Just a word on military frequencies, since the major shake up of all military frequencies in January throughout NATO I have so far noted the following frequencies in use by Swanwick/London military:
252.875
256.575 (lichfield corridor)
275.625
277.625
278.6
280.35
231.525
397.175 (recently heard F15's using this as a discreet freq. while practising air combat)
233.725
269.475
259.6
251.075
277.775
280.35
regards, Mark
Airband Books
Friday, April 28, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Air Traffic Control R/T Procedure Changes
Graham Duke has kindly contributed the following:
For your information, new procedures for frequencies will come into operation on 1st May.
On that date, in UK airspace, frequencies will be spoken in 6 digits ( instead of 5 as present), except where the last two digits are both zero.
Also, the use of the word "channel" will be discontinued.
For example, 127.375 will be spoken as "one two seven decimal three seven five"
135.200 will be spoken as "one three five decimal zero"
Thanks for that info Graham.
Airband Books
For your information, new procedures for frequencies will come into operation on 1st May.
On that date, in UK airspace, frequencies will be spoken in 6 digits ( instead of 5 as present), except where the last two digits are both zero.
Also, the use of the word "channel" will be discontinued.
For example, 127.375 will be spoken as "one two seven decimal three seven five"
135.200 will be spoken as "one three five decimal zero"
Thanks for that info Graham.
Airband Books
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Yupiteru MVT 8000 Airband Scanner
I have received a question from a reader who has just purchased a Yupiteru MVT 8000 radio scanner and is requesting some feedback on this radio. I believe it is basically a 'base station' version of the yupiteru MVT 7100 but I have never owned one, perhaps another reader has some further information?
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Airband Scanner Recommendations Please!
Dear Readers, I would appreciate your recommendations regarding a new airband scanner for both VHF civil & UHF military listening. I currently use a Yupiteru MVT 7100 but would like a comparable scanner that will allow for 'alpha tagging' of memory channels. Dynamic memory banks would be ideal but not essential, likewise pc control would not be essential either.
At present I am considering a Uniden BCD396T (have to buy from the US) which even has what they call 'close call' which will seek out strong local signals and copy them to memory. Imagine being at an airfield and being able to intercept all local transmissions with the frequency immediately displayed and stored!
Also the 'alpha tagging' would need to accommodate a good number of letters/numbers for instance, I might want to enter 'Lakenheath CH10' etc.
So please hit the 'comment' button and let me know!
Aviation Posters
Airband Books
Aviation Books
At present I am considering a Uniden BCD396T (have to buy from the US) which even has what they call 'close call' which will seek out strong local signals and copy them to memory. Imagine being at an airfield and being able to intercept all local transmissions with the frequency immediately displayed and stored!
Also the 'alpha tagging' would need to accommodate a good number of letters/numbers for instance, I might want to enter 'Lakenheath CH10' etc.
So please hit the 'comment' button and let me know!
Aviation Posters
Airband Books
Aviation Books
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Airband & 8.33KHz Frequencies
A note below from Graham Duke for all airband listeners re: 8.33KHz frequencies:
'The recent introduction of the new 8.33kHz channels in UK airspace may have resulted in unexpected consequencies for some airband listeners.
For example, it may have been possible to hear the controller on the original 25kHz frequency, but nothing is being heard on its replacement 8.33 channel.
This is because the two systems operate in different ways.
Under the original 25kHz system, the signals were usually transmitted from two or three different sites.
However, this is not possible under the 8.33kHz, and only one transmitter can be used.
This means that the transmitter near you may no longer be in use for the new 8.33kHz channel, therefore the controller can no longer be heard.
It does not mean that there is a fault with your receiver. PROVIDED YOU ARE WITHIN RANGE of the transmitter, the controller will be heard.
Your radio needs EITHER 8.33kHz steps OR 5Khz steps to do this.'
Thanks for clearing that up Graham, there seems to be some confusion over these channels among pilots as well as listening enthusiasts!
Airband Books
Aviation Posters
Yupiteru Scanners
'The recent introduction of the new 8.33kHz channels in UK airspace may have resulted in unexpected consequencies for some airband listeners.
For example, it may have been possible to hear the controller on the original 25kHz frequency, but nothing is being heard on its replacement 8.33 channel.
This is because the two systems operate in different ways.
Under the original 25kHz system, the signals were usually transmitted from two or three different sites.
However, this is not possible under the 8.33kHz, and only one transmitter can be used.
This means that the transmitter near you may no longer be in use for the new 8.33kHz channel, therefore the controller can no longer be heard.
