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Post by pendlerail on Oct 4, 2012 22:40:42 GMT 1
Hi all , as a newbie to the hobby, I have Flight Radar 24, but how would say scanner enhance things? Would it help get registrations? Or what else do they help?
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sawilson
Junior Member
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Posts: 92
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Post by sawilson on Oct 6, 2012 12:36:54 GMT 1
They may help yo find out the call signs for smaller airliners and light aircraft, that do not plot onto flight radar 24. But for me, they simply add to the enjoyment of watching airplanes. Before you spend a lot of money on a scanner, have a listen to the live at website, or download the android app. You can listen to ATC from around he world, apart from the UK.
If you do want a scanner, do some research as you can spend a lot of money on a pile of poo.
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Post by Monvillez on Oct 6, 2012 20:32:52 GMT 1
As has already been mentioned, you can pick up supplementary info that you may not be able to find elsewhere. They're an interesting media to listen to, even if you just have it on in the background. I have a broad frequency discone antenna in the loft too, can receive 2-way comms from both Liverpool and Manchester and I live in St Helens!
If you do decide to purchase one, make sure the model you're buying can pick up military frequencies, you'll only be disappointed in the long run if you don't.......
Regards,
Garry
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Post by Biggles on Oct 6, 2012 22:24:26 GMT 1
Make sure the scanner is a dedicated airband one and not a cheap "scanner" that picks up everything or so it says.
You need airband frequencies between 108 mhz - 140mhz preferably now with the facility to search in 8.33 steps. which will allow you to listen to the relatively new frqs made up of 6 digits like 134.225 for example.
Military use UHF frqs in the range 220 - 400 mhz.
Full listings are available in books and online.
HTH
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Post by paravion on Oct 12, 2012 18:45:59 GMT 1
As has been mentioned above if watching FR24 you may see an a320 with a 737 some distance behind but it would,nt show the fly be dash 8 and lufti crj inbetween and the helicoptor/light aircraft passing near to your house, also some of the large aircraft freighters /cargo dont show on fr24 .
hth ?
Brian...
ps welcome
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Post by Speke-EZY on Oct 12, 2012 22:25:42 GMT 1
Hi Pendlerail,
The previous answers to your question are all correct,but you don't even need a scanner. If you are hesitant about spending a lot of money on something you might not like,start off with a simple (and much cheaper) non-scanning airband receiver. You can buy these relatively inexpensive radios at - among other places - the TAS shop on the Runway Visitors Park at Manchester Airport. Compared to a sophisticated scanner,these sets are much easier for a beginner to use. They are available with either digital or analog tuning dials. You may also find a handbook of airband radio frequencies useful. Whatever receiver option you choose,good luck and welcome to spotting.
Cheers,Keith
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Post by pendlerail on Oct 12, 2012 22:55:17 GMT 1
Thanks for your answers, still undecided, how would It help with things at home, I thought they were only useful at airports? and I didn't think they use Registrations, only Flight numbers?
Phil
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Post by Speke-EZY on Oct 13, 2012 10:50:12 GMT 1
Hi Phil,
As you observe,most commercial and military flights use a specified callsign which do not tell you the aircraft registration marks. There is a growing (and irritating) trend of callsigns which do not even match the flight number. A few operators use "fixed" callsigns which apply to individual aircraft,but only small private planes tend to routinely call-up their registration. If you want to identify an aircraft from its callsign,use one of the free online tracking sites such as Planefinder or Flightradar24.
As for the usefulness of airband radios,this can depend a lot on where you intend to spot from. VHF signals only travel in "line of sight",so aircraft transmissions can often be heard from many miles away,depending upon their altitude,but ground stations need to be much closer. The enroute (airways) control channels are boosted by a network of relay transmitters,but local airfield air traffic control signals will only be audible within a confined radius of the source. You may be able to improve the range of your reception from home by using a loft aerial. From one mile north of Liverpool Airport I can pick up the controllers at Manchester...but only with the squelch (background noise) filter wide open,which prevents scanning.
I hope this is helpful,Keith
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Post by pendlerail on Oct 18, 2012 17:32:20 GMT 1
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Post by jbmack on Oct 18, 2012 18:34:49 GMT 1
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Post by john1958 on Oct 18, 2012 20:17:11 GMT 1
I have an MVT7100 which I've had since I bought it at Fairford show MANY MANY years and even a couple of girlfriends ago!!! And its still a superb scanner, reception is still clear, shes been all ove the world with me, scanner not girlfriend, and as cheap as they look on EBAY, snap one up quick!!!!
John
PS, if you need any help/advice feel free to contact me via private message
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Post by Biggles on Oct 19, 2012 0:09:51 GMT 1
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Post by jbmack on Oct 19, 2012 10:55:33 GMT 1
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Post by maverick on Oct 19, 2012 11:02:12 GMT 1
I have an MVT7100 which I've had since I bought it at Fairford show MANY MANY years and even a couple of girlfriends ago!!! And its still a superb scanner, reception is still clear, shes been all ove the world with me, scanner not girlfriend, and as cheap as they look on EBAY, snap one up quick!!!! Yes, I would agree with John - the MVT7100 is arguably one of the best scanners ever made. If you can pick one up cheaply on e-bay etc. then difficult to go wrong with choice. (Owner of many airband radios - Russian world set, Oscar Mirage, Sharp, AR532, WIN108, MVT7100 to name but a few..) |
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