Signal R535 Has Arrived!

Well, my R535 Airband Scanner arrived yesterday. I bought it on Ebay and it's in very good condition & working order (thanks to Iain). I remember having one of these in the late '80s early '90s and it was a great receiver but my early version only tuned up to 379.975 on the military UHF band, this is one of the later models which actually tunes up to 399.975. I'd almost forgotten how good these radios are. This completes my new set up now, with the Icom IC-R2 as my mobile 'on site' receiver and the R535 set up on the bedside table (wife wont get a look in now!). Im camping about 12 miles from Waddington this coming Friday & Saturday and will be attending the show with the family on Saturday so the Icom will get a good 'field test' whilst there.

Portsmouth

Dave sent the following e-mail:

Sorry it's short notice, got passed to you from another site. Have you a rough idea what frequencies may be used at the Royal fleet review at portsmouth today?There is some aircraft6 activity from about 3.00pm.Thanx in advance,Dave.

I reply: Im afraid Im not sure Dave but here's a few air to ship freqs. I have listed:

230.075 NATO Fleet
231.275 " "
315.175 " "
233.15 Ark Royal
283.3 " "
336.15 " "
345.45

260.1 Invincible
342.05 " "
375.85 " "
350.55 " "

237.85 Illustrious
280.15 " "

345.825 RN NET
350.15 RN
356.4 RN Safety

357.95 Deck Landings

Anybody else help with more relevent info please post here. Thanks - Mark

Re: Waddington

NEMA_Fly_Boy has sent me the following:

Hi, thanks for the Waddington Freqs. Will these be in use this year do we know, or are we likely to see standard display freqs. in place?? Also, do you have any Sqadron ops. frequencies, both discreet and display use for the show this year??Thanks in advance!!

In Reply: I'm just not sure on the display frequency, my previous post lists some 'common' allocated display frequencies, might be worth checking these at the show. I have the following frequencies which are ops frequencies I have listed for Waddington based units:

259.65 AWACS/magic ops
374.5 Wing Ops
253.35 Ops maintenance
364.725 Ops 51 Squadron (nimrod)
378.8 NOMAD ops

Dont forget also the Red Arrows nearly always use 243.45 as an air to air display frequency.

Hope this helps & thanks for the question.

Some Interesting Airband Frequencies

I thought it would be useful to publish some 'common' airband frequencies that can make for interesting listening:

Airshows:
121.175
130.625
132.9
130.5
130.675
134.55

Balloons:
122.475

Gliders:
129.9 (also balloons & Paradrop fields) eg. Langar
129.975 eg. Husbands Bosworth
130.1
130.125
130.4

Microlights:
129.825

Airport Fire Services:
121.6

RAF FAIRFORD

Dave asked for any frequencies I have for Fairford so here goes:

Ground: 259.975

Tower: 119.15 / 337.575

METRO (weather) 257.75 (as Mildenhall & Lakenheath)

Radar is operated by RAF Brize Norton:

123.55
127.25
124.275
342.45
311.825
277.35
376.625
119.0

Any of these could possibly be used!

About Posting Your Replies Or Questions Here

Dave from www.militaryairshows.co.uk has indicated that many airbanders wishing to ask a question may be unsure how to post here. If you look at a posting and click on the word 'comments' at the bottom right of each post a new window will open allowing you to type in your comment or question, you can then either mark the 'anonymous' button or the 'other' button to leave your name, then click 'publish your comment' hope thats clear for anybody wanting to post here.

Air Traffic Control

I have just received the latest update to my ATC simulator: 'London Control'. I have to say I am somewhat addicted to this program. It VERY ACCURATELY simulates the Manchester, London, Swanwick & Scottish ATC centres and is updated quarterly to keep up with changes to the UK ATC system. I have to say that this program has given me a more complete & accurate picture of the UK air traffic control system than I ever had before purchasing it. If you want to have a look at it go to: www.LondonControl.co.uk (and no I'm not on commission!).

Icom Ic-R2 has arrived!

My Icom IC-R2 arrived yesterday and I'm not disappointed. For such a little radio it's a great performer particularly if you hook it up to a better antenna such as a telescopic or something better by using an SMA to BNC adaptor. My only gripe would be the rather slow scan speed of around 10 channels a second. If you had just 200 frequencies programmed in, any one frequency would be checked every 20 seconds and it seems to me that you could easily miss transmissions on airband in that time. That said, I never even have that many frequencies in memory so its not that much of a problem for me personally. I'm now just awaiting the arrival of the Signal R535 bought on Ebay.

Icom Scanner Purchased

Have now completed the purchase of an Icom IC-R2 (have previously owned an IC-R5). This will do me fine for 'on airfield' operations with the signal R535 for home based listening. I purchased the Icom R2 as their quite cheap now. I have read in some places that it performs better than the R5? in any case it is more than sufficient for my mobile operating needs. My trusty, much looked after Yupiteru 7100 will be sold on Ebay shortly. These are still a great scanner and I would be not selling it had I not acquired a Signal R535 which is probably the only receiver to rival it's performance.