It does not mean that there is a fault with your receiver. PROVIDED YOU ARE WITHIN RANGE of the transmitter, the controller will be heard.
Your radio needs EITHER 8.33kHz steps OR 5Khz steps to do this.'
Thanks for clearing that up Graham, there seems to be some confusion over these channels among pilots as well as listening enthusiasts!
Airband Books
Aviation Posters
Yupiteru Scanners
Monday, April 03, 2006
Airband Reception
Aviation Posters
Airband Books
Hi Graham,
Noticed your comment on the airband news site about my radio. I bought a Uniden Bearcat UBC72 XLT. I use a scanner mainly to identify high level flights over my home in Warrington which I have been doing for years now. I suppose in a way it is my own fault for not really understanding that just because the scanner has the 8.33 step it still might not be sensitive enough to tune into all these new frequencies. I simply believed this to be the case, since the adverts in magazines imply that if a scanner has the 8.33 step then these new channels would be tuneable. I doubt I'd get my money back on that basis, as its my ignorance that is the problem! Funnily enough I could hear the controller again on the default of 132.125 this weekend. I suppose that is due to atmospheric conditions. I'll have to save up for the one Mark recommends and in the meantime just listen to the pilots when spotting. It seems quite odd really. I got my first air band radio off my dad way back in 1978 and 131.05 (together with originally 128.05) has been in use for my sector in all that time. Now its gone!
BTW your excellent air band books are in my collection. Maybe a brief section on this if they are updated may stop people making my mistake again.
Thanks for the interest and all the best
David Jackson
David
Thanks for your message.
If I have understood it correctly, you are saying that you purchased a scanner which has 8.33 channel tuning, but when you tune into the new channels you can only hear the pilots and not the controllers, whereas previously, on the old frequencies, you could hear them both.
If this is the case, it is not unusual. The same has happened with me, where there are separate channels for upper and lower airspace - I have always been able to hear the controller clearly on the old frequency, but I can't hear them on the new channel, even though they cover the same area.
I believe that this is because the signal for the channel is not as powerful, as it is for the higher levels. Therefore unless you are close to the transmitter, you will not pick it up. This will probably be the case whichever scanner you buy. I certainly wouldn't buy another one unless you are sure it will do the job. Also, a major upgrade of the UK transmitter sites has recently been completed, and this could have affected things.
Another point is the aerial. What are you using, how high are you, how far are you from the transmitter? All these things have a big influence on reception.
In my case, since these new channels started up, one of my best, 127.425 has changed to 127.430. I have now lost the controller, who I used to pick up clearly before. It is possible that they are no longer transmitting from two or three transmitters (known as offsets) as 8,33 channels can only be transmitted from one site for technical reasons.
To summarise, I don't think your scanner is the culprit. Other factors, which I have described above, are more likely to be the cause.
I am copying this to Mark Graham as he might think it worthwhile adding this to his site.
Regards
Graham
Thanks for the comments both, there can often be a number of factors such as those Graham has suggested. I can no longer pick up Nottingham East Midlands tower, the frequency has not changed but the location of the tower has changed slightly and in addition the new tower is much taller than the old which you would think would improve my reception but maybe they have reduced the transmitting power? there could be a number of factors, sometimes you can improve the situation by repositioning your antenna etc.
Airband Books
Hi Graham,
Noticed your comment on the airband news site about my radio. I bought a Uniden Bearcat UBC72 XLT. I use a scanner mainly to identify high level flights over my home in Warrington which I have been doing for years now. I suppose in a way it is my own fault for not really understanding that just because the scanner has the 8.33 step it still might not be sensitive enough to tune into all these new frequencies. I simply believed this to be the case, since the adverts in magazines imply that if a scanner has the 8.33 step then these new channels would be tuneable. I doubt I'd get my money back on that basis, as its my ignorance that is the problem! Funnily enough I could hear the controller again on the default of 132.125 this weekend. I suppose that is due to atmospheric conditions. I'll have to save up for the one Mark recommends and in the meantime just listen to the pilots when spotting. It seems quite odd really. I got my first air band radio off my dad way back in 1978 and 131.05 (together with originally 128.05) has been in use for my sector in all that time. Now its gone!
BTW your excellent air band books are in my collection. Maybe a brief section on this if they are updated may stop people making my mistake again.
Thanks for the interest and all the best
David Jackson
David
Thanks for your message.
If I have understood it correctly, you are saying that you purchased a scanner which has 8.33 channel tuning, but when you tune into the new channels you can only hear the pilots and not the controllers, whereas previously, on the old frequencies, you could hear them both.
