KB2GOM
Active Member
The candidates: Uniden 436 with Diamond 77 antenna, Uniden SDS200 connected to off-center fed dipole, Icom R6 with 20-inch telescopic whip, Uniden 125 with 20-inch telescopic whip.
The 436 and the SDS200 were scanning the Aviation portion of their internal databases; the R6 and 125 were scanning identical lists of CivAir that I had programmed.
The results: the 436 and SDS200 had far fewer hits than the R6 or 125.
It was a real footrace between the R6 and 125. Sometimes the R6 was picking up stuff that the 125 wasn't hearing, and sometimes it was reversed. There was no clear winner. The inexpensive telescopic antennas, set to 20 inches, worked well on both radios.
If pressed, I would say that the R6 appeared a tiny bit -- and I do mean tiny -- bit more sensitive than the 125, but the 125 is easier to use. I did not have the R15 to compare.
Bottom line: if your primary target is Civilian Air frequencies, and you have the R6, use it and be happy. Ditto the Uniden 125. And I think you might be surprised at how well a simple metallic whip antenna set to 20 inches works on either one.
The 436 and the SDS200 were scanning the Aviation portion of their internal databases; the R6 and 125 were scanning identical lists of CivAir that I had programmed.
The results: the 436 and SDS200 had far fewer hits than the R6 or 125.
It was a real footrace between the R6 and 125. Sometimes the R6 was picking up stuff that the 125 wasn't hearing, and sometimes it was reversed. There was no clear winner. The inexpensive telescopic antennas, set to 20 inches, worked well on both radios.
If pressed, I would say that the R6 appeared a tiny bit -- and I do mean tiny -- bit more sensitive than the 125, but the 125 is easier to use. I did not have the R15 to compare.
Bottom line: if your primary target is Civilian Air frequencies, and you have the R6, use it and be happy. Ditto the Uniden 125. And I think you might be surprised at how well a simple metallic whip antenna set to 20 inches works on either one.
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