Need more radios

[tvengr]

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

It's pretty easy entering frequencies. What is really time consuming is entering alpha tags one character at a time by pressing a 2-button code. With the software, you can type in the alpha tags from the computer keyboard.

 

[Zombiel3]

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]

The sensitivity of the PRO-164 is measured by the 20 db S/N method, which does not really compare to the 12 db SINAD method measured with the BC125AT. They are of course two very different methods which I could explain, but probably not necessary.

However, 2 uV 20 db S/N does compare favorably to 0.3 uV 12 db SINAD. I cannot tell that my BCD325P2 is any more sensitive than the PRO-164 receiving the same transmissions with the same antenna fed to each via an RF distribution amplifier.

While the two methods are sort of apples and oranges, they will produce different uV levels that can produce the same level of performance on the same receiver.


The PRO-164 is triple conversion superhet and I have not had noticeable issues with intermod or images.

I can easily measure S/N method at home, but not SINAD due to lack of test equipment.

The sensitivity for the BCD325P2 which are similar to the BC125AT are measured by SINAD method for FM and AM.

Being curious, I looked at the specs for two of my ham radio transceiver and discovered something interesting.

For the Yaesu FT-857D, sensitivity in the 10 meter band is 0.5 uV SINAD FM mode and 2uV 10db S/N method for AM mode. FM is not measured for S/N, and AM is not measured for SINAD.

For the Yaesu FT-891, sensitivity in the 10 meter band is 0.35 uV SINAD FM mode and 1.6 uV 10dB S/N AM mode. FM is not measured for S/N, and AM is not measured for SINAD.

 

[Zombiel3]

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

From my house I can pick up the tower on 236.600 and 128.700, ground ops on 275.800 and 121.900, clearance on 286.400 and 124.350, Base Ops on 268.000 and 122.350 and sometimes Tiger Ops on 232.100, I'm very close. Tower is usually the busiest with regular traffic in the area checking in as they pass through and there are small private airports in Picton and Sterling that I hear quite often on the tower frequency.

 

[Zombiel3]

You can use Butel ARC300 software for programming it.

Thanks but I like to program manually. I don't have a vast amount of frequencies.

 

[Zombiel3]

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.

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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.

Ya I'll try manually first and think about accessories later.

 

[Zombiel3]

It's pretty easy entering frequencies. What is really time consuming is entering alpha tags one character at a time by pressing a 2-button code. With the software, you can type in the alpha tags from the computer keyboard.

I Alpha Tagged all the frequencies on my Bearcat manually so it's not a huge deal for me but if it gets tedious I'll consider the software.

 

[10-43]

The sensitivity of the PRO-164 is measured by the 20 db S/N method, which does not really compare to the 12 db SINAD method measured with the BC125AT. They are of course two very different methods which I could explain, but probably not necessary.

However, 2 uV 20 db S/N does compare favorably to 0.3 uV 12 db SINAD. I cannot tell that my BCD325P2 is any more sensitive than the PRO-164 receiving the same transmissions with the same antenna fed to each via an RF distribution amplifier.

While the two methods are sort of apples and oranges, they will produce different uV levels that can produce the same level of performance on the same receiver.


The PRO-164 is triple conversion superhet and I have not had noticeable issues with intermod or images.

I can easily measure S/N method at home, but not SINAD due to lack of test equipment.

The sensitivity for the BCD325P2 which are similar to the BC125AT are measured by SINAD method for FM and AM.

Being curious, I looked at the specs for two of my ham radio transceiver and discovered something interesting.

For the Yaesu FT-857D, sensitivity in the 10 meter band is 0.5 uV SINAD FM mode and 2uV 10db S/N method for AM mode. FM is not measured for S/N, and AM is not measured for SINAD.

For the Yaesu FT-891, sensitivity in the 10 meter band is 0.35 uV SINAD FM mode and 1.6 uV 10dB S/N AM mode. FM is not measured for S/N, and AM is not measured for SINAD.

Oops left out something. Where I typed SINAD for the Yaesu radios, it should have been 12dB SINAD. Same measuring method as the Uniden scanners.

 

[10-43]

Ya I'll try manually first and think about accessories later.

Good plan.

