Inexpensive VHF Air receiver search

[alcahuete]

I'm very aware a scanner will do this. If that was what I was looking for, I would have just purchased him one.

But I'm very specifically not looking for a scanner. Not looking for new scanner, not looking for a used scanner.

Trying to get outside the box here, guys...

Kinda confused by this. Anything you get, from shortwave radio, to scanner, to airband radio, is going to have to be "programmed" to an extent. At the least, you will have to enter the frequency. There really isn't anything decent, to my knowledge, that you just turn on and use. Those Ramsey radios supposedly do it, and there are some very cheap Chinese knockoffs, but how does it decide what you listen to?

 

[WA8ZTZ]

CCrane Skywave or
Sporty's Pilot Shop Air Scan II, AM-FM-Air (with interrupt feature)
both are somewhat over your original budget but you'll be hard pressed to find anything
decent that is less expensive
an analog tunable AM-FM-air portable (if you can even still find a new one) would be too frustrating
for a kid to use given the very short nature of the transmissions
direct keypad frequency entry is the only way to go

 

[mmckenna]

Airport towers are typically fairly low power and unless your nephew is relatively close to the airport, he may not receive much without an outdoor antenna.

Yeah, he's smack in the flight path for SJC, SFO and Some Oakland traffic. Also a lot of the traffic going to the far east passes right over head.

 

[mmckenna]

Kinda confused by this. Anything you get, from shortwave radio, to scanner, to airband radio, is going to have to be "programmed" to an extent. At the least, you will have to enter the frequency. There really isn't anything decent, to my knowledge, that you just turn on and use. Those Ramsey radios supposedly do it, and there are some very cheap Chinese knockoffs, but how does it decide what you listen to?

Looking for a 'VFO' and the ability to directly enter the frequency. I know, a scanner will do that. I was specifically looking for something -other- than a scanner.

 

[mmckenna]

Sporty's Pilot Shop Air Scan II, AM-FM-Air (with interrupt feature)

That's kind of a long the lines of what I'm looking for. Thanks!

 

[spanky15805]

That's pretty neat. Listening to Pandora and have local interrupt Metallica.

 

[jhooten]

How cheap are you?

Airband Aviation Radio Receiver 110-136M Digital Display Air Band Radio Receiver | eBay

Note: This receiver can be used to receive calls between airport towers and aircraft. It must be close to the airport to receive signals. The actual reception distance varies from region to region.

www.ebay.com

 

[mmckenna]

How cheap are you?

I'm cheap, but I have standards.

 

[WB9YBM]

Not looking for a scanner, too complex for a 10 year old. Looking for something he can turn on a listen.

In that case, maybe one of those build-it-yourself kits? (assuming they're still available.) You could do the building. I built one when I was in my early teens--had a big dial & tuning knob and volume control on the front, selectivity was not all that fantastic, but it worked. Unfortunately I forgot who manufactured the kit but maybe someone out there might...

 

[byndhlptom]

Some options:

VHF Radio, Aircraft Band Radio Receiver VHF Portable Band Radio Recorder with | eBay

The design of product is intuitive and easy to operate.Portable design, easy to take it out.There are two ways to listen to radio: external speaker or inserted earplug. External Source: 3.5MM Earplug.

www.ebay.com

Sportys JD-200 Hand Held Air Craft Communicator transceiver | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Sportys JD-200 Hand Held Air Craft Communicator transceiver at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Also Sportys 100, 120 (i have all three pretty much equivalent)

Micom?/Milcom? had several small handhelds

$.02

 

[byndhlptom]

Found these:

HanRongDa HRD-767 AIR Multi Band Radio Aircraft Band Radio Receiver Blacklit LCD Display Lock Button with Headphones Lanyard Storage Bag - Walmart.com

Free 2-day shipping. Buy HanRongDa HRD-767 AIR Multi Band Radio Aircraft Band Radio Receiver Blacklit LCD Display Lock Button with Headphones Lanyard Storage Bag at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

Aviation Radios

Handheld Aviation Radios ready for use. High Quality Aircraft Radios Available Here. Find a radio from our selection to suit your aviation needs.

www.sportys.com

$.02

 

[danesgs]

Found this on PikClik

https://picclick.com/LCD-Digital-Display-Air-Band-Aviation-Radio-110-136M-193561090217.html

Also on the same site :

https://picclick.com/Consumer-Electronics/Radio-Communication/?q=air+band+radio

 

[RobDobbs]

I've got a young nephew (10 years old) that is interested in airplanes. Looking for an inexpensive VHF Air band receiver. I've looked on Amazon and find a few that include AM/FM broadcast, shortwave and air, that would be fine...

-Inexpensive. I'm not buying him a $200 scanner. Think $50 and below (yeah, I know it's not going to be great quality.)
-Portable.
-New, not used.

Might be willing to spend a bit more if it's worth it. He's a good kid and responsible, so it doesn't need to be Fisher Price durable.

Any suggestions?

Radio Shack Pro 2050 was the best aircraft scanner i ever owned

 

[majoco]

Even less buttons to play with.....

HanRongDa HRD-737 Portable Full Band Radio Aircraft Band Receiver FM/AM/SW/ CB/Air/VHF World Band with LCD Display Alarm Clock

 

[byndhlptom]

Maycom was other manufacturer I was thinking of..... AR-101A?

$.02

 

[JimD56]

Definitely BCT125AT. It has Alpha Tagging. Great for a new user 10 years old. Easier than an iPhone. Programs free with Uniden Suite or FreeScan. AND it's only $104 on Amazon.

 

[krokus]

Yeah, thanks.
I probably should have clarified, I'm OK with Chinese stuff, but looking for something decent. I've got a small Tecsun that's been OK, so something along that line.

Why not the Tecsun PL-660? (Is it too far put of the price point?)

 

[wd9cms]

If you can find a Maycom they are nice and small and have an ok receiver. If they have access to a computer you might think about a simple SDR dongle receiver. This will give them the ability to listen to other services as well. They can also learn about computers at the same time!

 

[daddyjohn]

Definitely BCT125AT. It has Alpha Tagging. Great for a new user 10 years old. Easier than an iPhone. Programs free with Uniden Suite or FreeScan. AND it's only $104 on Amazon.

I have a BCT125AT also and it works great for the airplanes.

 

[KB2GOM]

Thanks majoco, that's the sort of useful info I was looking for.

Not looking for a scanner, too complex for a 10 year old. Looking for something he can turn on a listen.

And NOT looking for used.

With the 125AT, you could show the 10-year old how to use the Civilian Air service search. Push two buttons: function and whatever the service number is (I don't have it in front of me.) No programming involved, but not real efficient either.