Hearing only the tower...

[mkrubsack]

I programmed my scanner with the local airport freqs I got from AirNav for KFAT. I can receive all of those, but it seems most of the transmissions are from the tower.
I am not getting all of the planes.
It seems the airplanes and tower are on two different frequencies, kind of like cross-banding, is that correct?
My question is what freqs do the airplanes use? Is there a rhyme or reason as to the frequency pairing between tower and airplane?
Thanks!

[senduhelp]

If you are close to the airport, which I assume you are since you are hearing the tower, sometimes it is difficult to hear the planes on the ground talking to tower. Once they are airborne you may find it easier. If you program the approach and departure frequencies in you should hear those. That should be working for you. I know that KMDT has a frequency that is, what seems to be simulcast, on another of their approach frequencies sometimes. I'm not sure why they do it that way, but other than that the planes and controllers should be on the same frequency.

I'm not sure if you're aware of this site but it is a good one to use in conjunction with aircraft monitoring.

FlightAware - Free Flight Tracker - IFR Flight Status, Tracking, History, Maps

[mkrubsack]

I did some research in the Aircraft Wiki here and discovered the UNICOM freqs, that helped a bit.
I think to hear more planes on the runway, I need a better antenna than the little multi-band rubber duck on the back of the radio.

[b7spectra]

The only way you will be hearing just the tower is in two circumstances:

1. The tower is simulcasting on more than one frequency and the replying frequency is different

2. The aircraft is on the ground and unless you are within about a mile, you won't hear them.

Tower/Aircraft frequencies are simplex on the same frequency. i.e. KPDK tower is 120.9000 AM, both the tower and a/c are on it. But, the tower also could be broadcasting on 281.5000 AM and you could hear them there, but that is the military side (which means unless there is a military a/c talking to the tower, you won't hear any reply).

Make sense?

[mkrubsack]

b7spectra & senduhelp

Thanks. I locked the scanner to an approach or departure freq and can hear both tower and plane. 119.6 is pretty active here. I think my problem is that I'm too far away to hear the aircraft with a 6" rubber antenna.

[zz0468]

Originally Posted by senduhelp

I know that KMDT has a frequency that is, what seems to be simulcast, on another of their approach frequencies sometimes. I'm not sure why they do it that way, but other than that the planes and controllers should be on the same frequency.

One common scenario is if a single controller is working more than one sector. You may have the frequency for one of those sectors programmed into the scanner, and if he's talking to an airplane in a different sector, you'll hear the controller only, and not the aircraft.

This is quite common on approach frequencies. It may be sectorized so they can spit it during periods of heavy traffic, but since the frequencies are published on the charts, they won't change to a single frequency at light traffic times - they just have one controller working them all.

Find ALL the frequencies used, and program them all in.

[DaveNF2G]

Many towers simulcast Tower and Ground Control due to short staffing.