BC 125AT selectable modes or milair?

[FoeHammer]

Hey Im looking at getting the 125at as a backup radio for milair , I search alot in the vhf 138-140 range ij AM mode ,..will I be able to do searches there in AM mode ? maybe using custom search ?

 

[hardsuit]

I recommend a ICOM IC-R6 or a AOR mini, both are excellent AM reception, the can also be used to monitor vhf/uhf military in FM and NFM . military am is 200 - 400 MHz AM. the ICOM has 100sec scanning and 7 different scan modes. ICOM goes from 100 Khz to 1300MHz. its a great Vhf AIR band and Vhf Marine band receiver as well. AOR mini has a TCXO for frequency stability. TWO VFO's for monitoring Two frequency at a time. Built in Ferrite Bar antenna insures Super AM broadcast reception, 100 Khz - 1300 MHz

 

[FoeHammer]

I have seen those & I currently have a bcd396t & a yaesu vx6r I was looking at the 125at mostly because , I can get for very very cheap & use it as a beater / lender radio & not worry about it , im just a bit unclear on how flexible the mode selections are ..

 

[wtp]

from what i see

the 125 can not change modes.

 

[letarotor]

There are two problems with the BC125AT when it comes to military aviation monitoring. The first is that you cannot switch the VHF frequencies over to AM mode when doing a search even though you can program them in manually and switch modes. The second is that it cuts off at 380 MHz. Even though 380 - 399.975 MHz has been reallocated, there are still military aviation users up there and you cannot program those frequencies in or search that range. The scanner does a good job on the military aviation bands but I wish Uniden would have fixed those two issues or not created them.

Brian
COMMSCAN

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[questnz]

iCom RC-6 would be an excellent option except terrible manual programming menus, otherwise great scanner/receiver small size, superb battery life etc. Uniden 125 actually is a good value for the money and easy PC programming, searching could be the issue but scanning programmed frequencies is a breeze
US BC version is limited to 380 MHz but UK and Aus/NZ UBC versions are open frequencies 225 up to 520 MHz. Not sure why Uniden cut BC versions at 380 MHz, strange marketing stuff. Air reception is very good with right antenna, cheap Air scanner to keep. ICOM IC-R30 could be the ticket but the price is bit high for the pocket.

 

[FoeHammer]

iCom RC-6 would be an excellent option except terrible manual programming menus, otherwise great scanner/receiver small size, superb battery life etc. Uniden 125 actually is a good value for the money and easy PC programming, searching could be the issue but scanning programmed frequencies is a breeze
US BC version is limited to 380 MHz but UK and Aus/NZ UBC versions are open frequencies 225 up to 520 MHz. Not sure why Uniden cut BC versions at 380 MHz, strange marketing stuff. Air reception is very good with right antenna, cheap Air scanner to keep. ICOM IC-R30 could be the ticket but the price is bit high for the pocket.

Yes I agree I am aware of the limitations , I do use either a bcd396t or yaesu vx6r when I am mobile & need full capability , The reason Im looking at it is ,it does the majority of what we need , its super cheap , AA batteries ,..usb power & charging ..I live right near the airport & from time to time we have some interesting things come in ,..my neighbors are always asking if I have radio they can borrow & I always give them an old crystal radio from the 70's made by radio shack ,..it finally died , so I saw this at a low price , covers civ air & most of milair , so should be great replacement as a casual listener /lender radio , So to be clear I CAN program in vhf freqs in AM mode ? I can search & find them easy enough with my other radios ,..but cant change to am mode in the search ? weird little quirk,...

 

[hardsuit]

unfortunately both Uniden and Whistler suck at motoring HF as well as motoring the AM 200-400 military band , correctly stated they are a scanner and not a Communications Receiver like ICOM, AOR, are. I just wish that someone would build a Handheld receiver as Capable as a Scanner is for Trunking but more Flexable as Communication Receivers are. I was hoping ICOM or AOR would bridge the Digital Devide, and it should be simpler Today because of Commerical SDR chipsets and FPGA programming.

 

[mule1075]

unfortunately both Uniden and Whistler suck at motoring HF

Interesting since they do not cover the hf bands.

 

[letarotor]

So to be clear I CAN program in vhf freqs in AM mode ? I can search & find them easy enough with my other radios ,..but cant change to am mode in the search ? weird little quirk,...

