AT777 From United States, joined Aug 2006, 123 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 805 times:
I did not know which forum this would belong in, so I picked this one. If i'm wrong, I apologize. I'm looking to buy a scanner so I can listen ATC here in CLT. I'm sure someone here knows a couple of good quality scanners that I could look into purchasing. Any help would be appreciated.
Aogdesk From United States, joined Jun 2004, 755 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (3 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 754 times:
Ashley, my suggestion would be to send an instant message to A-net user: skoker. He's an avid airplane guy and can probably steer you in the right direction.
Nathanr From United States, joined Jan 2008, 19 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 months 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 709 times:
Although I don't have any knowledge about scanners, I finally bought one for spotting out at PDX. I have a Radio Shack PRO-82 200-Channel Handheld Scanner. The sound quality is great and I'm able to pick stuff up from many, many miles away. Really durable construction, and very easy to use.
A rare property indeed for multi-purpose scanners on air band.
Before you buy, try scanning the aviation band (118-136 Mhz) on it.
Air band communications use AM modulation, which some cheaper (crappy) scanners simply allow to overload the front-end, which makes the communications sound really, really bad (it makes the scanner cheaper, as the manufacturer doesn't have to source an AM demodulator into the radio, and you can still hear the radio traffic).
AES (www.aesham.com) is a pretty good place to purchase radio scanners. There are two parts to their site: the side geared towards amateur radio operators (which, obviously, requires a HAM license) and the side geared towards CB'ers and scanner fans.
Also, if you have one in your area, Fry's Electronics carries scanners.
Good luck!
Rulebooks and regulations are made from paper...and they do a poor job at preventing metal from contacting rock-Ernest G
JAGflyer From Canada, joined Aug 2004, 2756 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (3 months 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 678 times:
The best basic AIRBAND only scanner is the Maycom AR-180. What I did and what I suggest you do is go on ebay and buy a used VHF scanner. That way you can listen to other things besides just ATC. Including police, fire, ambulance, Ham Radio, etc.
Hope this helps
I'll take 100 litres a side AVGAS with Prist - C172 pilot
Bond007 From United States, joined Mar 2005, 4275 posts, RR: 6 Reply 7, posted (3 months 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 633 times:
Quoting Nathanr (Reply 2): I have a Radio Shack PRO-82 200-Channel Handheld Scanner. The sound quality is great and I'm able to pick stuff up from many, many miles away. Really durable construction, and very easy to use.
We actually used these professionally in vehicles/offices, and now use the PRO-97, which is more expensive but covers the UHF military airband also (don't think the 82 does).
It's probably overkill for the average 'spotter' and we download freqs and text to each one from a PC when we initially load them, so it displays "KABC Tower" etc.
But, the quality/sensitivity of the PRO-82, and indeed the PRO-97, is as you say, every good.
Jimbo
I'd rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air, than in the air wishing I was on the ground!
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