AM Frequencies

[mikeydcg2003]

I have a BC898T Scanner and live in the Des Moines, IA Area. I can pickup various trunks, and lone frequencies just fine if they are either NFM or FM. I have a hard time picking up the Airplanes on the AM Frequncies. I have the correct channels programmed in per the RR database, and sometimes i can hear a few planes, but i never hear any reply back from the Tower. Is there any special antenna that anyone can recommend that might pick these up a bit Better. For Refrence, i am 25 Miles from the Airport.

Thanks
Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

You didn't say if you were using an external antenna of any kind - but even with that, 25 miles is stretching it. The tower freqs are optimized to cover only a small area - perhaps a couple of miles tops. They're more concerned with planes than they are with the ground, hi.

Even with a good antenna like a discone or Scantenna (or even a NilJon...) mounted nice and high, it's going to be difficult. 73s Mike

 

[Saint]

re-range

You didn't say if you were using an external antenna of any kind - but even with that, 25 miles is stretching it. The tower freqs are optimized to cover only a small area - perhaps a couple of miles tops. They're more concerned with planes than they are with the ground, hi.

Even with a good antenna like a discone or Scantenna (or even a NilJon...) mounted nice and high, it's going to be difficult. 73s Mike

I live six miles from the Buffalo NY airport the way the crow fly's and with my Diamond discone antenna 20 feet up in the air I just pick up the control tower, you may do better depending on where you are and your situations get better reception. ???
Steve

 

[mikeydcg2003]

I only have the one that came with the unit so no it's an internal antenna. It's the one that comes with the uniden unit. I would like to get a better antenna but not sure where to find one. Any ideas?