Scanner Comparison for Aviation Use Only

[eagleswings01]

hertzian - Thanks so much for your explanation which makes complete sense. I'll definitely make it a point to go read around the aviation forum and then say hi.

You'll be giving your scanlist programming a real workout!

Not to mention my thumbs!

Take care,
Mike

 

[eagleswings01]

Hello Lou,

Thank you very much for your kind words. I truly mean it when I say the only reason I'm starting to learn is because of everyone here on the forum. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to repay the kindness to someone else in the near future.

Best wishes,
Michael

 

[eagleswings01]

eorange - Thank you again for your help and advice. I appreciate you mentioning the differences between hearing a one-way vs. two-way conversation. How can you tell where the physical locations of the RCAGs are?

Mike

 

[eorange]

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Long ago I found them on freqofnature.com, but that's long gone, I believe.

Anyway, they are google-mapped right here in the RR database. If someone else doesn't chime in first, I'll post how to get there, but from memory - something like opening the subcategory after you pull up the aviation freqs for your area...?

 

[eorange]

Finding your RCAGs

Database -> Colorado -> Colorado Areawide Frequencies -> Denver (ZDV)

Skip the first large FAA text listing; scroll down to the blue headings below. Find the RCAG closest to you, click the gray arrow to the right of "RCAG", and then choose "View Subcategory Details". Then you'll see your RCAG map.

 

[eagleswings01]

Thanks eorange! I had tried poking around to find the RCAG's but thanks to you I just was able to find them. I appreciate your help.

Just welcomed a couple of new forum members and am about to go browse more of the airplane forum, however one more question comes to mind. The rubber ducky antenna just doesn't seem to get great coverage for me. I've done a little research and two antenna's for aviation seem to keep popping up:

Radio Shack Center-Loaded Telescoping Whip Antenna

Diamond RH-77CA

The Diamond says that it picks up 800MHz so I think that would work for my PSR-310. If there's another choice that you guys would recommend, then I'm all ears!

Take care,
Mike

 

[krokus]

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Do you want to monitor more than just civil aviation, with that radio and antenna combination?

If so, than the Diamond should be decent. If not, then go for a band-specific antenna.

 

[KB4REA]

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Mike,
I suggest a telescopic antenna all the way. For home monitoring I use the Radio Shack that you have linked there and for outdoor use, ie. airshow, I use the Watson W-889 Telescoping antenna (purchased from scannermaster for $27).

I've bought and sold the Diamond twice over the years and am far more impressed with the above antennas performance-wise both for vhf-air and 150+MHz. The Diamond is flexible which is a plus but the w-889 can pivot which is even better when on the belt or laying flat on your leg, again for example, when you're at an air show.

You can't go wrong with the RS whip, its cheap and you can easily return it within 30 days if you don't like.

Just my opinions though...

 

[eagleswings01]

Thanks krokus - my only real interest is aviation, but if the antenna helps me pick up a few extra things then that is fine too!

Brewkelyn - thanks again for your advice! I really appreciate that you have used both of them and can tell a difference. I noticed the W-889 says that it picks up to 1900MHz. Is there any benefit to that over the Radio Shack model?

Here is the Radio Shack range (from the online manual):
25–50 MHz (VHF Low) 50–54 MHz (Ham) 108–136 MHz (Aircraft)
138–144 MHz (Government) 144–148 MHz (Ham) 148–174 MHz (VHF High)
220 MHz (Ham) 380–450 MHz (UHF Low) 470–512 MHz (UHF TV) 800–900 MHz 1296 MHz (Ham)

You mentioning that you use the RS antenna at home leads me to believe it might be a little more powerful. If it would work great at air shows as well, then I definitely like that I can purchase it locally and be able to return or exchange it if there was need.

Thank you again for all of your help.

Mike

 

[eorange]

I've had the Diamond RH-77CA for 13+ years and I always come back to it as my main VHF-UHF mil air antenna. I also have the RS telescoping, and it does well too. IMO, the Diamond has the best all-around coverage, doing pretty good on 800 MHz.

To be honest, I'm convinced that a decent whip or telescoping antenna will pick up mil air, if your receiver will have it.

During times of heavy mil air activity, I would switch the Diamond, the RS telescoping, and my Maldol AL-500H on my BR330T, which is a good mil air receiver. All antennas pulled in the mil air equally. Out of those 3, I don't think one will let you hear more than the others on the aviation bands.

 

[KB4REA]

I noticed the W-889 says that it picks up to 1900MHz. Is there any benefit to that over the Radio Shack model?

No, not really. I don't even know what you can hear that high in the spectrum. For either antenna you would have them fully collapsed for 800mhz & up (might even be 400mhz & up)

You mentioning that you use the RS antenna at home leads me to believe it might be a little more powerful. If it would work great at air shows as well, then I definitely like that I can purchase it locally and be able to return or exchange it if there was need

Yes, its "more powerful" in that it extends to 26" inches allowing you to "tune in" to the vhf air band nicely. If your target freqs are in the uhf air band then you collapse the antenna to a shorter length. There's a quick guide included with the antenna that suggests what length to use for various bands. But fully extended it kinda draws antention to yourself and can be inconvenient on a handheld to carry, that's really why I use at home stationery on the back of my 410 & it works great.

The w889 extends fully to 16" and is much thinner and discrete so I prefer that for the outdoors. But to be honest, at the airfield any antenna will do even the stock duck since you're right there close to the action. But for when you're not so close either of these will do well. I'd say give the RS whip a shot but know that there's 2 of them that look alike. You want item #20-006.