Yes, you got it exactly right

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[Eugene]

To FoeHammer: Look at the UBC125xt.....made for the Canadian market....has full mil-air coverage....225-512 from Amazon UK......cost about 145 USD and got in in less than a week. Butel makes software to program it too (make sure it is the "ubc125xlt and NOT bc125AT). Also if air band is all you want look at the new Uniden EZI-33 XLT Air band Radio Radio Scanner , also Amazon UK....180 Channels, 78-512MHz (with gap) 9 Pre-programmed service banks for 59.50 pounds (76.88 UISD).

Eugene. KG4AVE

 

[Scan125]

If you want a quick comparison of the 125 series of scanners then look here:

https://www.nick-bailey.co.uk/scan125/Manual/Scan125-Manual.html#4

In particular the UBC125XLT covers the Mil Air Band AND ALSO can switch between AM and FM on this and many other bands of frequencies.

The downside of the UBC125XLT is that it's FM mode is actually NFM for unlike the BC125AT commercial FM radio stations can not be received. So in reality the UBC125XLT is AM & NFM only.

All the 125 and 126 series of scanners are supported by my free Scan125 Control Program with full real time control, virtual display, recording functions and much more.

See my signature for link.

 

[pro92b]

That's a very nice comparison chart you provided. Commercial FM broadcast in the US is 88-108 MHz and your chart does not show any of the BC125 variants as covering that range.


The BC125AT has settings for FM and NFM but I believe the only difference between the two is gain in the audio amplifier. NFM is 6dB more gain in an attempt to equalize the volume between FM and NFM settings. FM is appropriate in the US on VHF-LO (30-50MHz) while NFM is used above 150 MHz.

 

[Ubbe]

Also if air band is all you want look at the new Uniden EZI-33 XLT Air band Radio Radio Scanner , also Amazon UK....180 Channels, 78-512MHz (with gap) 9 Pre-programmed service banks for 59.50 pounds (76.88 UISD).

It has a gap between 175-406MHz. No volume, squelch or selector knob, just arrows to select values when programming channels. Only AM mode are in the 118-137MHz range. No computer interface so it must be a frustrating experiance trying to configure it the way you want it. Who is this scanner aimed at?

/Ubbe

 

[Eugene]

Couldn't tell you.....Uniden might know better than I since they introduced it. I did read about programming....not my cup of tea which is why I did not purchase. Since the OP was lookin for civil and milair for cheap, thought I would mention it.

Eugene KG4AVE

 

[pinballwiz86]

The second is that it cuts off at 380 MHz. Even though 380 - 399.975 MHz has been reallocated, there are still military aviation users up there and you cannot program those frequencies in or search that range.

380-400 is mainly trunked radio systems in use by the Department of Defense. So this does not matter too much for monitoring mil air.

I LOVE the 125AT. It's an excellent air band scanner.

 

[letarotor]

380-400 is mainly trunked radio systems in use by the Department of Defense. So this does not matter too much for monitoring mil air.

I LOVE the 125AT. It's an excellent air band scanner.

Yeah it doesn't matter as much as it used to but there is even some ATC towers in the DFW area that have frequencies above 380 MHz. It's not as big of a deal and I have plenty of other radios I can use to monitor those frequencies if I need to. I love my BC125AT as well. It's one of the best handheld scanners for military that I've had since my Pro 43. Now that's a radio I miss and it was by far the best I think.

The Fort Worth Naval Air Station uses that DOD system here.

Ryan
COMMSCAN

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[questnz]

Agree with Ubbe, Don't buy EZI 33 xlt thingy, its a toy, pay extra and get 125. One warning, be careful with keypad membrane, easy to worn out and Uniden don't have replacement to sell. Otherwise all have been said already, great AIR scanner

 

[SMBaugh2]

380-400 is mainly trunked radio systems in use by the Department of Defense. So this does not matter too much for monitoring mil air.

I LOVE the 125AT. It's an excellent air band scanner.

I will second that I use a BC125AT here on our base and it works great!

 

[Eugene]

I agree.....the OP wanted cheap aviation so I mentioned it....actually the best I had was a BC330XLT which is discontinued.....was more sensitive than the BC125 and did HF.....picked up the tower and controllers for the local TRACON (Norfolk) from 8 miles which the BC125 does not do.....but it suffered from strong interference....even with a filter so.........the UBC125XLT is the next best thing.....slightly better than the 396XT and much better that the 496HP (in my experience with comparison).

Eugene. KG4AVE