Pro-89 and ATC. Need Advice From Other ATC Listners Please..

[naaaaaathan]

Hello Everyone

I just had some questions for those that listen to ATC/Aviation frequencies in their respected cities...

I live in the Northside Of Houston and currently have a Radio Shack Pro-89 Scanner with a Center-Loaded Telescoping Whip Antenna (9 Sections) about 2 ft. I get clear reception ONLY when I am at or close to the ATC tower at IAH. My problem is that I get very, very noisy and fuzzy transmissions. I live about 20 miles away from the airport and would like to listen at home without all this noise. If I am lucky I can hear bits and pieces of the ATC and Pilots but most often it is really noisy..

For those that listen to ATC/Aviation frequencies at home is there a particular antenna and location that is best to get clear reception??? Is the Center-Loaded Telescoping Whip Antenna good to be using?? Or is there any other equipment (Scanner, Antenna Etc) that would be recommended by anyone to get a good reception??

Thank You All

--Nathan

 

[mlevin]

Hi, Nathan. The fuzzines that you are experiencing is probably interference that the antenna pick up. Also, aviation freqs, are simplex, so unless you have a really good antenna setup, and a good base station, reception is gonna be less then optimal. Very often the planes come in loud and clear, being that they are thousands of feet up. And the controllers come in weak or not at all, due to the far distance and the fact that their signals are aimed at the sky for obvious reasons.

For antennas I here that a discone does a good job, but I don't have one of my own. There are to many base scanners to list. Maybe others that have experience with other models could chime in about the proa nand cons.

 

[mciupa]

I would imagine that the contol tower freq. is emitting a low power
signal,since you stated that you almost have to be near it to pick up a
decent signal.

Same for me here in Toronto,Canada when monitoring ATIS for
aviation weather statistics. (very weak signal)

Perhaps a roof mounted antenna would help.

 

[INDY72]

As an avid air scanner, I will tell you will need an external antenna, or if you live on say a non ground floor, you can run a cable fix to your window to monitor the ARTCC/ATC/Tower freqs on the ground side of the convos. And to monitor ground freqs you will need to be iether close or get a GRE signal amp. The maximum distance you can get most ATC is around 30 miles unless you get real lucky or have a say 20 to 30 foot tower in your yard. The same applys to rail monitoring and getting the actual trains convos.

 

[naaaaaathan]

Thanks MLevin, mciupa, & milf for the responses...

milf: I do live in a two story house and have pleanty attic space.. Could you recommend a base unit, antenna and location (inside attic or outside)

Or will my Pro-89 scanner work ok but do I need to get a new antenna??

What is your suggestion being that I live in a two story house and can mount an antenna virtualy anywhere...

Thank You All

--Nathan[/b]

 

[INDY72]

If you can place iether a tripod mount on your roof, or get a side wall mount and a zip pole. Try to get the ant mounted at least 10 to 15 feet up in the air and run your cable very carefully to avoid any powerlines etc. As to the base station. I highly recommedn iether a Radio Shack PRO-2052 as it can not only do all your VHF Hi AM air stuff, but also does military UHF air, or one of the Uniden BC780 class scanners. Now will you be just exclusively monitoring air, or public safety too?

 

[CSL126]

You may also want to search around, the airport may simulcast a TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control) frequency. You will be able to hear aircraft arriving and departing on that frequency. If you live fairly close to the airport, then you may not be able to find a TRACON simulcast though.

 

[naaaaaathan]

Thanks a bunch milf!! I do have a few more questions if you don't mind...

1. Can I just keep my Pro-89 scanner and just buy a outdoor antenna and connect it to the bnc connection on the handheld scanner? Or is the desktop scanners like the Radio Shack PRO-2052 actually better and have a clearer reception?? I will only be needing the 108-136.975 (Aircraft) frequency. NOTHING ELSE.

2. What specific antenna should I buy, say from radio shack?? Any model numbers? Will mounting it in the attic be ok or does it need to be outside??

3. Are trancevers specificly for aircraft frequencies such as the ICOM A5 Transceiver a way to go?? Or is my problem centered around getting a better antenna and at a higher location to get better reception?

Thanks once again milf. Very much appreciated.

CSL126: IAH does not have to my knowledge any TRACON which is broadcasted.. I wish they did.

--Nathan

 

[mlevin]

Base stations generaly have better recepton and performance, but the main problem is the antenna. Before dumping more money into a scanner, go see if some of the antenna setups mentioned help at all. If your still not satisfied then go dump some money into a base station. Since the problem is mostly due to antenna and location, I don't think a hand held transciever will make much of a difference.

