GEEDO From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 366 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 5281 times:
Hey Mike, the best thing to do is go to your local Radio Shack and just check out their line of hand held scanners. Let them know you want the basic model, with a minimum number of programmable channels. They have models that allow you to store hundreds and hundreds of frequencies, when all you need is a handful or two. They will no doubt want to sell you a model that allows you to pick up "trunking" network frequencies, but unless you are wanting to get the cops and fire department too, you won't need to spend any extra money. I don't have a specific model to recommend, just would again emphasize that you need to let the sales people know you need a bare minimum number of channels. You will really enjoy adding this element to your plane spotting. Chuck
Yes, it's made in China (but then again, what isn't? ), runs on 2 AA batteries, and has a 3V DC and earphone jack. It doesn't have squelch, but, so what? It's the best priced radio I've seen out there and I've had it for one year, and it works beautifully!!! If you are going to use it in your home, I highly recommend getting a universal DC adapter for this radio, save your batteries for when your hidden near a runway threshold spying on the ATC."
I've copied and pasted that a dozen times from my older posts
InnocuousFox From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2805 posts, RR: 16 Reply 4, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 5249 times:
I grabbed a Radio Shack Pro-79 from Ebay last summer. People are dumping them because their local police/fire is going to a trunked system. It's great for what we need it for, however.
Dave Mark - Intrinsic Algorithm - Reducing the world to mathematical equations!
CVGpilot From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 588 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 5217 times:
ANA777Master From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 126 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 5207 times:
Can you listen to tower-to-plane chatter from 20 miles away? I live in Washington DC and would like to listen to Dulles' air chatter. Anyone know if a regular scanner will do?
InnocuousFox From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 2805 posts, RR: 16 Reply 7, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 5200 times:
It's all "line of sight". I can hear aircraft at FL370 when they are a hundred miles away. I can't hear aircraft on the ground when they are 5 miles away.
I can hear the tower at OMA just fine when I'm on the ground at the airport but I can't hear the Omaha TRACON because their antennas are a few miles farther south.
Dave Mark - Intrinsic Algorithm - Reducing the world to mathematical equations!
ANA777Master From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 126 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 5261 times:
My suspicions were correct. Thank you, innocuousfox.
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