Starter Airband Scanner

Shocking_Blue

Hi all,
Not sure at all if any members have any insight into this, but I'm interested in buying an airband scanner/radio. It's just to have a but of fun really, listening to aircraft comms. We live about 8 miles in a straight line from the airport (main UK). We're not on a landing/take off route, so the planes are about 8000ft by the time they come over us if taking off. Not sure if we'd be able to pick anything up in this location. May also use it nearer to the airport.
Just looking for a basic hand held scanner for civilian aircraft only.
Thanks in advance.

bob_a_builder

I was going to suggest using an App on a phone, pretty sure I used to do that,  but now I check for an app, non of them support the UK airports due to legal reasons ...
===================
"What about LHR?

Unfortunately, UK law puts a stick in the spokes to listening to the ATC at Heathrow, the busiest airport in Europe and an AvGeek delight, with dozens of airlines from all over the world. Pascoe said the UK prohibits listening to ATC, let alone rebroadcasting it. “They hide behind old laws that have no real applicability in a modern information society,” he said. This is unfortunate, given that Heathrow connects the airlines of the world more so than any other."
===================
https://thepointsguy.co.uk/guide/how-to-listen-to-air-traffic-control-even-on-your-phone/

Maybe thats why you are asking about a radio scanner ?

You can get other ATC radio feeds online 
https://www.liveatc.net/topfeeds.php

Shocking_Blue

bob_a_builder said:

I was going to suggest using an App on a phone, pretty sure I used to do that,  but now I check for an app, non of them support the UK airports due to legal reasons ...
===================
"What about LHR?

Unfortunately, UK law puts a stick in the spokes to listening to the ATC at Heathrow, the busiest airport in Europe and an AvGeek delight, with dozens of airlines from all over the world. Pascoe said the UK prohibits listening to ATC, let alone rebroadcasting it. “They hide behind old laws that have no real applicability in a modern information society,” he said. This is unfortunate, given that Heathrow connects the airlines of the world more so than any other."
===================
https://thepointsguy.co.uk/guide/how-to-listen-to-air-traffic-control-even-on-your-phone/

Maybe thats why you are asking about a radio scanner ?

You can get other ATC radio feeds online 
https://www.liveatc.net/topfeeds.php

Thanks.
Manchester is my nearest large airport. Just Googled and one vid says you can listen to ATC etc on a Baofeng walkie talkie - much cheaper than a dedicated airband scanner (says ATC etc has an FM uplink that walkie talkies can capture). Haven't seen anything else to corroborate this, though.
Thanks for the links.

bob_a_builder

I used to use one of these - still got it somewhere
Has the right bands for ATC

Not my ad - just using it for reference
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Realistic-Pro-37-Hand-Held-Receiver-Police-Fire-Airplane-800-900-MHz-Scanner/254754426757

datostar

bob_a_builder said:

I used to use one of these - still got it somewhere
Has the right bands for ATC

Not my ad - just using it for reference
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Realistic-Pro-37-Hand-Held-Receiver-Police-Fire-Airplane-800-900-MHz-Scanner/254754426757

I've still got an old PRO-34 and also confirm all the ATC bands. Frequencies are easily found on line. You won't get police/fire/ambulance any more. They haven't used UHF for a good few years now. Yu can still get taxi firms - not particularly ineresting though.

bob_a_builder

Theres this one ....
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bewinner-Portable-Aircraft-Receiver-Backlight-Black/dp/B07QWCV7Y1/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Airband+Radio&qid=1603313135&sr=8-5&th=1
Seems to have right bands - although the responses in the Q&A section don't bode too well , in which case  Amazon returns are very good  
But can't see a Squelch control - which you will want to save listening to a lot of white noise all the time 

Shocking_Blue

bob_a_builder said:

I used to use one of these - still got it somewhere
Has the right bands for ATC

Not my ad - just using it for reference
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Realistic-Pro-37-Hand-Held-Receiver-Police-Fire-Airplane-800-900-MHz-Scanner/254754426757

Thanks.
You think you'd be able to get ATC on the FM range that the Baofeng covers? They're pretty cheap - eBay has a few UV-5R models for less than £20. Not sure if being so far from the airport (8 miles-ish straight line) would pick up anything in any case.

bob_a_builder

Looking at spec - no ATC on those 
https://baofengtech.com/uv-5r

Shocking_Blue

bob_a_builder said:

Looking at spec - no ATC on those 
https://baofengtech.com/uv-5r

Thanks. Do you think even with an airband (looking at a Uniden EZI-33 XLT) I'd be able to pick up ATC/aircraft at such a distance from the airport?
Thanks.

bob_a_builder

Sorry - Don't know, I have always lived on/under a flight path 
See Q&A here - 1st and 3rd  Question  ( expand to see all sub answers)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00864J60C?pf_rd_r=GF9G4QP9WMFBP6EQSVN3&pf_rd_p=e632fea2-678f-4848-9a97-bcecda59cb4e&th=1

Sine its Amazon you can easily return it 

mobileron

radio waves travel all over the place,you will be ok.