Jetplaner From Canada, joined Mar 2008, 157 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 4 months 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3222 times:
Ok, so as my birthday is coming up in a few weeks, I am wondering if an ATC scanner is worth asking for? How close to the airport do you have to be to the airport for proper reception? If one is worth having, what one would you recommend?
Xero9 From Canada, joined Feb 2007, 137 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (2 years 3 months 4 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 3185 times:
I live in Ajax, ON, about 8 miles as the crow flies from the Oshawa airport and my handheld scanner can pick up some (maybe all?) aircraft, and while I can tell ATC is responding, it's too broken up to make out anything they're saying.
Maybe there are better, more powerful scanners or perhaps a better antenna? I was wondering the same thing as well and finally decided to bite the bullet and pick up an inexpensive one for fun. It's a little disappointing for me at least.
But hey, I can take it to Buttonville and listen to what's going on
FlybaurLAX From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 614 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (2 years 3 months 4 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 3181 times:
I have an Icom IC-A5 which I got during my private flight training. It is very handy to have, and I have used it twice in situations where it would eased up the situation from failures in the plane. Granted it's not just a scanner, but I primarily just use it for that when I'm not flying. My parents house is in Northridge in LA, which is exactly 24 miles from the LAX control tower. Even though there is a mountain range between my house and LAX, if I place my hand held in a certain spot in my room I can hear traffic going in and out of LAX, and even hear the tower! It amazes me that I can hear it, even though you can't see the tower (it's not line of sight with the mountain between). Anyways, it's a pretty awesome hand held, and I've actually had a few conversations with Phil (an old now retired controller from VNY) when there was nothing going on and I was just hanging out at the airport. It may be pricey just for listening with, but I've never had anything but good experiences with it.
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 3718 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (2 years 3 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3172 times:
Quoting FlybaurLAX (Reply 2): It amazes me that I can hear it, even though you can't see the tower (it's not line of sight with the mountain between)
That's because the transmitter is on top of the mountain
FlybaurLAX From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 614 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (2 years 3 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 3143 times:
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 3): That's because the transmitter is on top of the mountain wink
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 3718 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 3095 times:
FlybaurLAX From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 614 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3080 times:
Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 5): Well, for one it's logic. VHF radio is line of sight
I'm aware it's line of sight, but I was wondering if you knew the locations of them.
AC033heavy From Canada, joined Feb 2009, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2889 times:
Living in Ottawa, im approx 20km from the airport and i get ATC clear, and most aircraft going over. I get Montreal high altitude perfectly clear, which is nice also. You dont need to spend a fortune on a radio if all you want is air. Uniden Bearcats with the airband are great, easy to program and they work very well. Go with a portable. If you want to buy in Canada, Durham radio in whitby is good or radioworld in Toronto, otherwise use scannermaster out of the states.
AC033heavy From Canada, joined Feb 2009, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2864 times:
You may already know this, but i forgot to add this to my previous post. There is also
Liveatc.net where you can listen to just about any ATC in Canada. I put Toronto up on my computer and listen all day at work. Its great. Its another avenue if you dont want to put out the cash for a radio. JFK is great to listen to also.
Santhosh From India, joined Sep 2001, 542 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2858 times:
I have been using an Uniden Bearcat 150 XLT for the past 6 years and the equipment still continues to function flawlessly how ever the performance of the battery pack has deteriorated over the time but that something which happens to every batter pack once it reaches its max recharge cycle.
Well I stay around 8 miles away from the closest airport which is VOTV (Trivandrum International Airport) and the receiver is capable of picking up the signals from the Approach and Area controllers without a hitch using its own antenna. Since these receivers basically works on the principle of line of sight we can generally hear the pilots while airborne more clear than the ATC however, ever since I have connected the scanner to an homemade Rectangular Antenna installed on top of my house via a co axial cable the receptive capacity had improved over 70%. Yes I said 70%. So now the receiver picks up the signals from Tower, Ground as well as Several Airline company channels. Also I can hear Aircrafts at their cruise level from around 80-100 miles away contacting the Area Controllers in Trivandrum on a fine day. I have also used the same while I was working in Mumbai where I used to stay at the top most floor of a 7 story apartment and the performance of the Scanner even without and external Antenna was just awesome. Hope this helps..Good luck with you!!!
Jetplaner From Canada, joined Mar 2008, 157 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 2841 times:
Thanks for all the help guys. Tomorrow I am off to the radio shack, so if I don't find anything, I'll order online. These suggestions have been really helpful!
Jetplaner From Canada, joined Mar 2008, 157 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2814 times:
Ok, so after visiting the Radioshack (now The Source) and asking the guy there if they had any air traffic scanners, he didn't seem to know what I was asking for. Neither did the folks at Visions Electronics. So I ordered an Icom IC-R5 from Radioworld in Torono (thanks Peter for the suggestion!) The price there was $230.00 CAD, which was fine because I am not the one paying for it. My dad said to not buy a cheap one, so he can't complain about that. I will have to post something here after trying it out once it arrives, but everything I've read about it so far seems like its the perfect scanner. I can hardly wait until it arrives Thanks again for all the help everyone!
AC033heavy From Canada, joined Feb 2009, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2807 times:
Icom R5 is a good radio, reception is good with it and its small!. The only thing you might find annoying with it is the fact it has no keyboard to program it. It takes a little while longer to do, but im sure you will have a good time with it. Its good it has the complete range so you can get the military air freq also with it. If you need any frequency info let me know. Email me off the board and i will get you the info.
FLY2HMO From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 8140 posts, RR: 9 Reply 14, posted (2 years 3 months 1 week 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 2747 times:
Quoting Jetplaner (Reply 12): Ok, so after visiting the Radioshack (now The Source) and asking the guy there if they had any air traffic scanners, he didn't seem to know what I was asking for. Neither did the folks at Visions Electronics
*sigh* I'm willing to bet they had scanners there right in their faces covering the air band frequency and they didn't even know it
I got mine from radioshack.
Why if one person has an imaginary friend they're crazy; if many people have the same imaginary friend, its religion?
AC033heavy From Canada, joined Feb 2009, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2548 times:
Just wondering if you got your radio yet, and how it was working. Im heading to toronto this weekend to do some spotting, and shopping at Aviation world.
Jetplaner From Canada, joined Mar 2008, 157 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 2543 times:
I have got it, but haven't really had an opportunity to use it, because of the distance I live from the airport I don't get much reception, although I do occasionally hear aircraft and the tower. So far, though, I really like it. It has been really easy to use as it has a great user interface. I haven't figured out all the features yet though. I will definately take it next time I go out to the airport!
Ac033heavy From Canada, joined Feb 2009, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (2 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2541 times:
Thats good, i hope you get to use it often. Make sure you take it with you when you travel. So there were no problems with the delivery, it arrived in good shape. Radioworld is usually pretty good when shipping stuff.
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From Canada, joined Mar 2008, 157 posts, 
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From India, joined Sep 2001, 542 posts, 
Thanks again for all the help everyone!
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