Military Air to Air listening

[radio10-8]

Has anyone monitored air to air between student and instructor? If so can you tell me with the radio and antenna set-up that you used. I am in an area near a major training base and bombing area. I can see and hear them very well. Sometimes the sound is so scratchy and sounds like bleedover from something. I have the right freqs from a very good source that are currently being used (All matched info on RadioReference) I am new to Milair so any help or setup questions. Yes I have read the Wiki and it was useful. But I know someone can help me.

 

[ka3jjz]

It might help if we knew a bit more about where you are (city/state is fine). A scratchy signal and bleedover suggests possible overloading or intermod issues. What are you using for radio/antenna? All you might need is the right kind of filter. 73s Mike

 

[CommRX]

Since we were given no radio information, I have to ask. If you are in 225 to 400 MHZ range, are you certain you programmed in AM mode? A radio set to FM mode would give you scratchy, garbled results also.

 

[TeRayCodA]

Has anyone monitored air to air between student and instructor? If so can you tell me with the radio and antenna set-up that you used. I am in an area near a major training base and bombing area. I can see and hear them very well. Sometimes the sound is so scratchy and sounds like bleedover from something. I have the right freqs from a very good source that are currently being used (All matched info on RadioReference) I am new to Milair so any help or setup questions. Yes I have read the Wiki and it was useful. But I know someone can help me.

Homebuilt 16 element discone antenna,Fed with RG-11.

I have a Pro-2004,with about 200 channels devoted to mil-air(141-149 Mhz, 225-400 Mhz)
I am near two AR tracks,and hear 3 MOA's, 40 miles from TUL ANG base,and about 50 miles from an Arkansas ANG base,Tinker AFB is about 100 miles away.Lots to hear!

Sounds as if you are not hearing them in AM mode.You must have the capability to set the 141.-149.Mhz freqs to AM.

What scanner are you using?

 

[radio10-8]

Sorry everyone, I was thinking about the question so much I forgot to give you the pieces of the puzzle. Location for the next 6-8 months is in the Arizona desert area near Gila Bend between Luke AFB, Davis-Monthan AFB, Yuma MCAS, Marana Helicopter Training Base and the Goldwater Bombing Range. Radios: Yaesu VR-120, Pro 96 Modified, Pro 2004, BC246T, Icom R2. Antennas: Scantenna and scannerbeam from Antennawarehouse and a discone. Lots of A-10, F-16, Osprey, helos and Tornados. I have AM mode turned on. Could these antennas be too much RF for the radios?

 

[ka3jjz]

OK another couple of questions - on which radio(s) are you hearing the interference? I'd be hesitant to put any good sized antenna on a VR120 or a R2 - their front ends simply aren't going to handle it. I have my doubts about the 246T as well. The 2004 should handle it rather well, and MAYBE even the 96.
Do you have any FM/TV stations nearby? They can be major headaches, particularly if they're close or within line of sight of your antennas. It is also possible that one or more of those sites is overloading you.
Easy test; while you are hearing the interference, switch through those 3 antennas, then just try the standard whip that comes with the radio. If you continue to hear the interference at more or less the same level, you almost certainly have an issue with some sort of mixing product . If the interference drops off, then the antenna(s) you are using are too much for the radio (overload). Odd as it may seem, it might be that some attenuation is in order.
I'm assuming here that no amplifier is being used?

 

[radio10-8]

Thanks to all! Most problems were on my smaller radios. I tried new cable and even removing some of the antenna pieces (As suggested in a P.M. someone sent me.) Once I started writing down what I heard it appeared to be a paging or taxi company out of PHX. Used the GPS and tracked down through the FCC website and found that there was a radio tower in use. I looked around and drove around and found an antenna site about 15-20 from where I was parked to hear and see these jets flying. That was my problem, It gets better! On the fence around the site was a phone number. I called it and inquired about it's use. Here's what I learned. Site is on privately owned land and the tower was started as a ham repeater in the late 70's. Since then the owner has allowed anybody to place an antenna there as long as they pay him a fee. Nextel is offering the owner some good money to place a Nextel site there. Guy I spoke with he thinks the owner will try to keep the current tower and a Nextel tower. The FCC has already contacted the owner about (Sorry I'm not techie) multiple frequency transmissions from antennas mounted to close together. FCC has mentioned to owner of the tower to stop selling tower space. Of course teh guy I spoke with offered me a space on the tower to transmit whatever I wanted for $175 a month.

 

[DPD1]

I've had the same problem when hill-topping to monitor air and sea in a few spots. There's one comm site on a peak about a mile from one spot... The FAA and all kinds of other people have transmitters there. If you try and use a wideband antenna on searches near there, it's impossible. It will stop on every 5th freq. Ham guys come through everywhere. I think a lot of their stuff isn't quite up to spec as it should be.

I think US Tower Corp. owns and leases space on a lot of sites in CA.

Dave
http://www.DPDProductions.com - Custom Scanner, MURS, GMRS, & Ham Antennas-