Which airband transceivers have a PTT/TX lock function?

[ErikSwan]

This is my first post here, so while I believe this is the correct forum, please let me know if it would fit somewhere else.

I'm interested in purchasing a dedicated handheld airband transceiver purely for listening to a few local airband frequencies.

I live in an apartment building and do not have the ability to mount an external antenna, so Rx performance is the absolute top priority—I am looking at airband transceivers rather than a general wideband scanner under the assumption that an airband transceiver is likely to have better Rx performance since it has Rx circuitry (and included antenna) designed specifically for the airband rather than the more wideband receiver you would see in a scanner (if this is a bad assumption, please let me know).

Not interested in a base transceiver or scanner since although it will be primarily used indoors, I would like to be able to take it on the go as well (for example, to an airshow).

One concern I have is that I do not want to accidentally transmit under any circumstances, so it would be really nice if there was menu option to lock-out transmitting so that even if the PTT button is accidentally pressed, transmitting does not occur.

Do you guys know of any airband transceivers that have that feature? Or should I be looking at scanners instead, even though Rx performance is the #1 priority?

Thanks!

 

[Ravenfalls]

Check Sportys & Google aircraft portables.

New Yaesu nice. I prefer the Icom. Shops have 2 or more offbrand radio for less $.

Want a radio with VFO + memories. I live above Sky Harbor & get every used Freq. Antenna option indoor J pole. Hang on wall with coax to SDS.

 

[BinaryMode]

About the air show thing. Many if not all air shows today post 9/11 don't allow scanners past the gate let alone a two-way radio that's an air band transceiver.

In lieu of an expensive air band transceiver, I bet a nice Icom or AOR wide-band handheld will perform admirably. And I bet the scan rate is faster than a two-way radio anyway... Compare the sensitivity Specs in the AM air band with a two-way to an Icom or AOR wide band receiver... I personally feel you'd be money ahead and have more bang for your buck. But that's just me.

 

[majoco]

So why do you want a transceiver? A Uniden BCT125 will do the job nicely and you won't be paying the big bucks for something you'll never use.

 

[xms3200]

I know...makes me also wonder why he wants a "Transceiver"...just to receive AirBand frequencies....Hmmmm!!! Hello Homeland Security, Come In, Come In!!!!

 

[tampabaynews]

I know...makes me also wonder why he wants a "Transceiver"...just to receive AirBand frequencies....Hmmmm!!! Hello Homeland Security, Come In, Come In!!!!

Sounds like he wants something that isn't completely deaf on VHF AM like most consumer radio products are. But that's just me making an effort to understand the intent behind the original post...

 

[Ravenfalls]

Have both Icom & Yaesu. Prefer Icom. Has slightly better receiver.
I'm also in an apartment overlooking the runway. The ground ops & able hear ground ops as example how it performs. Great radio!

The Yaesu will receive the powered couch noise. Yaesu also requires squelch to be raised in urban environment. 450 & latest use same transceiver board.

 

[ErikSwan]

So why do you want a transceiver? A Uniden BCT125 will do the job nicely and you won't be paying the big bucks for something you'll never use.

Like I said in the post (does anyone read these days?), my assumption is that an airband transceiver with an RX circuit designed specifically for airband (and only airband) will have better (maybe much better) RX performance than a wideband scanner like the BCT125. Maybe that's a bad assumption, however.

Again, I want every last bit of RX performance I can get over anything else as I will be primarily using it indoors in a noisy urban environment (and I'm in a rented apartment, so my antenna options are very limited).

Obviously a high-quality portable airband-only receiver would be the ideal option but that is so niche, I don't think anyone makes such a thing.

I know...makes me also wonder why he wants a "Transceiver"...just to receive AirBand frequencies....Hmmmm!!! Hello Homeland Security, Come In, Come In!!!!

You're acting like airband transceivers are restricted or licensed items. They're not, anyone can buy them right now on Amazon. Transmitting with them is obviously regulated but using them to receive is perfectly legal and acceptable. That's why in the title of the post I specifically am asking about which models have a function to lock out PTT/TX so that it is not possible to inadvertently transmit.

Have both Icom & Yaesu. Prefer Icom. Has slightly better receiver.
I'm also in an apartment overlooking the runway. The ground ops & able hear ground ops as example how it performs. Great radio!

The Yaesu will receive the powered couch noise. Yaesu also requires squelch to be raised in urban environment. 450 & latest use same transceiver board.

Thanks, this is exactly the feedback I was looking for. Which models do you have specifically? Do either of them have a PTT/TX lock function?

 

[FKimble]

There are ways to prevent transmitting with out having a transmit lock-out. Such as putting in an out of band frequency or leaving it blank. Different radios may or may not be doable. Program on low power just in case also.

