How much is a good airband radio ?

Question

So how will a airband radio pick up the jet flying outside my window?

and is the range good|?

Answer 1

Usually the range from a handeld is not very good because vhf frequencies are line of sight. If you had a rooftop antenna your chances of picking up the local airport's traffic would be much better.

At radio shack they have a 99 dollar radio that is sold for car races, but you can tune into the police/fire frequencies, weather frequencies, and the air band of frequencies.

With the supplied antenna you will only occasionally pick up GA traffic, but transmissions from high altitude flights might be picked up.

Hope this helps...

Answer 2

A good one is anything between £40 and £140....it will pick up the aircraft outside your window....but usually only what the pilot is saying.....I used to be able to pick up an airport from about 30 miles away, but usually the signal is line of sight, so the signal from the air traffic control is better from the top of a mountain than in a valley.....but the lower price band would still get you a good receiver.