Looking for portable radio to replace Uniden BC-350C.

[AnPed]

About 2 years ago, I bought a Uniden BC-350C with the intention of listening to live air traffic control. However, because I didn't have an exterior antenna, I wasn't able to pickup anything. My scanner has been sitting there on my desk unused with plenty of dust collecting.

I'm looking to buy a portable scanner/radio to use when I go planespotting with my friend at LAX. I'm thinking of the Sporty's SP-400, considering I'm a private pilot and having a backup radio sounds useful to have. Of course, I'll be very careful not to hit the transmit button whenever I'm out spotting under runway 24R. It is a bit expensive though and more than I'd like to spend; I'm not instrument rated yet so the fancy glideslope receiver that radio has is unnecessary. Is there perhaps a cheaper radio out there that's recommended to purchase with just COM functionality, possibly? Or if I was looking to be able to listen to ATC comms as cheap as possible, should I be looking at a portable scanner? Any recommendations for portable scanners/radios?

Lastly, this BC-350C is useless and I'm thinking of donating it to my flight school/rental place, assuming I can't get more than $50 out of selling it. Someone give me a ballpark estimate on how much I can sell it for? It's practically brand new.

 

[737mech]

New Uniden model

About 2 years ago, I bought a Uniden BC-350C with the intention of listening to live air traffic control. However, because I didn't have an exterior antenna, I wasn't able to pickup anything. My scanner has been sitting there on my desk unused with plenty of dust collecting.

I'm looking to buy a portable scanner/radio to use when I go planespotting with my friend at LAX. I'm thinking of the Sporty's SP-400, considering I'm a private pilot and having a backup radio sounds useful to have. Of course, I'll be very careful not to hit the transmit button whenever I'm out spotting under runway 24R. It is a bit expensive though and more than I'd like to spend; I'm not instrument rated yet so the fancy glideslope receiver that radio has is unnecessary. Is there perhaps a cheaper radio out there that's recommended to purchase with just COM functionality, possibly? Or if I was looking to be able to listen to ATC comms as cheap as possible, should I be looking at a portable scanner? Any recommendations for portable scanners/radios?

Lastly, this BC-350C is useless and I'm thinking of donating it to my flight school/rental place, assuming I can't get more than $50 out of selling it. Someone give me a ballpark estimate on how much I can sell it for? It's practically brand new.

There's a new Uniden scanner mostly for Airband called the BC125AT just read the post release thread on it. Might fit what you're looking for?

 

[JStemann]

We have used the Icom IC-a24's at work with good results. The price is a bit better than the sport's radio, too.

Jeff.

 

[davedaver1]

...I'm thinking of donating it to my flight school/rental place, assuming I can't get more than $50 out of selling it. Someone give me a ballpark estimate on how much I can sell it for? It's practically brand new.

They are not a bad radio - they go for $40-60 on eBay. Air band, on the ground, definitely needs an outside antenna though.