Airband receiver, what to buy ? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

threeseven · 14th Jun 2010, 11:59 am

Always had an interest in aviation and have often thought about buying an airband receiver, problem is I know nothing about them !
Any suggestions on what to buy including older sets ?

RobinBirch · 14th Jun 2010, 1:45 pm

Depends if you want something vintage or modern. You can get airband "handies" or scanners from ebay relatively cheaply.

Robin

paulsherwin · 14th Jun 2010, 2:49 pm

Standard domestic radios that claim to have air band coverage usually just have an extended FM band. This isn't much use for serious listening, as most aircraft comms are actually VHF AM. It's possible to hear speech with a bit of deliberate mistuning but it's a struggle.

threeseven · 14th Jun 2010, 3:01 pm

I'm open to suugestions, I like the look of the small portables but vintage stuff also appeals ! I do need advice on features, spec etc though.

Station X · 14th Jun 2010, 3:52 pm

The are generally plenty of cheap scanners on eBay. Some listeners stopped using them when the police went TETRA/Airwave. Just make sure it has an AM facility.

Be aware also that monitoring aircraft transmissions is technically illegal, but a blind eye is generally turned to it.

threeseven · 14th Jun 2010, 3:57 pm

What band do military aircraft use ?

Station X · 14th Jun 2010, 4:02 pm

225 to 400 MHz.

14th Jun 2010, 11:59 am	#1
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Airband receiver, what to buy ? Always had an interest in aviation and have often thought about buying an airband receiver, problem is I know nothing about them ! Any suggestions on what to buy including older sets ?

14th Jun 2010, 1:45 pm	#2
RobinBirch Hexode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cotswolds, UK. Posts: 465	Re: Airband receiver, what to buy ? Depends if you want something vintage or modern. You can get airband "handies" or scanners from ebay relatively cheaply. Robin

14th Jun 2010, 2:49 pm	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,927	Re: Airband receiver, what to buy ? Standard domestic radios that claim to have air band coverage usually just have an extended FM band. This isn't much use for serious listening, as most aircraft comms are actually VHF AM. It's possible to hear speech with a bit of deliberate mistuning but it's a struggle.

14th Jun 2010, 3:01 pm	#4
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: Airband receiver, what to buy ? I'm open to suugestions, I like the look of the small portables but vintage stuff also appeals ! I do need advice on features, spec etc though.

14th Jun 2010, 3:52 pm	#5
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Airband receiver, what to buy ? The are generally plenty of cheap scanners on eBay. Some listeners stopped using them when the police went TETRA/Airwave. Just make sure it has an AM facility. Be aware also that monitoring aircraft transmissions is technically illegal, but a blind eye is generally turned to it. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

14th Jun 2010, 3:57 pm	#6
threeseven Octode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 1,880	Re: Airband receiver, what to buy ? What band do military aircraft use ?

14th Jun 2010, 4:02 pm	#7
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Airband receiver, what to buy ? 225 to 400 MHz. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.