EWR Tower

[Salvatorejrc]

Did not want to put this in the aviation forum because I'd rather get answers from locals who scan the same stuff. I've never monitored any sort of aircraft or tower before so forgive me. I was wondering if and how I can receive EWR, JFK, Laguardia tower, departure, approach, all of that stuff with my sds100. I am in Montville Township, so roughly 19 miles away from EWR. Thank you.

 

[GTR8000]

The only person who can answer that is you, by programming the frequencies in and listening to them. 19 miles away to receive the tower with a handheld (assuming using the stock rubber ducky antenna) is a stretch. You'll probably hear the aircraft due to their altitude, but not the tower itself.

 

[Salvatorejrc]

The only person who can answer that is you, by programming the frequencies in and listening to them. 19 miles away to receive the tower with a handheld (assuming using the stock rubber ducky antenna) is a stretch. You'll probably hear the aircraft due to their altitude, but not the tower itself.

I have the frequencies from the DB but I have yet to receive anything.

 

[NParkNJ]

I don’t have the SDS, so can’t comment my own experiences. But...I hear analog is not the SDS’s strong suit.
I’d try if you have it/access to it, the 996p2, or BCT15X, or one closer related to them. I have a lot of analog up here by me, and they come in well. Montville PD, and surrounding areas on P25 also do too. On my 996p2.

 

[GTR8000]

The SDS series performance in the VHF and UHF bands is lacking as compared with traditional scanners, analog or digital, doesn't really matter. Their greatest strength is 700/800 P25, especially when it comes to decoding trunked simulcast.

 

[richee2000]

Did not want to put this in the aviation forum because I'd rather get answers from locals who scan the same stuff. I've never monitored any sort of aircraft or tower before so forgive me. I was wondering if and how I can receive EWR, JFK, Laguardia tower, departure, approach, all of that stuff with my sds100. I am in Montville Township, so roughly 19 miles away from EWR. Thank you.

From your location, on the SDS100, you should be able to monitor aircraft in the air on 118.3, 120.15, and 120.85, (EWR Tower and N90 NY TRACON), which handles EWR Approach and Departure . You will not be able to hear the controller to aircraft comms from your location, usually.

 

[rr60]

My .02. My QTH is mostly line of sight to 118.3 EWR Cab at about 19 miles. I believe there may be significant terrain between you and EWR.

All my x36 and RTL-SDR’s hear it about the same. Low. This is with a real nice antenna and feedline.

For comparison LGA ATIS comes in 10 over S9 as does EWR ATIS.

When they are landing to the south on the 22’s you will most likely hear aircraft as they are near you. When they land to the north on the 4’s not as much approach traffic near you.

liveatc.net has all the ZNY approach sectors, departures and of course the tower. Good luck!

 

[wfagan]

Did not want to put this in the aviation forum because I'd rather get answers from locals who scan the same stuff. I've never monitored any sort of aircraft or tower before so forgive me. I was wondering if and how I can receive EWR, JFK, Laguardia tower, departure, approach, all of that stuff with my sds100. I am in Montville Township, so roughly 19 miles away from EWR. Thank you.

125.5 also in use (maybe instead of 120.15) along northern approach. Flightaware has approaches from about 150 to 200 miles away (STAR), then more locally (ILS) depennding on which runways are in use. Flightradar24 and Liveatc can also help you get a picture of Newark airport approaches/departures. Daytime departure freq from Newark is usually 119.2 I suggest focus on one airport like Newark to get a picture of how things work, then explore others like LGA or JFK. You could go up on the Orange mouuntain to listen to the actual tower on 118.3.

 

[ansky]

I live in West Orange up on the mountain facing Newark. When the leaves are off the trees I can actually see Newark tower in the distance out my window. With that said, I can usually hear the controllers in the tower but it is weak. I would say it would be next to impossible to hear them in Montville unless perhaps you had a very large outdoor antenna installation.

 

[Salvatorejrc]

I got a hit on 125.7, currently trying to decipher whether it was tower or aircraft but I heard something "American 184".

Update: just looked up american airlines flight 184 and it's going into JFK, I that means 125.7 is a JFK frequency?

 

[richee2000]

I got a hit on 125.7, currently trying to decipher whether it was tower or aircraft but I heard something "American 184".

Update: just looked up american airlines flight 184 and it's going into JFK, I that means 125.7 is a JFK frequency?

125.7 is NY Approach, N90 TRACON, Used for JFK Approach