Yaesu VX-6R Airband Question

[N1SQB]

I am considering getting a Yaesu VX-6R portable. The specs show it covers the milair band. However, it shows NFM/WFM specs. Does anyone know if this radio lets you tune 225-350 Mhz in AM mode? I know it does in civil air. Does anyone here use one to monitor aircraft comms? I have not found anything on this anywhere.

Manny

 

[KB4MSZ]

See page 106 in the owners manual.

My FT5DR has the "auto" mode defaults which apply to wherever it is tuned but I have found that I can select the desired mode manually. For instance, I can scan the CB channels in either AM or FM mode. It may even be possible to scan them in C4FM mode but I don't see much point in that.

 

[SigIntel8600]

I am considering getting a Yaesu VX-6R portable. The specs show it covers the milair band. However, it shows NFM/WFM specs. Does anyone know if this radio lets you tune 225-350 Mhz in AM mode? I know it does in civil air. Does anyone here use one to monitor aircraft comms? I have not found anything on this anywhere.

Manny

Yes it will do AM in that range. I have the VX6 with the SU-1 Altimeter/Barometer accessory. My preferred handheld for civilian and military air band while on the go.

 

[GlobalNorth]

I set mine on 243.0, 311.0, and several others.

 

[N1SQB]

Excellent and very informative responses. Thank you very much everyone.

 

[N1SQB]

Yes it will do AM in that range. I have the VX6 with the SU-1 Altimeter/Barometer accessory. My preferred handheld for civilian and military air band while on the go.

Nice pic. Just curious, what antenna do you have attached in this pic?

 

[SigIntel8600]

Nice pic. Just curious, what antenna do you have attached in this pic?

Diamond SRH-320A

 

[N1SQB]

Diamond SRH-320A

Thank you!

 

[bearcatrp]

I put a comet W100RX2 on my VX7. Picked up 2 bars from stock antenna listening to air control tower 12 miles away.

 

[VA3WEX]

I have a VX-6R but don't find it very good for that purpose. I prefer the BC125AT for airband.

Comparing the sensitivities:

VX-6R: (12dB SINAD)
1.0 µV (59-108 MHz/470-540MHz, W-FM)
0.5 µV (54-59MHz/300-420MHz, N-FM)

BC125AT: (12dB SINAD)
(AM) 118.800 MHz 0.4 µV
(NFM) 127.175 MHz 0.3 µV
(NFM) 135.500 MHz 0.3 µV

See also this thread: Yeasu VX6R air band monitoring

 

[robertmac]

In most cases, with an amateur radio, they are designed primarily for amateur frequencies. Everything else is a bonus. What is the sensitivity in AM mode?

 

[devicelab]

In most cases, with an amateur radio, they are designed primarily for amateur frequencies. Everything else is a bonus. What is the sensitivity in AM mode?

Yaesu only reported this on a few models. 1.5uv @ 10db SINAD for 108-137 AM

The Yaesu airband models report 0.8uv @ 6db SINAD.

If you really are hardcore about monitoring VHF AIR then I'd suggest the 250L. You'll get the best grade audio quality and it's around USD 200.

 

[billpritjr]

Just FYI but it seems the "non-800 mhz trunk" scanners, aka all the older analog ones, do a superb job at AM aviation monitoring.