Airband scanners for planespotting.

[PaulGR 168]

I'm trying to find specific info regarding this issue in US and specifically FL.

Could somebody point me out if it's legal/illegal and what are possible options (license for example) to get this to work?

 

 

Cheers

[tttocs 301]

Perfectly legal.  You'll need a VHF receiver capable of AM reception in the aviation band (118.00 - 136.00 MHZ for comms).

 

Scott

 

Edit - meant to add, no license required for listening.

[Jimm 437]

My wife just recently purchased a short-wave radio for my birthday, which also has the ability to pickup air traffic bands.  It is made by Tecsun.  See link for details.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL-660-Portable-Shortwave-Single/dp/B004H9C4JK/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1439230411&sr=1-3&keywords=tecsun

 

-Jim

[mgh 89]

for what it's worth, this site summarises USA law.

 

http://www.fireline.org/scanlaws/scanner5.html

 

in many others countries it can be illegal. There are case of sprotters being arrested.

[tttocs 301]

for what it's worth, this site summarises USA law.

 

http://www.fireline.org/scanlaws/scanner5.html

 

in many others countries it can be illegal. There are case of sprotters being arrested.

 

Summarize being the operative word.  For example, in Florida (the OP's state) the actual law which causes FL to be listed as red (illegal) on this site pertains specifically to monitoring frequencies designated by the FAA as police and fire/rescue allocations.  Aviation frequencies are not covered by this law and are not illegal to monitor.

 

Scott

[ViperPilot 81]

PaulGR,

 

By any chance, do you own a smartphone?  If you do, and it's an Android phone, you could try Scanner Radio Pro or LiveATC...

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scannerradio_pro

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.liveatc.liveatc_app

 

Unfortunately, I do not know what's available for the iPhone...

 

Alan   :smile:

[PaulGR 168]

Thx a ton guys.

I am moving to FL and apart from planespotting as a passion the idea of having a scanner for emergency broadcasts (hurricanes are not a rare thing there) sounds appealing to me.

During Katrina my cell was dead for some time so phone apps won't do much good in those conditions.

 

This is what I'm going for (just reading about his bigger brother to see what extra benefits it has) pretty much.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-Handheld-Scanner-Black-BC75XLT/dp/B00A1VSO9M

[n4gix 4,947]

Paul, that scanner seems to be just what you need based on your comments so far.

 

I could "hate you" easily for leading me into temptation though, because going to read up on your link lead me to this:

http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BCD436HP-HomePatrol-Digital-Handheld/dp/B00I33XDAK/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VZHKZB6TMZ67B1EZ9F1

 

I have had the Uniden Home Patrol 1 for several years now here on my desktop, and have been wanting the portable version for some time as well. At the low, low price of $377.24 though, I think I'll wait a bit yet.

 

Maybe the price will drop (about the same time pigs learn to fly)!

[PaulGR 168]

Paul, that scanner seems to be just what you need based on your comments so far.

 

I could "hate you" easily for leading me into temptation though, because going to read up on your link lead me to this:

http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BCD436HP-HomePatrol-Digital-Handheld/dp/B00I33XDAK/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0VZHKZB6TMZ67B1EZ9F1

 

I have had the Uniden Home Patrol 1 for several years now here on my desktop, and have been wanting the portable version for some time as well. At the low, low price of $377.24 though, I think I'll wait a bit yet.

 

Maybe the price will drop (about the same time pigs learn to fly)!

 

That looks really good but a bit above my budget unfortunately

I think I will settle with the UBC125XLT. Has everything I need.