This site mainly tracks regional area Mil aircraft via ADSB radar boxes and UHF/VHF radios. No need for expensive digital radios like you listed.
I use several old Bearcat 780/785 radios with UHF 200MHZ-400MHZ AM/FM capabilities. Also a Bearcat BCT-15X which is newer version of the same.The more radios the better.. Also use a Stridsberg multi coupler to connect one antenna cable to multiple radios.
You can get those old Bearcats on e-Bay for cheap..
You have a lot of interesting UHF Milcoms out your way with Boeing,McChord AFB and NAS Whidbey Island.
A roof type antenna is always best and lots to choose from,Yagi beam types and Discone Scanner types as well even the old roof TV antennas
do a nice job....
I love my
SDS200 and about to go after the
SDS100. I like the flexibility and the bling! Plus the fact that I have mine programmed with fire, police, Aviation, military aviation, ham radio. I like the fact of modernization. I also like the fact that I can take the same programming and move it to the 100 as well.
As for antenna, I have a simple Discone antenna that is at least 8 feet above the roofline. My antenna was reasonably cheap. From my house on the air band I can hear A/C at altitude from about Cape May NJ to almost Va Beach east, then roughly around South Hill VA west to Roanoke VA. West to Cumberland MD and north to about Reading PA. Now as for low flying and ground, I cannot usually hear KBWI, DCA, or Dulles due to the ground interferences, elevations, and features. But if the weather is terrible and there is a skip then I can sometimes hear them.
Comet Antenna DS-150S Discone Scanner Antenna
