Buying a ATC/Aircraft scanner

[speedy]

I was spotting on Friday and was listening to the chap beside me who had a scanner. I got talking to him and its just a hand held jobbie he said. Please give me your informed knowledge if you can dna post up some links for frequencies and where to buy the gear....... I beleive i need a UHF scanner?, see already im not sure...

Edited March 21, 2009 by speedy

[tornado64]

airport viewing area souvenier shops usualy stock a range and also sell books of frequecies in the uk and abroad

digital tuning rather than a tuning wheel type are best and start at the 30-40 quid range

you can also get home base stations and aeriels as well

i think manchester airports souvenir shop sells online and they stock a reasonable range ..

[AnonymousDFB1]

For Civilian you need VHF and for Military you need UHF, there's loads out there and I'm out of touch with makes and models. I used to like AOR. Be warned it's not illegal to own a scanner but it is illegal to listen to anything you are not licensed for. At airports a blind eye seems to be turned but I have been at Luton airport when what was then the GPO turned up with the police and confiscated all scanners, they didn't take mine and I had time to reset it to defaults so that it would only receive ordinary radio and hams which I was licensed for!

[Gundylunch]

If you are going to get one recommend any Yupiteru or AOR scanner they are " simply the best " !! I have had both makes and theres not much to chose between them, currently have a Yupiteru MVT 9000 and it's brilliant !

[Troffa]

Hi Speedy,

As Mish correctly states there are a few things you need to be aware of if considering a scanner:

Here is the relevant Offcom page:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/enforcement/guidance

I have a friend who has owned an AOR AR 2000 for the best part of twenty years and would recommend AOR or Yupiteru to anyone, however I wouldn't want to be on the fence at your location with one in my ear!