Need more radios

[Zombiel3]

Air to Air frequencies are just that. Plane to plane. ARTCC is the Air Route Traffic Control Centers that take over comms once the aircraft exist the airport control space and then hand them off to the destination airport

You will find ARTCC frequencies listed in the RR database for each US state. I don't know where to find the Air Control Centre frequencies in Canada.

You can listen for aircraft callsigns and track them with Flightradar 24 app on your phone.

I know the 2 closest to me are Toronto Centre and Montreal Centre because that is what I hear CFB Trenton tower handing planes off to when they fly through. I'm going to program them in.
I have Flightradar24 on my phone already.

 

[10-43]

The UBC125XLT is the Uniden European version of the US BC125AT
The UBC126AT is the Uniden Australian/New Zealand version of the US BC125AT / UBC125XLT
The Albrecht AE125 is a German licensed version (so one could say more EU) version of the UBC125XLT

The basic difference of these are detailed here: Scan125 Control Program User Manual

Thanks for the detail. I didn't keep up with that info, but have seen it before. I only noticed the Albrecht AE125 recently.

 

[10-43]

I know the 2 closest to me are Toronto Centre and Montreal Centre because that is what I hear CFB Trenton tower handing planes off to when they fly through. I'm going to program them in.
I have Flightradar24 on my phone already.

Sounds like you have a good start. The paid version of Flightradar 24 has a really nice feature. You can point your phone at aircraft you see and it will list it. You can also scan the sky looking for aircraft.

 

[prcguy]

$125 US is over $170 Canadian.

Move south and enjoy the warm weather and cheap MVT-7100s.

 

[Zombiel3]

That one seems to be in good shape. The seller does disclose an issue with the battery holder. It looks like a bad rechargeable battery overheated and melted it a little bit, but it seems to look like it still is usable. The yellow battery holders allow for charging in the scanner. The black ones do not. You do not want to put alkaline batteries in the yellow battery holder and connect the scanner to external power. Maybe that's what melted the yellow battery holder. You can buy the battery holders on eBay, but they are charging big bucks for them. If the yellow holder works, you don't need the black one if you don't use non rechargeable batteries in it while connected to external power.

The seller sent me an offer for 10% off but for some reason raised the price from $25 to $40 which makes the total more expensive. We are currently in negotiations. If he drops the shipping back down to the original price he's got a deal.

 

[Zombiel3]

Sounds like you have a good start. The paid version of Flightradar 24 has a really nice feature. You can point your phone at aircraft you see and it will list it. You can also scan the sky looking for aircraft.

Ha! I think I'll pass on that feature.

 

[Zombiel3]

Move south and enjoy the warm weather and cheap MVT-7100s.

LOL that's OK I'll freeze thanks.

 

[Zombiel3]

Update: I bought that Radio Shack Pro-164 on eBay. Came to just over $100 CAD with shipping. Expected delivery is Aug 12-22ND.
You guys have been super helpful! Thank you all for the advice, tips and info.

 

[10-43]

Update: I bought that Radio Shack Pro-164 on eBay. Came to just over $100 CAD with shipping. Expected delivery is Aug 12-22ND.
You guys have been super helpful! Thank you all for the advice, tips and info.

I have 2 of them and I think you will like it. Looks like you got the last one currently listed on eBay. It really did appear to be in good condition. If you find the volume control a bit scratchy in the speaker when adjusting volume which is really just an annoyance and not a continual noise once the volume is set, PM me and I can give you a fix. I have used both along with my BCD396XT and BCT15X connected to an RF distribution amplifier fed by a custom VHF/UHF antenna I built a few years ago. The BCD396XT searches for 137-143.975 and 148-150.775 MHZ. One PRO164 searches for 225-325 and the other 325-400 since the PRO-164 step size is 12.5 khz from 380-400. The BCT15X is dedicated to scanning known frequencies. Recently I have used the BCD325P2 and BCD996P2 instead of the PR0-164. My dist amp only has 4 ports so I can't use them all except by themselves. This setup really worked well in the Florida Keys.

 

[10-43]

Update: I bought that Radio Shack Pro-164 on eBay. Came to just over $100 CAD with shipping. Expected delivery is Aug 12-22ND.
You guys have been super helpful! Thank you all for the advice, tips

FYI

Easier to Read Pro-164/163 PSR300/C/400/C Scanner Manual

Owners manual

https://www.scancat.com/OnLineHelp/OEM_Radio_Owners_Manuals/PRO-163-164-OWNERS%20MANUAL_2000164_PM_EN.pdf

 

[ttkoestner]

If you looking for a base. Here is the best scanner ever made.
Good deals on Ebay used. Also you don't need more AIR BAND radios you just one good one. Bearcat BC895XLT

This would make him an awesome scanner.

