Good Milcom Receiver

SKYNET156 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:05 PM

I am wondering what a good Milcom receiver is for 200-400mhz to track Mil air ops?

MPSCS · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 08:06 PM

There is an excellent deal on an ICOM IC-R7100 in RR's classifieds right now!

DPD1 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 12:37 AM

Maybe a used 780XLT.

MPSCS · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 02:21 AM

You might also want to consider a digital (P25) scanner. Some military comms are going digital.

ka3jjz · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 09:24 AM

Receivers that scan are better at sitting on a given frequency than they are scanning; scanning speed is the big issue here. The faster, the less chance of missing something on a large scan of frequencies. The R7100 would be a rather poor scanner, but probably pretty good when sitting on a single freq. As others have suggested, a scanner is a much better bet. The Uniden BC780 (as someone already suggested), the 785, 796 or BCT15X (all 4 unfortunately are not capable of trunking in the 380 mhz area where some mil systems are moving toward digital), the 996X - you didn't say anything about what you were interested in - handheld or base/mobile? 73 Mike

BMT · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 02:24 PM

Local MILCOM monitoring,the 780 can't be beat.

There are about 7,0000 freq's in the 225-380 segment and 79 in the 380-399.9 that are MILAIR. Don't take my number of 79 as totally correct, that's as close as I can figure.

I'm working up a new up load for my 996T, it will have about 6,000 freqs.
The 796 and 780 are all known freqs used in FL.
I use the 895 to monitor newly found freqs as you can monitor 10 as priorty.

BMT

daparker_nyc · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 11:45 AM

I live in an apartment in NYC (Manhattan). Maybe it's my equipment--Pro 106 with a rubber duckie-- but the only time I ever hear anything in the Milair bands these days is the once-a-year CAP that's set up for the opening of the UN and the POTUS visit at that time. There were many more CAPs set up in the years following 9/11 but not so much any more.

Doug

N8IAA · #8 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 10:57 AM

Hello Doug. Try a more band specific antenna. Such as a dual band amateur HT rubber duck. This will cover the VHF/UHF portions of the milair band better than the duck included with the 106. I have found that my Pro-163 is a better receiver than my 106. Check on the milair forum here on RR to get more frequencies for your area. Another place to look is Home under the Monitoring Times link and go to the Milcom blogs page. I would think that there is US Coast Guard stuff to listen to also. Patience is also required when milair monitoring. An inexpensive shortwave with SSB might make for some interesting listening on HF overseas flights.
JMTCW,
Larry

Quote:

Originally Posted by daparker_nyc

I live in an apartment in NYC (Manhattan). Maybe it's my equipment--Pro 106 with a rubber duckie-- but the only time I ever hear anything in the Milair bands these days is the once-a-year CAP that's set up for the opening of the UN and the POTUS visit at that time. There were many more CAPs set up in the years following 9/11 but not so much any more.

Doug

daparker_nyc · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 10:07 PM

Hi Larry,
Thanks for your post. I have a Maldol AL-500H antenna that I use when I scan the air bands but even with it, my hits on MILAIR frequencies are few. I do follow the Maryland sticky thread for activity and It's been helpful when a CAP is in place around NYC. I've programmed in all of the UHF frequencies in use for New York Center as well as any frequencies I've seen reported as in use in my area. But with no nearby bases or air refueling tracks, the MILAIR bands are generally real quiet. However, after being in Manhattan on 9/11 (two blocks from the WTC that morning), I'll gladly trade the presence of F-16s in the skies for some tranquility on the ground.

In my youth, I was an avid SWL and had a nice Hallicrafters receiver (I know, I'm dating myself) set up in my family's country house on Long Island with a very long wire stretched out my window and attached to a nearby tree. I pulled in all kinds of stuff back then on HF...Military, Airliners, Apollo mission support ships and aircraft. Lotsa fun. But now, my wife and kid would consider me bonkers if I did the same in my Manhattan apartment.

Doug

Quote:

Originally Posted by N8IAA

Hello Doug. Try a more band specific antenna. Such as a dual band amateur HT rubber duck. This will cover the VHF/UHF portions of the milair band better than the duck included with the 106. I have found that my Pro-163 is a better receiver than my 106. Check on the milair forum here on RR to get more frequencies for your area. Another place to look is Home under the Monitoring Times link and go to the Milcom blogs page. I would think that there is US Coast Guard stuff to listen to also. Patience is also required when milair monitoring. An inexpensive shortwave with SSB might make for some interesting listening on HF overseas flights.
JMTCW,
Larry

MPSCS · #10 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 05:21 PM

Anyone using the new Uniden BCT15X for MilAir?

Thanks

DPD1 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daparker_nyc

I live in an apartment in NYC (Manhattan). Maybe it's my equipment--Pro 106 with a rubber duckie-- but the only time I ever hear anything in the Milair bands these days is the once-a-year CAP that's set up for the opening of the UN and the POTUS visit at that time. There were many more CAPs set up in the years following 9/11 but not so much any more.

Doug

Your best bet are the UHF center freqs. You should get transitional stuff with those. The trick is that you really need to just listen to that. If you have fire or other stuff going, you decrease your chances greatly, because you'll miss it.