If this is the case, it is not unusual. The same has happened with me, where there are separate channels for upper and lower airspace - I have always been able to hear the controller clearly on the old frequency, but I can't hear them on the new channel, even though they cover the same area.
I believe that this is because the signal for the channel is not as powerful, as it is for the higher levels. Therefore unless you are close to the transmitter, you will not pick it up. This will probably be the case whichever scanner you buy. I certainly wouldn't buy another one unless you are sure it will do the job. Also, a major upgrade of the UK transmitter sites has recently been completed, and this could have affected things.
Another point is the aerial. What are you using, how high are you, how far are you from the transmitter? All these things have a big influence on reception.
In my case, since these new channels started up, one of my best, 127.425 has changed to 127.430. I have now lost the controller, who I used to pick up clearly before. It is possible that they are no longer transmitting from two or three transmitters (known as offsets) as 8,33 channels can only be transmitted from one site for technical reasons.
To summarise, I don't think your scanner is the culprit. Other factors, which I have described above, are more likely to be the cause.
I am copying this to Mark Graham as he might think it worthwhile adding this to his site.
Regards
Graham
Thanks for the comments both, there can often be a number of factors such as those Graham has suggested. I can no longer pick up Nottingham East Midlands tower, the frequency has not changed but the location of the tower has changed slightly and in addition the new tower is much taller than the old which you would think would improve my reception but maybe they have reduced the transmitting power? there could be a number of factors, sometimes you can improve the situation by repositioning your antenna etc.
Airband
A message to Dave posted by Graham:
I would be interested to know which scanner Dave has purchased, as most modern sets can go down to 5kHz steps. Has he thought about taking it back as "not fit for purpose", especially if it was advertised in a misleading way?
Valid comment Graham, I would certainly be interested to know which airband scanner we are talking about here.
Mark
I would be interested to know which scanner Dave has purchased, as most modern sets can go down to 5kHz steps. Has he thought about taking it back as "not fit for purpose", especially if it was advertised in a misleading way?
Valid comment Graham, I would certainly be interested to know which airband scanner we are talking about here.
Mark
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Airband
Dave Has posted the following:
'Hi Mark, that was useful info from Graham. I wish I'd had it before I bought a new scanner with 8.33 channels that now can't hear the controllers because it doesn't have the 5khz step and, as I mentioned in an earlier post, defaults in my case to 132.863 and 132.125.These scanners are advertised erroneously as being "future proof". I started by hearing the controller on my scanners default of 132.125 but can't anymore. I can sometimes hear him on 135.583 but it comes and goes. Money wasted and very frustrating! Any advice on a reasonably price scanner that WILL work? '
Hi Dave, well I use a Yupiteru MVT7100. I have tried numerous airband scanners over the years but have always ended up going back to the Yupi. I'm now on about my third Yupiteru and I won't make the mistake of selling it again. Great reception quality and sensitivity, it's hard to believe that it was first introduced around 1990/1991. In addition you have tuning steps of 5KHz and even down to 1KHz on AM & FM, this allows for very precise tuning of all airband frequencies which can then be saved to memory. Of course, what you cannot do is search in 8.33KHz steps as it does not have that tuning step but then I'm sure most listeners like me, know the frequencies they want to listen to and save them to memory for scanning.
Regards Mark.
Airband Books
Aviation Books
'Hi Mark, that was useful info from Graham. I wish I'd had it before I bought a new scanner with 8.33 channels that now can't hear the controllers because it doesn't have the 5khz step and, as I mentioned in an earlier post, defaults in my case to 132.863 and 132.125.These scanners are advertised erroneously as being "future proof". I started by hearing the controller on my scanners default of 132.125 but can't anymore. I can sometimes hear him on 135.583 but it comes and goes. Money wasted and very frustrating! Any advice on a reasonably price scanner that WILL work? '
Hi Dave, well I use a Yupiteru MVT7100. I have tried numerous airband scanners over the years but have always ended up going back to the Yupi. I'm now on about my third Yupiteru and I won't make the mistake of selling it again. Great reception quality and sensitivity, it's hard to believe that it was first introduced around 1990/1991. In addition you have tuning steps of 5KHz and even down to 1KHz on AM & FM, this allows for very precise tuning of all airband frequencies which can then be saved to memory. Of course, what you cannot do is search in 8.33KHz steps as it does not have that tuning step but then I'm sure most listeners like me, know the frequencies they want to listen to and save them to memory for scanning.
Regards Mark.