 

[INDY72]

You really want to get outdoor antenna and as high up as possible safely. I will look up the model numbers for you tonight. As to portable versus base, the base usually is the best way to go for better reception as well as better audio bigger speaker and more power. If you really want to get far off stations add a GRE signal amplifier also. But if your budget is tight, just use the portable and hook up your antenna to the BNC plug.

 

[CSL126]

I'm not really sure about this, nor have I ever tried it, but would a yagi antenna tuned to the air band work? If aviation is the only thing that you plan on monitoring that might be the way to go.

 

[INDY72]

Yes a hi band yagi pointed right at the airport might work nicely,... though then youd lose the aircraft that leave the directional cone of the yagi. That is why an omnidirectional is better for complete air/ground coverage.

 

[INDY72]

Oh and unless your talking about ta tiny field all magor airports have TRACON usually just referrd to as the APC/DEP stuff in the guidebooks.

 

[CSL126]

Airnav doesn't specify TRACON frequencies, but I did see several satellite airports in your area that use 119.700 as the app/dep freq. And it also happens to be one of Houston's departure frequencies. I bet they simulcast 119.700, they do the same thing here in Tuscaloosa except for the frequency is 120.15 out of Birmingham. Try punching 119.700 into your scanner and see if you get anything. Hope this helps!

 

[INDY72]

For smaller airports that do not have ATC/ARTCC Centers colocated with them, APC/DEP is provided by larger facilities near them or is provided by ARTCC Centers. Also of important note is this: Many smaller airports do not have towers that operate 24/7, and after certian hours all radio communications are done vias aforementioned larger airports in close proxcimity or ARTCC Centers. Here are the catalog infos for the Radio Shack outdoor antennas:

Outdoor VHF-Hi/UHF Scanner Antenna

$23.99 Brand: RadioShack
Catalog #: 20-176

 

[naaaaaathan]

Good Morning Everyone

WOW you guys (milf, csl126, mlevin) are great. Thank you very much for all the info.. I will stop over at radio shack today and get the antenna.. How in the heck does that thing mount to the roof?? Or would the highest point in the attic be out of the question? Does it have to be outside?Thanks very much once again

--Nathan

 

[mlevin]

Outside is always better, but see what it does before you go climb on the roof.

I'm not sure how you wouldn mount it. I'm sure milf could tell ya. Remember thet you'll need to buy coax, sine the antenna doesn't come with one. Just make sure that one end has a BNC, while the other end is able to fit into the side of the antenna. Make sure that the coax is 50 OMH, and try to keep the run as short as possible.

 

[INDY72]

Mounting ideas: If you already have an antenna pole, just mount it to that under, or over the other ant on that pole, or buy a zip pole from Radio Shack/any good electronics shop, and place your ant on it before you put the pole up. Be careful adding guy wires, grounds, etc. If you dont hav a place on the ground to plunk in the pole, get a corner/chimney/tripod mount and secure the mount to where you wish to place it. Then extend your zip pole to the length you want. Attach antenna, and place the pole on the mount. Attach guy wires and ground if you add a ground. Run your cable to your scanner placing, and do leave a drip loop outside as you don't want moisture ruining your house. Once all is run/laid/mounted/guyed. then hook it to your scanner.
*******SAFETY WARNING******SAFETY WARNING**********
Be extremely careful when doing your own install! Be wary of power lines! If your pole starts to fall towards any, LET IT GO! A great scanner set up is not worth your life!

 

[naaaaaathan]

Hello Everyone..

Just got back from radio shack with the 20-176 VHF-Hi/UHF antenna. It only sounds a bit better up in the attic, have not tried it outside though. Do you guys think that I am just SOL and too far from the airport to hear clearly no matter what equipment I have?? I will try the antenna outside on the roof and see but any opinions if 20 miles away and in heavy heavy wooded area in the suburbs of houston is just too far to get a clear reception?? Kind of frustrated :? . Thanks for all you help and suggestions. Thanks

--Nathan

 

[INDY72]

Once you get it outside and in the clear, you should be able to pick up much better. 20 miles is a lil far, but you will have much better chances with the antenna up high and outdoors. I do know that I had good experiences with an outdoor antenna monitoring the Charleston International Airport/AFB Charleston from downtown Charleston and the range was a lil over 16 miles. Also had good sucess monitoring Jackson International Airport from most areas of Jackson at ranges up to 20 Miles. At the very least you will have excellent coverage of all the local systems with the ant mounted outdoors, and much better reception of the aircraft in the air.