Vhf

[toesup]

I was wondering, living so close to the airport AND the Columbia River if its possible to listen to the planes and boats on VHF.

Does anyone out there listen to the 'local' boats on VHF... and what radio's (Recieving) are the best?

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

I imagine you could pick something up at Radio shack, or Circuit City, or the local
Ham radio store that would suit your fancy....

http://radio-scanner-guide.com/

:cool:

[Kmot]

I have been a "listener" for around 30 years now I guess. I have three scanners, two base models and one hand held.

Not only can you listen to aircraft and boats, but you can hear the ship to shore telephone calls placed over the marine radios.

And police, fire dept, cordless phones, etc. if they are not scrambled.

[LtDoc]

Just like with R/C radio, the higher the receiving antenna, the better the reception. Higher is always better to some ridiculous point. The 'radio horizon', curvature of the earth, all that stuff. The aircraft bands start at about 100 Mhz and go up, so do the marine bands and other services. You might wanna be careful though, that stuff gets to be addictive...
- 'Doc

[dostacos]

google HRO, ham radio outlet, they have stuff just for listeners including magazines and frequency charts for police/fire etc. I had a dual band 2M 440 in my truck and every now and then I would hit a key and it would shift me to police and air frequencies, I could not transmit but could listen
KC6EWX {code tech} now that would freak ya out when offroading :eek:

[charlie eaton]

Mercy, I had a police and fire scanner till I retired then threw it out! Enough is enough already!! LOL :D

[Kmot]

Yeah but...... don't you want to listen in and hear your old work buddies talking smack on the radio? :D

[Tugboat Andy]

I was wondering, living so close to the airport AND the Columbia River if its possible to listen to the planes and boats on VHF.

Does anyone out there listen to the 'local' boats on VHF... and what radio's (Recieving) are the best?

Depending on how close to the river you are, you should hear some interesting towboat and ship traffic....especially if you have jetskies and windsurfers that like to use the shipping lane :D

I had a marine VHF with an 8' aerial when I was a kid and I could hear tug and tanker traffic about 30-40 miles away on a good night. Check West Marine or Boaters World or Craigslist. You should be able to find a unit new for around $75.00 plus antenna. Not sure about FCC regs... :rolleyes: ;)

[gpzy]

I was wondering, living so close to the airport AND the Columbia River if its possible to listen to the planes and boats on VHF.

Does anyone out there listen to the 'local' boats on VHF... and what radio's (Recieving) are the best?
Becareful of over zealous police officers. In the name of "Homeland Security" I have been asked not to take pics in the different areas of the harbor and airport.

[Shaun Hendricks]

If it's visable from a public location, you can take all the pictures you want. It's not like you can't get even satellite images of just about anything. The request is silly.

As for scanners, there are plenty of them out there and if you're close to the traffic, you don't need a mile high antenna. Anything in a radius of about 15-20 miles from you will be easily hearable if you have a simple outdoor antenna attached to your roof line. That should be more than enough listening entertainment when you are near a port and an airport.

[ooby]

I have been a "listener" for around 30 years now I guess.

Hmmmmmmm. I wonder if Kmot has ever heard me on the radio????? Could be, with your scanner located at "Fifth & Main"... :D

Seneca 4567 Delta is cleared to the Reno Airport via Victor 334 Sacramento, Victor 6 Reno. Maintain 5000. On departure turn right, heading 035 to intercept Victor 334. Departure control frequency will be 121.3. Squawk 1172 on departure.

667 Delta, stand by

Readback correct, 67 Delta

67 Delta is ready to go

67 Delta, hold for departure release

67 Delta holding

4567 Delta cleared for takeoff

67 Delta cleared for take off

67 Delta contact departure control and have a good flight

Thank you, 67 Delta

Bay Departure, 67 Delta over San Jose, climbing to 5000

67 Delta, radar contact 2 miles NW of San Jose airport, report passing 3000

etc., etc., etc., And this is a boat forum...but, fun stuff!

:rolleyes:

[charlie eaton]

OVERHEARD BY ME: English tower, Cowboy 45. 45- tower go ahead. Tower -45 has emergancy. 45- tower nature of emergancy? TOWER,I'VE HAD THE S--T SHOT OUT OF ME THATS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 45- tower your cleared to land. Cowboy 45 was a CH-47 Chinook. Yeah I know nuther airplane story.

[CGAux26]

Toes, Good, not too expensive handheld VHF-FM marine band radios can be had from West Marine, Boaters World etc. I have a several years old Standard brand that scans all the marine frequencies, or you can set it to just scan the few you are interested in. Channel 16 and 09 are the calling and distress frequencies. Channel 13 is commercial ship-to-ship (tugs, too). Channels 21A, 23A, 81A, and 83A are some of the Coast Guard only freqs. Channel 68 is the primary boat-to-boat channel for pleasure boats. These radios also have all the marine radio channels.

Be aware it is illegal to transmit with a marine radio from land.

Sorry you could not make it to the BAMM Regatta.

[ziobrop]

I have a handheld marine VHF (standard horizon hx850s) and monitor halifax vessel traffic. its a handheld, and in a 6th story apartment - i can hear most large ships well, vts is fantastic (though i can literally look out my window and see their transmitters). it sucks for pleasure craft - never hear them unless i can see them well, and Coast Guard Radio's transmitters point to sea, so i never get them, as i am behind.

I also have an AIS receiver - it works well, and i can see most of the harbour with it. between It and VTS, not much sails by that i dont know about.

[steelhead]

Just about any scanner on the market will let you listen to VHF boats and planes.

I've seen them at radio shack for less than $100 for a desktop or a handheld.


Here's a fun photo of me checking into the Hawaii morning net with 4 watts out from a backpack mounted antenna on 20 Meter HF-

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=922159

I was located about 100 feet back from the Pacific Ocean, so this is not too far off topic :)

Dean