 

[10-43]

From my house I can pick up the tower on 236.600 and 128.700, ground ops on 275.800 and 121.900, clearance on 286.400 and 124.350, Base Ops on 268.000 and 122.350 and sometimes Tiger Ops on 232.100 I'm very close. Tower is usually the busiest with regular traffic in the area checking in as they pass through and there are small private airports in Picton and Sterling that I hear quite often on the tower frequency.

Lucky you. I am not close to any airport.

 

[Zombiel3]

Good plan.

 

[Zombiel3]

Lucky you. I am not close to any airport.

That is why I haven't ruled out a base unit. I just wanted to start with my handhelds and move up from there.

 

[10-43]

That is why I haven't ruled out a base unit. I just wanted to start with my handhelds and move up from there.

For aviation, I would recommend the BCT15X as a base scanner. It is a analog only scanner. Superb performance. No annoying restrictions on step sizes or modulation modes. You can set 25Khz step size searching the entire 225 - 400 Mhz band. You can set 25 KHz on any band and AM mode on any band.

Uniden BearTracker Scanner (BCT15X) with 9,000 Channels, TrunkTracker III Technology, Base/Mobile Design, Close Call RF Capture Technology with Location-Based Scanning, - Black Color https://a.co/d/6ayUTqv

 

[Zombiel3]

Thanks I'll put that one on my list

 

[jazzboypro]

The R30 is not really a scanner but it does a good job on the air band. It’s a bit expensive but well worth it. Too bad there is no military air traffic in my area.

 

[Scan125]

MIL Air is a must for me. I live super close to CFB Trenton which is Canada's biggest military air base so I scan mostly MIL Air.

Well you cab still run your BC125AT as a PC driven Base Station and get frequency logging, recording, etc. with Scan125, assuming you don't already use Scn125

 

[AirScan]

For aviation, I would recommend the BCT15X as a base scanner.

How would the reception quality/range of a BC15X compare with a BC125AT ? (Assuming the same antenna used on both).

 

[10-43]

How would the reception quality/range of a BC15X compare with a BC125AT ? (Assuming the same antenna used on both).

Range is an extreemly complicated issue and not easily quantified. It is not something you use to specify transmitter or receiver performance unless you are advertising. Having said that, the range you want to accomplish gets figured into the design of the transmitter and receiver systems. More appropriate for judging reception capability, is receiver and antenna system specifications.

I do not have a BC125AT. I passed on that one due to it not receiving 380-400 Mhz. I didn't want a scanner that could not receive aircraft up to 400 Mhz. You may miss something there.

I do have the BCD325P2 mainly for aircraft and it is an excellent performer. But it is also a digital trunk tracker so it augments my public safety monitoring. I got the BCD325P2 because it is the same form factor as the BC125AT. Small! It covers up to 400 Mhz and you can set 25 khz channel spacing on any band as well as AM mode on any band. The audio is very good and clear and loud enough. Interference rejection is good. It is pretty much as sensitive as the BCT15X.

The BCT15X is also fully configurable for aircraft frequencies and is also an analog trunk tracker. It's advantage is it is very immune to interference from intermod and images. The audio is loud and clear. It is by far the best scanner I have ever owned for VHF and UHF aircraft frequencies. But I am very happy with the performance of the BCD325P2, especially for a small handheld.

 

[Chickenhawk56]

The Icom IC-R6 is one of the fastest scanners on the market and is an excellent airband scanner. The used ones come up on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji every now and then, and it is still in production today. Canadian prices for new R6 scanners are a bit high, but used might be an option. (Full disclosure - I have one in Canada that I would sell, complete with a Diamond RH77 antenna, Eneloop charger and RT Systems programming cable.)

The Icom IC-R6 is not really for beginners though. It is VERY compact and unobtrusive, but the downside is lack of buttons for front panel programming. (I would not even attempt it. Get the RT Systems software!) Until you get used to the buttons and the multiple functions of each one, you might need the manual nearby.

The reason I am selling mine is that I replaced it with an aviation transceiver. (I work at the airport now, and a transceiver was more useful to me.)

 

[Zombiel3]

The R30 is not really a scanner but it does a good job on the air band. It’s a bit expensive but well worth it. Too bad there is no military air traffic in my area.

I have a Radio Shack Pro-164 coming so we'll how that goes for now.