Can a scanner detect ATC?

Question

What all can a good scanner detect, im about 35 miles from a International airport (at night i can see planes in the sky) Will it pick this up with a good scanner? And what else can it pick up?

Answer 1

Even a cheap scanner can pick up air traffic control.

All the scanner has to do is be able to tune in 110-130 Megahertz in AM. You can listen to the "guard" or "distress" channel on 121.500 MHz AM.

What will really determine what you can hear is your antenna. If you just use the antenna that came built in to your scanner you will have moderate reception.

Install a scanner dicone antenna outside on a steel pole, and you will be picking up airplanes and ATC sometimes up to hundreds of miles away.*

*Line of site.

Answer 2

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