Monitoring TPIA from Oakville- what antenna?

[TR1]

Hi,
I'm a new user and this is my first post!

I would like to monitor Toronto Pearson Int'l Airport frequencies from the Oakville area. Is this possible and if so, what antenna system would I need? I have a BCD396T.

Thanks in advance and looking fwd to the replies.

 

[mrweather]

You'll have no problem hearing the plane side of the chatter by simply using the antenna supplied with the radio.

However, to hear the ground side you'll need some type of external antenna mounted up in the air. If you're into building your own stuff, there are lots of plans on the 'net for making 1/4 wave groundplane antennas using stiff wire or coat hangers.

If you want something commercially-made, have a look at places like Radioworld or Durham Radio for scanner antennas.

In your case I might even suggest a directional "yagi" antenna pointed at PIA (if that's all you want to monitor).

 

[exkalibur]

I think you mean you want to hear the VHF plane transmissions, but just to be sure - did you want the airplane chatter, or the airport operations stuff?

 

[EJB]

Mike: He means the airplane to tower stuff, not the pilot asking for coffee tea or me stuff with the flight attendants


E

 

[TR1]

mrweather,
Thanks for the info. Do you have any links on how to make a DIY antenna of the type I'd need? My 'google-fu' is pretty strong and I can search myself, but I just don't know what search terms to use.

If I wanted to purchase one, which types/models do you recommend and what exactly are they called? Just wanted to have a look on the two retailer sites you mentioned.

The 'yagi' sounds good but I think a general purpose antenna [non-directional?] that I could use to increase my range overall, might be better.

exkalibur and EJB,
Oops, I should've been more specific. I'm interested in monitoring communications between aircraft and the tower and in the airport operations [AOCC] stuff as well.

Thanks guys.

 

[mciupa]

Welcome to RadioReference

I would recommend a Diamond RH-77CA ,should give you excellent results for AirBand and superb on Fleetnet too.

Do you need PIA freq's ?

The best resource is canairradio , check out the Pearson link :

http://www.canairradio.com/yyz.html

 

[hypersight]

mrweather,
Thanks for the info. Do you have any links on how to make a DIY antenna of the type I'd need? My 'google-fu' is pretty strong and I can search myself, but I just don't know what search terms to use.

Hi TR1
You can try searching for "diople antenna" and "yagi antenna" You should get some good results. Here is a site on how to make a yagi antenna. http://www.skyscan.ca/Antennas.htm
Since you are so close I doubt you will need a yagi to grab the Pearson comms. I live in between HWY 9 and HWY 89 just south of Alliston and I can receive the tower and aircraft on the ground from my homemade diopole made from basically junk and a couple of things from the dollar store. The planes on the ground come in a bit staticy but I can make out what they are saying. Here are some pics of my dipole I made last summer if you are interested.....

 

[hypersight]

BTW I forgot to mention I cut the dipole for about 140 MHz.....primarily for Fleetnet.

 

[wyldman]

The homemade dipole works well.Not sure if it will you do any good in Oakville.

I have a hard time getting ground comms from the west side of the airport.I think it's just too low.Aircraft comms are no problem.

When heading north,it's a lot easier to pick them up,as your much higher up.

 

[EJB]

Welcome to RadioReference

I would recommend a Diamond RH-77CA ,should give you excellent results for AirBand and superb on Fleetnet too.

Do you need PIA freq's ?

The best resource is canairradio , check out the Pearson link :

http://www.canairradio.com/yyz.html

I have the same antenna, it does a pretty good general job esp on low and VHF hi.
MCuipa-This new member works out in the hood aka rexdale, he is a neighbour of us.

Eric

 

[TR1]

mciupa,
Thanks for the welcome.
I think I'm going to try out one of the RH-77CA antennas that you and Eric have recommended.
Had a look through the canairradio.com link you provided. Good stuff, thanks again.

---
Hi hypersight,
Thanks for the link from skyscan.ca and as well for the photos you posted. Love that one "antenna eye view" looking out over the landscape. Cheers.

---
wyldman,
Thanks for the comments. I'll have to see if I'm affected by the elevation factor(s) you mentioned.

---
Eric,
Thanks for all your help getting me started and for recommeding rr.com; this is a great resource.

TR1