Re: Waddington Air Show

Dave from www.militaryairshows.co.uk has posted the following comment:

I have 388.225Mhz for the Tower, is it now 370.125Mhz or are both used?Any idea if they will use these frequencies for the show or will they use a temporary air display frequency?Looking forward to seeing the Hungarian MiG-29 display at Waddington.Dave

In answer: Hi Dave, Yes I remember the tower being 388.225 but it changed maybe a year or two ago now. With regard to temporary airshow frequencies, Im not sure as I haven't been to Waddington for a couple of years. Maybe another reader can help with that one?

Waddington Air Show

I don't get around to attending many air shows but, I am hoping to get to Waddington air show this year on the 2nd & 3rd July. Just in case you didn't know, the frequencies I have for Waddington are as follows:

Approach: 312.5Mhz/127.35Mhz
Director: 300.575Mhz
Departures: 249.85Mhz
Tower: 370.125Mhz/

VHF Tower tends to be the NATO standard tower frequency of 122.1Mhz.

These tend to be the main frequencies. There are also squadron ops frequencies etc. if anybody wants these please let me know by posting here.

If you have any other information on Waddington, again, please post it here.

New Radio Scanner

I have now successfully won an auction for a Signal R535 airband radio. I have owned one before many years ago and have always regretted selling it. Although the 60 memory channels are not brilliant I still consider this to be the 'rolls royce' of airband receivers. I am therefore putting my immaculate Yupiteru MVT7100 up for sale. Anyone out there interested? I will probably try and pick up a cheap Icom IC-R2 or similar for 'on airfield' operation.

Lakenheath Military Air Traffic

Although I live in the midlands I here a lot of F15 lakenheath traffic transiting East to West or West to East across controlled airspace. Yesterday seemed quite busy when I was listening. Traffic crossing in the Lichfield radar corridor seem to talk to Swanwick mil quite a lot on 257.275Mhz and traffic crossing further south in the Daventry/Westcott corridor seem to use 275.35Mhz. Heard any interesting movements lately? post your comments here.

Icom IC-R20 Scanner

Anybody out there got an Icom IC-R20 scanner? Looks a nice bit of kit but have no idea how it performs. I wonder if it scans memory channels faster than other Icoms, they always seem rather slow on scanning (or is it 'searching' according to Icom) If you've got one please post your opinions here. I would also be interested to here from anyone with a Realistic/Radio Shack or Uniden scanner as I have no experience of these radios at all.

Mildenhall

I wonder if any of you like me, remember the great airshows at Mildenhall particularly in the 80's? I got some great shots of an SR71 Blackbird on static display and I remember that some years at least there was the other aircraft ( 2 SR71's were stationed there) in the flying display. I remember it being very impressive! Talking of airshows, Dave Key of www.MilitaryAirshows.co.uk has kindly agreed to link to my site and I have reciprocated here and in the link on the lower right hand side. It really is a great site for all airshow related matters, so if you are not familier with his site, please take a look.

New Frequency Allocation?

I have recently heard traffic transferred to a London/Swanwick frequency of 132.840Mhz. Is this the first UK allocation of the new 8.33Khz channels? Anyone know what sector this covers?

My Airband Listening History

Hello Everybody

My name is Mark Graham and I have created this site in the hope that it might become a place for fellow airband enthusiasts to share information on all matters related to airband listening, Inc. information on scanners, reception, frequencies and events etc.

I have been airband listening for some 27 years now (started at 12, now 39 years old) my first radio being a simple 'multiband receiver' which tuned the entire VHF band in about 2cm of travel. Later I had a small 'Sharp' radio that allowed more accurate tuning and had an LED light indicating the signal strength ( I thought this was fantastic at the time). My other radios/scanners have included a Signal R537s, WIN108, Signal R535 (should NEVER have sold that one!) an ICOM IC-R10 (not impressed) and also Yupiteru MVT 5000, 7000 & 7100. Very recently I tried an Icom IC-R5 which was surprisingly impressive for such a tiny radio. My current receiver is the Yupiteru MVT7100. Although it doesn't have all the 'bells & whistles' of more modern scanners I think It is still the best for raw reception quality and ease of use. If anybody knows of a newer model that beats or matches the Yupi I'd be very happy to here from you!

I also managed to gain my Uk Private Pilots Licence in 1991 and later IMC (instrument meteorological conditions) rating & night ratings. After some 250 logged hours, in 2003 I finally gave up flying as the pressures of family & mortgage stretched my finances.

Well, that's enough about me for now, If you have anything to share with fellow airbanders please do hit the comments button at the bottom right and post it here. Thanks for reading.

Mark Graham