Frank

 

[RichardKramer]

I have a Vertex VXA-220 HT radio. My BCD436 scanner receives just as well as the aircraft radio. With a scanner you can also get the UHF milair band 225 - 400MHz which you won't get on a VHF aircraft transceiver unless you have big bucks to buy something military wise. The only reason I bought the VXA-220 is if the SHTF scenario happens, I'll have something I may need to tx on in an emergency.

 

[Ravenfalls]

Icom A25N

Not sure on TX lock?? Check software this week if that's an option. Software was easy work with. Has plenty of memories.

Mine are open. Too much work turn each ch into RX, since I program for people with government work.

DON'T recommend these radios have TX if your ONLY reason use as scanner.

 

[devicelab]

The Yaesu will receive the powered couch noise. Yaesu also requires squelch to be raised in urban environment. 450 & latest use same transceiver board.

This is the problem. Before plunking down your hard-earned $$ I highly suggest you get any AM receiver and check your RFI levels. VHF Airband is AM mode and thus you'll hear the slightest RFI -- especially from inside an apartment block. It just takes one poor Chinese-made power supply to ruin your listening experience regardless of which radio you get.

I haven't used the latest and greatest airband transceivers but the ICOM A24 was pretty slow during scan. I would have hoped they improved that nowadays but that was one of its biggest negatives. The other being battery life -- the stock battery was trash and needed an upgrade. The audio was excellent on both receive and transmit. Because of the above issue, it was best used outdoors away from the city -- i.e. a field, etc.

A used scanner like Uniden BCD396XT or BCT346 could probably be had for < $150 and serve you just as good. If you want to record transmissions then you'll need a newer scanner. The TRX-1 would work well but it'd be overkill for just VHF Airband.

Even some of the older scanners were actually VERY good on VHF Air. The BC780XLT was excellent on VHF and UHF Military Air. You could also consider a R/S Pro-2006 base station scanner -- which would be a great coffee table scanner.

 

[Ravenfalls]

Yaesu no issues when they did a quick check. Been to them several times, all covered by warranty. If I adjust squelch 50+% & reception is adequate. Icom has no squelch issues.

Yaesu only a backup for Icom.

 

[AM909]

@ErikSwan, if you do end up with a transciever that doesn't have the RX-only feature, you (or someone with tech skills) could fairly easily remove the TX capability in the hardware itself. It could be made reversible, or bypassable with the right speaker-mic, or ...

 

[majoco]

I have a Bendix/King KX99 handheld that I took home with me when I was on call. I lived about 6 miles from the airport - my Yaesu VX2 was far more sensitive than the KX99. I kept it when the company went over to Motorola's - the KX99 makes a good paperweight.

 

[Scan125]

I have a Yaesu FTA-250 and it has a TX lock. I seem to recall Yaesu UK said (when I asked) they could permanently reprogram it so that it would be TX locked and with no menu option to turn TX back on.

A comment was made about dedicated air band transceivers can scan but are slower than a dedicated scanner. This is true. The FTA-250 is more than twice slower compared to my UBC125XLT and UBC75XLT.

The following are positive points for a professional and certified transceiver like the FTA-250

1) They are rugged with decent aluminium chassis
2) They are weather proof
3) They take professional pilot/ground crew headsets & connections
4) They get the 8.33kHz frequencies correct. The UBC125XLT gets some correct but not all. The UBC75XLT oddly get them all correct
5) They come with pucker lithium battery options and desk charger

A negative for some is that they can not be controlled via a PC. Best one can do is program channels. Yaesu provide a program to do this. I wanted to do a program like Scan125 for my FTA-250 but despite asking Yaesu USA, UK & Japan for any API information they refused to either respond or said no.

 

[mancow]

I know...makes me also wonder why he wants a "Transceiver"...just to receive AirBand frequencies....Hmmmm!!! Hello Homeland Security, Come In, Come In!!!!

Probably the same reason I have an IC-A21, KX-99, PRC6809, RF5800MHH, etc...

They work better because it's what they are designed to do.

 

[NY1PD]

Icom A16 outstanding radio

I have it in the care with a magmount

RX excellent

I also have a ft 850

Outstanding

First choice A16

 

[vest2208]

About the air show thing. Many if not all air shows today post 9/11 don't allow scanners past the gate let alone a two-way radio that's an air band transceiver.

In lieu of an expensive air band transceiver, I bet a nice Icom or AOR wide-band handheld will perform admirably. And I bet the scan rate is faster than a two-way radio anyway... Compare the sensitivity Specs in the AM air band with a two-way to an Icom or AOR wide band receiver... I personally feel you'd be money ahead and have more bang for your buck. But that's just me.

Every air show I've gone to, I've taken my BC 125 & my Icom A14, including Oshkosh last week, and have never had a problem bringing or using.

 

[BinaryMode]

The one they had near me a couple years ago expressly forbid scanners and whatnot.... I thought how lame? Love to know who set that rule.

Here's some mention of it. Radio Scanners For Airshows - Page 2 - AirshowStuff Forums