I can't hear Indianapolis International Airport Control

[racin06]

I have several aircraft frequencies entered in my scanner. I can receive transmissions from aircraft communicating with Indy Center (ARTCC), Indy Departure and Indy Approach; however, I can't receive the transmissions from Indy to the aircraft. In other words, I can only hear the pilots and not the ATC personnel. I live approximately 20 miles (as the crow flies) from the airport. What kind of setup would I need (antenna, antenna height, other equipment, etc.) in order to receive the ATC transmissions. I have a Pro-96 scanner. Thanks.

 

[crayon]

racin06,

Twenty miles is quite a distance for trying to receive comms from ATC back to the aircraft. Kinda sucks not hearing both side of the conversation doesn't?

As far as what type of setup .. if you really, really want to hear ATC, I would put a small tower (45' or so) and use a yagi; something with like 15 or 20 dB of gain.

You might have to build your own yagi to the frequency range .. but half the fun of scanning is messing around with stuff anyways, right?

 

[KR4BD]

I live about 5 miles from the Lexington, KY Airport and have problems hearing ground transmissions to the aircraft on my handheld scanners unless I am withing a mile or two of the airport. The reason for this is due to the fact that the ground transmitters are very low power and will not travel far via groundwave. Being VHF (mostly around 120 to 130 MegaHertz), these low power signals will, however, travel a hundred miles or more (Line-of-Sight) to aircraft in flight. The "in-flight" plane's transmissions, also using low power, are easily heard over wide areas on most scanners as you are in a "line-of-sight" situation with a flying aircraft. The signal "footprint" of a flying aircraft increases as it gains altitude.

The advice above about getting a yagi antenna up about 50' feet, aimed right at the airport, is good advice. I can get my local airport ground transmissions very clearly thanks to an antenna up about 40 feet on my ham radio tower.

By the way, I used to live in Indianapolis (near W. 10th and County Line Road) which is much closer to the airport than you are. While even only a few miles away, the ground control transmissions were not alway very clear in that area.

Good luck.

 

[racin06]

Crayon/KR4BD,

Thanks for answering my questions. Yes, I love to tinker with things. Installing my own tower would be some serious fun for me. However, I wonder how my wife will react to having a 50ft. tower in my back yard? :lol:

Also, I'll probably have to check out my homeowners association rules also. It wouldn't surprise me if the rules forbid against having my own tower. Oh well, I'll just have to see. Thanks again.

 

[KR4BD]

Attn: racin06

You are right about installing towers these days. Virtually all newer subdivisions (within 20 years old, or so) restrict or prohibit towers and oftentimes, even outdoor antennas. Fortunately, I checked into all these potential problems BEFORE I bought my home 20 years ago.

Now, about pleasing the wife, I converted mine years ago. She is also a ham radio operator! So, she tolerates my 50' tower and antennas all over the backyard and roof! I can operate on all ham frequencies from 160 meters through 70 centimeters (1.8 mHz to 450 mHz). Such a range of frequencies requires quite an assortment of yagis, slopers, dipoles, etc., not to mention my "generic" scanner antenna side-mounted near the top of the tower!!!

 

[crayon]

She is also a ham radio operator!

Operator being the key word here, eh? Until something breaks ...

When it comes to antennas, yet another good reason to be a ham is PRB-1.

http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/ant-how-to-charts.html#covenants

 

[WI9NDY]

Indianapolis Airport Comms

Good luck an hearing the IND ground. I have worked out by the airport so I have listened to their communications. Approach and deapature is low profile so not much signal (don't need much when you are talking to a 10,000 foot mobile.) Ground clearance is even worse and is hard to hear even near by. Best wishes

Rich WI9NDY

 

[ind224]

Indianpolis Intl.

The yagi is probably the best bet and a discone in second. I'm 11 miles out on the approach path to 23L/R using a discone 30 feet up and LMR 400 I have no problem getting Ground on my 2045. Mt Comfort weather and heliport weather are questionable at times. Airport weather and Eagle Creek are good.
Coax loss is a big issue when you have small signals.

 

[EMD91123]

Hi my name is Michael and I listen to Indianapolis(Perdue Univ.) feed on Liveatc.com. You wouldn't happen to have Indianapolis Center ARTCC frequncies that cover the HIgh and Super High Sectors if there are any in the Indy area.Charts of the secors boundaries and their frequences would be helpfull too.Thanks

MIke

 

[scannerfreak]

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&aid=2234

 

[JoeyC]

Approach/Departure controls and Centers do not necessarily transmit from the airport, in fact many don't. Your proximity to the airport may be irrelevant to whether you hear approach and center controllers. Tower and ground controllers are always at the airport though for obvious reasons.

 

[gremlin96]

if the home owners will not let you have a ant. there may be a way around it.

if you have a attic, or craw space near the roof. you can place one there. you can make 4 low profile ant and place them around a chimney. just have a inch or two sticking above the chimney. paint it to match.

check on lighting rods. do they let you use them. if not approach the homeowners to let every one set them up. a proper grounded house will save you on lighting strikes. they also work good for a ant. nobody would notice that hidden ant.