Many handheld Air-band radios/scanners are available today costing from just a few pounds to several hundred pounds. The cheaper air-band radio is usually able to pick up transmissions from civilian aircraft but are limited by the absence of accurate tuning so you have little idea of what frequency you are listening to and you are often tuned into more than one frequency at the same time.
A scanner, while more costly (about £70 and more), usually consists of a keypad to enter a particular frequency, LCD display, a memory which will remember stored frequencies, and the ability to scan through a certain set of frequencies. There isn't any frequency overlap that you get on the cheaper Air-band radio. You can get either a hand-held scanner, ideal for air shows etc, or a larger desk top/base station model.
The cheaper scanners can receive just the VHF aircraft band (108-137MHz) which is ideal if you want to listen to civilian aircraft transmissions. More expensive models allow you to receive the UHF aircraft band (225-400MHz) in addition to the VHF aircraft band. These scanners can receive military aircraft transmissions as well as civilian. In order to listen to the Red Arrows leader at an air show you would require the UHF band.
Both VHF and UHF are short range, line-of-sight radio transmissions which are restricted to a maximum range of about 200 miles due to the curvature of the earth and usually considerably less depending on the surroundings (hills etc). Some scanners can receive the HF (short wave) aircraft band in addition to the VHF and UHF aircraft bands. The HF band is not restricted to line-of-sight radio transmissions and can be used to monitor Shanwick and the trans-Atlantic routes etc. There are also multi-band scanners which cover much more than just the aircraft bands.
, and the FR100
for listening to civilian airband. Both these scanners are relatively cheap and good value for money although they lack a keypad, the FR100 has the new 8.33KHz spacing.
which has a wide frequency range from 100KHz to 1.3Ghz and includes a keypad.
which is very good for airband listening and has a wide frequency range and includes a keypad.
which also has a wide continuous frequency range from 100KHz to 1299.99MHz including airband but also includes a keypad.
which can recieve the civilian airband, and also the UBC-3500XLT
which has a very wide frequency range including civilian & military airband along with a keypad. The sensitive UBC3500XLT is fairly expensive but is generally thought to be the best aviation/airshow hand-held scanner that is currently available to buy today. The new UBC-125XLT
scanner receives both civilian and military airband frequencies, a keypad, and is a good scanner for a reasonable price.
You may also buy a frequency guide when visiting an airshow if you can find a stall that sells scanners.
