Tinker AFB-can I listen to ATC

[tboneman]

Hi,
I'm new here so if this is off topic or in the wrong place, let me know.

We live about three miles from the end of the two runways at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City.

Before I go out and buy a $200 scanner (or even a $100 scanner), can anybody tell me if its possible to listen to the Tinker ATC traffic, first off, streaming live from the Internet, and then, if not, on a purchased scanner?

Appreciate.

Wes

 

[aprswatcher]

Tinker AFB ATC

Here is a URL to Tinker AFB frequencies, and airfield layout.
AirNav: KTIK - Tinker Air Force Base

My suggestion would be to printout the listing and take it to a Radio Shack store and have them program in some of them.
I would suggest a scanner that is capable of receiving VHF and UHF mil-air. A knowledgible salesperson should be able to recommend what scanner would be needed.
Might also look thru the wikipedia section of the different scanners and see which ones will receive VHF & UHF mil-air. It is the light yellow box in the lower right corner.
Here is the URL to the wikipedia pages.
http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Main_Page

Hope this helps,
73, Rex

 

[steveh552]

Forget going to radioshack. You can order a scanner from one of the amateur centers cheaper undless of course you want the radioshack brand. Universal radio has a 396T on their used list for $319 and I would bet if you called them you could get it for a few bucks less. They also sell the BCT15 new for 229. Radioshack wants alot more for the same units.

 

[tboneman]

Thanks for the comebacks.
Appreciate the info on the scanners. But what about streaming their ATC live from the Internet?

I DLd a three page list of frequencies used at Tinker from RadioReference.com - Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference. There are 31 frequencies for just the AWACS fleet. Where can I try to hear some of their traffic live on the Internet? Thanks.

 

[musicman1260]

More than likely you will not be able to hear much of anything on the internet,because all of the websites that have live feeds the feeders seem to forget about UHF which is used very often by military aircraft,most of the sites the feeders have the VHF frequencies but do not have the UHF frequencies at all.

 

[baj6974]

I live in Dallas,TX and with a extendable antenna w/ a 90 degree connector for it I can monitor Tinker AFB on a BC 898T that I bought @ Fry's for $200

 

[tboneman]

OK, that tells me the ATC traffic is in the clear (apparently). I live 3 miles from the end of the Tinker runways, so distance isn't a problem. I still don't know if this traffic can be streamed from the Internet.

 

[K4DHR]

OK, that tells me the ATC traffic is in the clear (apparently). I live 3 miles from the end of the Tinker runways, so distance isn't a problem. I still don't know if this traffic can be streamed from the Internet.

There is nobody feeding it on Liveatc.net.

As someone mentioned earlier, there aren't many people feeding UHF stuff, mainly because the traffic is pretty hit or miss. *Most* of us feeding to liveatc.net tend to use less expensive scanners, which usually do not have UHF air band capability anyway. There is little point in spending much of money on a scanner that is just going to sit and monitor 1-5 frequencies 24/7, when any basic scanner will monitor VHF air right out of the box. Why spend $200 on a scanner when an $80 one will do? My feed runs off of a Pro-83, which I picked up on clearance for $30.

Since you're so close, why not consider hosting a feed yourself? It doesn't require much in the way of a computer, I'm using a 8-9 year old P3 1GHz that I saved from the dumpster at a place I used to work at.

Where in OKC are you, BTW? My first day at the Academy for ATC is tomorrow (Monday, 18th). I'll be here for about 4 months.

 

[Astrak]

OK, that tells me the ATC traffic is in the clear (apparently). I live 3 miles from the end of the Tinker runways, so distance isn't a problem. I still don't know if this traffic can be streamed from the Internet.

I don't think any aircraft comms will be encrypted traffic you should be able to monitor any air traffic you want to. I just recently sold my Radioshack PRO-97 which did UHF Mil-air just fine for $120.00 and that included a wall charger and the telescoping antenna and programming cable, so I'm sure you can find a deal on something that will let you monitor ATC just fine for fairly cheap. Check out Ebay and craigslist.