 

[Ubbe]

This would make him an awesome scanner.

If he has huge RF overload and intermod issues it might be good, but it has a 2uV sensitivity in the AM airband and 5uV are still within specs, compared to a BC125AT's 0,4uV.

/Ubbe

 

[10-43]

This would make him an awesome scanner.

That Radio Shack Pro-2005 and the 2006 were great. I had a 2006 but I can't say it is better than the BCT15X. I wouldn't want a Pro-2006 over the BCT15X. I find the BCT15X hard to beat, especially being only about $159.99 to $179.99. The 2006 is less sensitive had no alpha tagging or CTCSS/DCS for conventional frequencies or PC programming without adding the Opto interface. I would think the BC895XLT would be slow searching 225-400 with the frequency steps locked at 12.5khz. The 12.5khz step for 108-137 makes no sense. Reception wise it may be quite good, but I never had one to know.

 

[TAC4]

That Radio Shack Pro-2005 and the 2006 were great. I had a 2006 but I can't say it is better than the BCT15X. I wouldn't want a Pro-2006 over the BCT15X. I find the BCT15X hard to beat, especially being only about $159.99 to $179.99. The 2006 is less sensitive had no alpha tagging or CTCSS/DCS for conventional frequencies or PC programming without adding the Opto interface. I would think the BC895XLT would be slow searching 225-400 with the frequency steps locked at 12.5khz. The 12.5khz step for 108-137 makes no sense. Reception wise it may be quite good, but I never had one to know.

Yep the BC895XLT scans Mil Air Band at 25 Mhz steps

 

[TAC4]

I know the 2 closest to me are Toronto Centre and Montreal Centre because that is what I hear CFB Trenton tower handing planes off to when they fly through. I'm going to program them in.
I have Flightradar24 on my phone already.

Are you picking up any CFB Trenton traffic, what is an active frequency? Thanks

 

[10-43]

Yep the BC895XLT scans Mil Air Band at 25 Mhz steps

That's good. The manual states 12.5khz and no way to change it. Must be an older version or a typo. I wanted one of them when they were a current model, but I don't remember why I didn't buy one.

 

[tvengr]

Update: I bought that Radio Shack Pro-164 on eBay.

You can use Butel ARC300 software for programming it.

 

[10-43]

You can use Butel ARC300 software for programming it.

It is very easy to program manually, but I also recommend ARC300. You will need a programming cable. Radio Shack scanners didn't come with a programming cable.

Radio Shack 20-546 USB Scanner Programming Cable | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Radio Shack 20-546 USB Scanner Programming Cable at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

You may be able to find one used for cheaper or a compatible one. They will look similar to this one in that the scanner connector is a 3 contact earphone style plug and they will be for use with GRE, Radio Shack and some Whistler scanners. You don't use the 3 contact to 2 contact adapter that comes with that cable.

Your investment is small, so you may want to try the scanner programming it manually at first.

 

[Zombiel3]

I have 2 of them and I think you will like it. Looks like you got the last one currently listed on eBay. It really did appear to be in good condition. If you find the volume control a bit scratchy in the speaker when adjusting volume which is really just an annoyance and not a continual noise once the volume is set, PM me and I can give you a fix. I have used both along with my BCD396XT and BCT15X connected to an RF distribution amplifier fed by a custom VHF/UHF antenna I built a few years ago. The BCD396XT searches for 137-143.975 and 148-150.775 MHZ. One PRO164 searches for 225-325 and the other 325-400 since the PRO-164 step size is 12.5 khz from 380-400. The BCT15X is dedicated to scanning known frequencies. Recently I have used the BCD325P2 and BCD996P2 instead of the PR0-164. My dist amp only has 4 ports so I can't use them all except by themselves. This setup really worked well in the Florida Keys.

I can't wait to get it. You'll be my go-to guy for help with it!

 

[Zombiel3]

FYI

Easier to Read Pro-164/163 PSR300/C/400/C Scanner Manual

Owners manual

https://www.scancat.com/OnLineHelp/OEM_Radio_Owners_Manuals/PRO-163-164-OWNERS%20MANUAL_2000164_PM_EN.pdf

Awesome thank you! "Easier to read" is my preferred language LOL.