Aviation Band Receiver

[earlokc]

Agreed on the 125 and 15x. Also, take a look at the BC365CRS. Manual programming and no alpha tags, but honestly it's become my daily driver. After you listen to your local aeropuerte for awhile you really won't need the alpha tags anyway. But you can't lose with the 125 and 15x IMHO.

 

[blackbelter]

+1 for BC160DN. While I do not regularly monitor the Air Band, my 160 DN can easily copy our local tower and ground which is less than 4 miles from my QTH.

 

[N1SQB]

I use a Yaesu FTA-450 as a portable for day to day monitoring.

+1 on Yaesu airband. I use the FT-550L for my daily listening. Love it....

Manny

 

[EAFrizzle]

...Also, take a look at the BC365CRS. Manual programming and no alpha tags, but honestly it's become my daily driver. After you listen to your local aeropuerte for awhile you really won't need the alpha tags anyway...

The scanner that gets most of my airband use, VHF and UHF, is my BC365CRS desktop. If you don't mind manual frequency entry (it's just like running a tape on a 10-key), it's the best bang for your buck in a Uniden base for airband...

The BC365CRS is a real sleeper for airband, and VHF analog in general. Looks decent on a desk, affordable enough that you wouldn't mind leaving it at the office (depending on your office...). It's also a perfect starter scanner for a kid that's interested in radio, or aircraft especially. Just because it doesn't have all the digital and trunking capabilities doesn't mean that it can't do it's job  very well. Very easy to do a range search with it as well.

Don't be surprised if you have more fun with a BC365CRS than you expect...

 

[UTE-GE]

The BC365CRS is a real sleeper for airband, and VHF analog in general.

I dug mine out after years of storage from your posts about the 356. It does do surprising well! Although I'm not overly happy with the teeny sound it produces. I may plug in an external speaker and see what happens.

 

[devicelab]

+1 on Yaesu airband. I use the FT-550L for my daily listening. Love it....

I returned my FTA-250L and purchased the FTA-850AA and bought the Lithium battery separately. It saved me about $50 and I have the AA battery case just in case.

The FTA-850 sounds MUCH better than the FTA-250. I think it could just be a bigger speaker, but I'm not 100% certain it's just the speaker. The overall receive is much better. Also, I think it's slightly more sensitive than the FTA-250.

Big fan of the FTA-850. (It is a tad bulky but that's to be expected.)

 

[kc2asb]

Going older, the Uniden 780XLT table top or a Yupiteru 7100 hand held .

+3 on the Uniden 780XLT. The BCT-15 / 15X are also great.

 

[N1SQB]

I returned my FTA-250L and purchased the FTA-850AA and bought the Lithium battery separately. It saved me about $50 and I have the AA battery case just in case.

The FTA-850 sounds MUCH better than the FTA-250. I think it could just be a bigger speaker, but I'm not 100% certain it's just the speaker. The overall receive is much better. Also, I think it's slightly more sensitive than the FTA-250.

Big fan of the FTA-850. (It is a tad bulky but that's to be expected.)

I chose the 550L because the 850 color screen is hard to see in daylight. Plus I got a really good deal on the 550L. Either way, I love the sound out of these radios.

Manny

 

[kd4moj]

Icom A110. I picked one up at the Orlando hamfest for $125.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

 

[N1SQB]

Icom A110. I picked one up at the Orlando hamfest for $125.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

Good deal!

 

[sean_]

+1 for the BC125AT

if you have this scanner, did you trade out the antenna for something different? Do you think the standard one is acceptable to hear some good traffic, provided you're in the right area?

I'm asking because UTE-GE above recommended a different antenna for airband. Problem is, there are three different antennas for airband to choose from.

Thanks!

 

[devicelab]

I'm asking because UTE-GE above recommended a different antenna for airband. Problem is, there are three different antennas for airband to choose from.

Just get the ICOM A25 antenna. It's a BNC antenna that covers 118-137 and works great for transmitting or receiving.

ICOM FAB02AR

You can buy from several places but be careful of Chinese fakes from E-Bay. They sell at half-cost.

Here's a good price: https://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/5407

 

[joncleve]

I've been using one on my BC125AT for several years, incredible performance,

 

[Ubbe]

Most receivers are sensitive enough at about the same level but what differ are how well they handle interfering transmitters in other bands and the FM broadcast band. If you have no interference then any receiver will work fine. There are some good suggestions in another thread.

Best radio for Air band?

Hello folks, Could you hint what is the best radio for Air band long distance reception please? I mean sensitivity / selectivity/ breakthru immunity / scanning… Many thanks, -m

forums.radioreference.com

/Ubbe

 

[JensLK]

I’m using a Yaesu FT-5 Handheld transceiver for Air Band RX. Great scanning and bank management. Very good if very close to ground station. Good audio. And: full range of military air traffic frequencies.
Important: forget about all Chinese trx with am reception and air band frequencies . It’s a nightmare.

 

[joncleve]

I use my Yaesu FT-70D on the air band, it has great audio and is very sensitive. I ordered a Vertex ATV-10 antenna to use on my 70D and it does make a noticeable difference.

 

[sean_]

Just get the ICOM A25 antenna. It's a BNC antenna that covers 118-137 and works great for transmitting or receiving.

ICOM FAB02AR

You can buy from several places but be careful of Chinese fakes from E-Bay. They sell at half-cost.

Here's a good price: https://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/5407

Thank you. I've ordered that and I'll see if it's more sensitive to airband transmissions.