 

[eagleswings01]

You guys are awesome! Thanks for the advice and all of the specifics.

I think I'll try out the Radio Shack one because it is local, just in case anything happens. Plus, for $18 it's not a bad price at all. Hopefully I'll be able to grab that some time next week, and then will let you guys know what happens.

Have a great upcoming weekend everyone!

Mike

 

[nanZor]

Warning about the Radio Shack telescopic for airband:

One might be tempted to follow their instructions on the backside for "Using The Antenna For Receiving" for 108-136 (aircraft) and have you "Extend All Nine Sections".

This is not very efficient on vhf airband, as the loading coil for VHF low is now in use.

A stronger signal for vhf airband is obtained when you disable the coil and run the antenna as a simple quarter wave. Here is what I do for quick field-setup with the RS telescopic for airband:

1) Extend the antenna fully and make sure all the elements are pulled out.

2) Push the entire element that is just above the coil back down all the way into the coil. This will bypass the coil.

3) Push the topmost, thinnest element back down about half-way into the element below it.

Bypassing the coil for vhf airband became obvious when placed on an antenna analyzer. That and the fact that my weak ATIS signals were much stronger than when all the elements are just pulled out.

Being somewhat rigid, just be careful with it so you don't put too much stress on the BNC connector. It looks a bit Hawaii-5-0, so don't use this if you are an introvert.

The other antennas mentioned are fine too. When FM/NOAA/Pager overload is not a problem the Diamond RH77CA is a fine performer. If you are suffering overload/desense on airband, the Maldol's much narrower bandwidth really helps - although the Maldol is vhf/uhf airband specific - really POOR reception at 800mhz!

 

[Engine104]

Right, be very careful about over-stressing the BNC connector. Trust me on that one....

 

[eagleswings01]

Thanks again hertzian and Engine104! I'll let everyone know what happens if I can grab an antenna this next week.

Have a great weekend!

 

[Engine104]

Thanks again hertzian and Engine104! I'll let everyone know what happens if I can grab an antenna this next week.

Have a great weekend!

No worries! Glad to help.

I just snagged a RS Pro-162 off eBay for $80.00. It looks like a great analog handheld (It does trunking too). I'm going to use it primarily as a backup to my Pro-96 and for aircraft (Civ and mil) scanning.

Don't forget to check out the Diamond RH77CA (Diamond RH77CA Amateur HT Antenna ) and the Maldol handheld scanner antenna, AL-500H (Maldol AL-500H Air band Scanner Antenna ), which is specifically tuned for aircraft (Mil and Civ).

I've known a few guys who used the RH77CA and really liked it. I've also heard a lot of good things about the AL-500H, but it looks a bit wiggly to me. Pricey too.

73,

-Larry (KG6EJT)

 

[eagleswings01]

Hi Larry,

Congratulations on getting that 162! Have you received it in the mail yet?

Thanks for the suggestions on the antenna. I still haven't made my mind up on which to get. Research never ends!

Take care,
Mike

 

[jeffreyinberthoud]

I might have missed it in the thread but did anyone mention the Uniden UBC30XLT Radio Scanner?

Is it available here in USA?

 

[Engine104]

Hi Larry,

Congratulations on getting that 162! Have you received it in the mail yet?

Thanks for the suggestions on the antenna. I still haven't made my mind up on which to get. Research never ends!

Take care,
Mike

Hi Mike,

Yep, the 162 arrived about a week ago. It's a great scanner. I took it to Van Nuys Airport today and it does seem to do a better job with aircraft than my Pro-96. The audio is better on the 96, but the 162 is more sensitive. I'm very happy with the 162.

 

[nanZor]

I might have missed it in the thread but did anyone mention the Uniden UBC30XLT Radio Scanner?

Is it available here in USA?

I want one!! Too bad I don't see it here in the states. Quite frankly, I'd probably use it more than my Icom R6 for quick airband duties.

From the specs, even though it is a dual-conversion receiver, the first IF is 51.75 mhz -- a welcome relief from the usual 10.7 mhz in units at this price range - although not going above VHF Hi makes using 51.75 practical as the first IF.

I would hope that being surrounded by the FM broadcast band, and also VHF HI, that Uniden would put in some decent bandpass filters separating each band - I'll bet they do, but I would love to test it. It would be a shame if they ran a bandpass from 88-174 mhz. Without specs on the bandpass, I'd have to do some brute-force testing.

The 8.33khz spacing option for airband is nice for areas that use it. There is no dc-input, and it runs on three AA's - they say you can use rechargeables, but I see no way to tell the UBC30 how to tell the difference between alkaline and nimh rechargeable so that you don't have a premature battery warning. Switch inside the battery door? Not clear from just the manual.

The only thing that kind of sticks out is the 25 channels per second scan/search rate. I definitely wouldn't use the search for too long and hope to find things - definitely go to airnav.com and resources here to find frequencies faster.

Having a user-selectable delay time of anywhere from 0-5 seconds (appears to be a global setting) is interesting in this price range. That might really be useful if you have some very laid-back comms going on - although I think that might be a consideration if you were to load up the scanner fully, and with only 25cps scan rate, miss a transmission by the time it came back around - possibly why such a long delay is available as an option. Nice of them to offer that instead of just the standard 2 secs delay or zero.

If one were to totally load up the memories for airband use, I'd definitely be busy locking out freqs that aren't in my area at the time, to make the scan go faster - and even possibly not using any delay at all. Having only one memory bank for airband could be a bit daunting for heavy users.

Still, I'd LOVE to have one in my collection!