Air Traffic Scanner Suggestion Revisited

[Aerension]

Hello all. I've been out of the game for a few years and haven't been glued in to the most recent updates and current thought.

What are some of your thoughts on the best scanner radios (available to purchase as new) for listening to air traffic and all kinds of flight transmissions (commercial and potential military even though that is lacking in my area)? Wasn't sure if thoughts have changed through the years.

 

[N4DJC]

Budget?

 

[Reconrider]

It all depends on budget.
For air, you'll need an antenna on the outside of the house or you'll get limited traffic.

You'll want something with a FAST scan rate.
I don't know many scanners with fast scan rates, but I have the icom r30 and it's 200 channels / second.

 

[iMONITOR]

The Uniden BCT125AT hand-held and BCT15X base/mobile are excellent performers on both the VHF & UHF bands. Highly recommended, and reasonably priced.

 

[Aerension]

I've made note of a few different models listed in a couple threads now. Uniden BCT125AT , Sporty's PJ2 Handheld COM Radio , Sporty's Air Scan II Radio with AVIATION INTERRUPT, Yaesu FTA-250L.

I'm more familiar with traditional scanners, but I am open to getting dedicated a real aircraft radio. But if the military band of 225-399.9 would be of interest as well, does that basically limit the options to BCT125AT?

Really not sure on budget. I might want a device that is at least borderline portable at the moment. But i'm always open to ideas about desktops and bases for future use scenarios.

 

[vagrant]

Enjoy your new 125AT. I use two and split up Mil Air. No problem with civilian air as well. Don't sweat the lack of 380 - 400 MHz. You're not missing much unless you're nearby something. I'm considering a third one at their low price.

I have the Icom R30 and it is fantastic, but one could purchase several BCT125AT, a run of LMR-400 coax, mast, mount and a discone antenna for the cost of the R30.

 

[N4DJC]

The BCT-15X is a great base analog RX. By far the best bang per buck of any scanner for air or rail.

 

[Aerension]

Thanks for the clarification on some of these devices. I have antenna setups for the base model, but do any of you have any suggestions for an antenna to replace the stock rubber duckie for something like the BCT125AT. Something that targets the airbands and 225-399.9. I will be re-reviewing suggestions in other threads, but just leaving the question here too.

 

[N4DJC]

Check out Smiley Antenna, the telescopic versions (they are very long though) are good for weaker signals.

Their rubber ducks cut for specific frequencies are excellent, but won’t cover wide ranges.

 

[Chris0516]

I have the 325p2. But I spent a year saving up for it. I know it is a Phase II scanner. But it has been worth every penny. Since I got it in 2016.

 

[iMONITOR]

The Uniden BCT125AT hand-held and BCT15X base/mobile are excellent performers on both the VHF & UHF bands. Highly recommended, and reasonably priced.

I have to add to my post above and also recommend the Uniden BCD996P2 for VHF/UHF AM aircraft monitoring as well as P25 digital aircraft!

I was discussing the possibility of getting a BCD996P2 a few weeks ago for air band scanning. In Michigan more and more aircraft are using the MPSCS P25 Phase-1 digital system. Detroit PD has a helicopter using it, as well as the Macomb County Sheriff, State Police, medical/hospital, U.S.C.G, Border Patrol/Customer,ETC. Wanting to keep all my aircraft monitoring on one scanner I bought a BCD996P2. This is definitely my new go-to scanner for aircraft. Performance is noticeably better than any other scanner/receiver I've tried. I don't think there is anything I haven't tried.

 

[vagrant]

If I need to use an antenna directly on the BCT125AT, I use either the Diamond SRH320A with an adapter, or the Diamond RH951S for combined civilian and military air bands. It is my understanding that a better combined antenna for those two ranges is the Maldol AL-500H. I would like to find one of those. It would get used almost daily. I also often use the AS-1404/PRC-41 which handles 225-400 MHz very well, but it is something I use offset from a scanner/receiver using a short patch cable.

I have antenna setups for the base model, but do any of you have any suggestions for an antenna to replace the stock rubber duckie for something like the BCT125AT. Something that targets the airbands and 225-399.9.

 

[KB2GOM]

I've had good luck with the Diamond RH77CA for air reception with my BC125AT.

 

[Chris0516]

I have to add to my post above and also recommend the Uniden BCD996P2 for VHF/UHF AM aircraft monitoring as well as P25 digital aircraft!

I was discussing the possibility of getting a BCD996P2 a few weeks ago for air band scanning. In Michigan more and more aircraft are using the MPSCS P25 Phase-1 digital system. Detroit PD has a helicopter using it, as well as the Macomb County Sheriff, State Police, medical/hospital, U.S.C.G, Border Patrol/Customer,ETC. Wanting to keep all my aircraft monitoring on one scanner I bought a BCD996P2. This is definitely my new go-to scanner for aircraft. Performance is noticeably better than any other scanner/receiver I've tried. I don't think there is anything I haven't tried.

I only disagree, in that. The 996p2 is the Base model. You can't 'pick it up and take it with you'. I have the handheld alternative of the 996p2, the 325p2.

The flipside is. If you just tap a telescopic antenna on the 325p2, in a 'fully extended' position. It becomes easy to knock it over.

So, Both have their advantages, and disadvantages