea of what's 'normal' for them. It also depends on how you plan to use the thingy. I can tell you that unless you are on a major airway, or near an airport, you aren't gonna hear gobs of things going on all the time. Not a lot of chatter from planes, in general, like there is from control centers, flight service stations, etc.
Good luck...
- 'Doc

 

[Cat Driver]

Thanks alot Doc. I might call BC today an see what I can come up with.

I have an outside base antenna, an I am only about 5 miles from the airport.

Ron

 

[Ronin]

Just a thought,...take a look at the Radio Shack Pro-83 handheld scanner. They were recently discontinued by R/S, but you can still find them new in the package on ebay by people who bought up their stock. I have seen them sell for about $70 or less brand new.

I have had a Pro-83 for about 2 years and it's really nice! you can program individual memories as well as scan/search the entire aircraft band (as well as other bands like public service, 2 meter and 440 ham bands, marine band, etc).

It takes 2 AA batteries runs about 16 hours on rechargable batteries (2500mah NiMH) or about 24 hours on AA alkalines. There is a micro switch in the battery compartment which will allow you to charge the rechargable batteries through the radio.

What really sold me was the display is very easy to read and the backlight for the display and keypad is a bright orange, plus it is very easy to program.

Just giving you something else to think about.
Descisions,..descisions!! Lol!

 

[Cat Driver]

I thank ya very much for the info sir, but I'm after a base scanner though.

Ron

 

[Cat Driver]

I've decided to go with this bearcat. I can get them new locally for $185.30 But I might need some help as I go along with it.

http://www.national-electronics.com/images/unbc/bc898t.jpg

Thanx,
Ronnie

 

[Sonny Eugenio]

Where can I find a 1/2 way decent aircraft only receiver that doesn't cost an arm an a leg. 108 to 136 mhz I think.

Thanx,
Cat

With a little modification on a simple AM receiver you could catch Aircraft communications beyond 108 mhz. Its the cheapest way that I can think of. Check out this link for more info.

YouTube - Weekend Project: Aircraft Band Receiver

 

[Beetle]

Isn't much of the radio traffic in/around an airport on AM rather than FM? I've never been a scanner user, but I seem to remember discussions about aircraft radio using mostly AM.

 

[W5LZ]

Civil aircraft only use AM mode for communications.
- 'Doc

Oops, except for long distance stuff like ocean crossings, then USB is used.

 

[mechanic]

I won on bids a Kaito KA12AIR on Ebay. It is a FM / AIR receiver, has 100 memories, scans, direct entry, backlight. Very small and cheap!

73 mechanic

You Tube link.....

YouTube - Kaito KA12AIR AIRWAVE

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

With a little modification on a simple AM receiver you could catch Aircraft communications beyond 108 mhz. Its the cheapest way that I can think of. Check out this link for more info.

YouTube - Weekend Project: Aircraft Band Receiver

I call bullshit. No really I do. Kip Kay or whatever his name is is an idiot. I have seen his "How to" videos that deal with modifying radios and being an electronics tech and former broadcast engineer I can tell you he is 100% full of it. One tell tale sign this video is false is the digital burst at the end of the "aircraft's" exchange. It sounds exactly like an FRS radio and aircraft comms do not use such a digital burst at all. Guaranteed.

One such modification involves a CB to VHF using a crystal from a toaster. No such component in a toaster and VHF is FM mode not AM (except for aeronautical).


I'll stop my rant now but I get really PO'ed when I see this idiots videos presented as fact by the unknowing masses.