Airband Books
Aviation Books
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
8.33KHz Airband Frequencies
Graham Duke has kindly supplied the following information with regard to the new 8.33Khz airband frequencies for the UK:
The following list gives all existing and planned 8.33 kHz channels in UK airspace:
132.840 Introduced approximately 2 years ago, covers London Upper West sector.
135.580 replaces 135.575 14 February 2006
132.860 replaces 131.050 15 February 2006
132.130 replaces 129.100 16 February 2006
127.880 replaces 127.875 23 February 2006
127.430 replaces 127.425 22 March 2006
128.160 replaces 127.825 5 April 2006
126.780 replaces 126.775 12 April 2006
Some points to remember:
You don't need a scanner with 8.33 channels, just a scanner with steps of 5kHz or lower;
The transmissions do not take place exactly on the published channels. For example, a channel of 134.005 is actually transmitted on 134.000.
Where a frequency and its replacement channel are only 5kHz apart apart, they can often both be heard on a scanner, due to their proximity. Listen to the controller handing over an aircraft to find out the correct frequency being used.
Later this year, probably in May, the terms channel and frequency will be discontinued. Only frequencies will be used.Also, all frequencies will be spoken in 6 digits ie 127.275 except where the last 2 digits are zeros.
More information on 8.33 channels:
These concern the major resectorisation which took place over South Wales and the West of England on 16 March 2006, with several new air routes, and lots of new reporting points.
This is known as the WestEnd resectorisation.
Two new channels are now in use:
Flight Levels 340 and above 135.255
Flight Levels 300 and above 135.540
In practice, these channels are only being used at busy periods. Most of the time, they are "bandboxed" with the existing frequencies.
Thanks go to Graham Duke for this very informative and comprehensive guide to 8.33KHz allocations.
Mark.
Books on: Airband Aviation
The following list gives all existing and planned 8.33 kHz channels in UK airspace:
132.840 Introduced approximately 2 years ago, covers London Upper West sector.
135.580 replaces 135.575 14 February 2006
132.860 replaces 131.050 15 February 2006
132.130 replaces 129.100 16 February 2006
127.880 replaces 127.875 23 February 2006
127.430 replaces 127.425 22 March 2006
128.160 replaces 127.825 5 April 2006
126.780 replaces 126.775 12 April 2006
Some points to remember:
You don't need a scanner with 8.33 channels, just a scanner with steps of 5kHz or lower;
The transmissions do not take place exactly on the published channels. For example, a channel of 134.005 is actually transmitted on 134.000.
Where a frequency and its replacement channel are only 5kHz apart apart, they can often both be heard on a scanner, due to their proximity. Listen to the controller handing over an aircraft to find out the correct frequency being used.
Later this year, probably in May, the terms channel and frequency will be discontinued. Only frequencies will be used.Also, all frequencies will be spoken in 6 digits ie 127.275 except where the last 2 digits are zeros.
More information on 8.33 channels:
These concern the major resectorisation which took place over South Wales and the West of England on 16 March 2006, with several new air routes, and lots of new reporting points.
This is known as the WestEnd resectorisation.
Two new channels are now in use:
Flight Levels 340 and above 135.255
Flight Levels 300 and above 135.540
In practice, these channels are only being used at busy periods. Most of the time, they are "bandboxed" with the existing frequencies.
Thanks go to Graham Duke for this very informative and comprehensive guide to 8.33KHz allocations.
Mark.
Books on: Airband Aviation
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Airband
Airband News
Graham Duke has advised me he will post a full list of 8.33KHz channels here in due course along with major changes due to take place for Bristol and Cardiff arrivals & departures. No doubt similar to the sweeping changes introduced recently at Nottingham East Midlands.
As I write this I've just been gazing up into the blue sky over Leicestershire and spotted a flight of four military 'crossers' at high altitude heading east (didn't have scanner to hand but will almost certainly be Lakenheath F15's heading back to base). There is not a recognised military crossing corridor right over here but nevertheless, you do get them crossing east to west or vice versa from time to time against the run of commercial traffic heading north (southbounders are over the west midlands).
Book Links: Airband Aviation
Graham Duke has advised me he will post a full list of 8.33KHz channels here in due course along with major changes due to take place for Bristol and Cardiff arrivals & departures. No doubt similar to the sweeping changes introduced recently at Nottingham East Midlands.
As I write this I've just been gazing up into the blue sky over Leicestershire and spotted a flight of four military 'crossers' at high altitude heading east (didn't have scanner to hand but will almost certainly be Lakenheath F15's heading back to base). There is not a recognised military crossing corridor right over here but nevertheless, you do get them crossing east to west or vice versa from time to time against the run of commercial traffic heading north (southbounders are over the west midlands).
Book Links: Airband Aviation
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