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| | This page is an introduction for those new to the world of V/UHF military monitoring, as well as for folks more seasoned in the hobby. | | This page is an introduction for those new to the world of V/UHF military monitoring, as well as for folks more seasoned in the hobby. |
| | + | |
| | + | To make things easier to find and maintain, as well as to give the pages a little room to grow, we've split the topic into 3 seperate pages... |
| | | | |
| − | ==Where to Start?==
| + | * [[Milcom Receiving Equipment]] - Receivers, Scanners, antennas, filters...they're covered here. Reviews and User comments from EHam and Strong Signals are linked here, along with Wiki pages devoted to many different models. |
| − | Even if you aren't around a military base, there's still several possibilities to hear milair traffic:
| |
| | | | |
| − | * [http://www.airnav.com Airnav] | + | * [[Milcom Web Pages and Mailing Lists]] - You've got the equipment, now you need to know where to look. This page gives you a great many possible sources of information. Don't forget to look at the RadioReference Databases first! |
| − | * Your local [[ARTCC]] Center uses both VHF and UHF frequencies for aircraft communications
| |
| − | * [http://www.milaircomms.com/refuel_tracks.html Mid Air Refueling Map and Frequencies]
| |
| − | * [https://164.214.2.62/products/digitalaero/index.cfm DOD Digital Flight Publications] Note that this source will be gone in '''October 2006'''
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| − | * If you have one in your area, a [[TRACON]] is also another source of activity
| |
| − | * If you live near a major city, chances are good your local airport also uses UHF frequencies in addition to the usual civil air ones.
| |
| | | | |
| − | ==Pages with Useful Information==
| + | * [[SATCOM]] - Satellite Communications - for a world that depends on them |
| − | * [https://www.notams.jcs.mil/ Defense Internet NOTAM Service] | |
| − | * [http://henney.com/chm/callsign.htm Military Callsign List]
| |
| − | * [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtairshow06.pdf Monitoring Military Flight Demonstration Groups 2006 (per MT-PDF File)]
| |
| − | * [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.html NTIA Frequency Allocations]
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| − | * [http://sua.faa.gov/ Special Use Airspace and ATC Assigned Airspace]
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| − | * [http://www.the-guide.nl/callsign/call/open?page=index The Guide's Internet Callsign List]
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| − | * [http://www.uhf-satcom.com/uhf/ UHF Satellite Reception]
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| − | | |
| − | ; Glossaries
| |
| − | * [http://24.61.250.39:89/slang.html Combat Air Patrol Glossary of Terms]
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| − | * [[Military Monitoring Glossary]] A page with definitions for abbreviations and terms used on the air
| |
| − | * [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/glossary.html MT Glossary]
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| − | | |
| − | ==Frequencies==
| |
| − | As with so many pages on the Net, some of this information is a bit dated. Use this information as a starting point, then join the many different forums on RR and elsewhere to get updated information.
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| − | | |
| − | * [http://www.abqscan.com/ABQ_AIR.htm Albuquerque Aviation Freqs]
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| − | * Scanning Arkansas Frequency Sites
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| − | ** [http://www.scanningarkansas.com/Airport/ Airports A-H]
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| − | ** [http://www.scanningarkansas.com/Airport2/ Airports I-Z]
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| − | ** [http://www.scanningarkansas.com/ARMilitary/ Gov't and Military Frequencies]
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| − | * [http://www.scancapecod.us/wiki/index.php/Camp_Edwards_Frequencies Camp Edwards (Mass.) Frequencies]
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| − | * [http://www.carmachicago.com/profiles/pdf/pdfProfiles.html CARMA Frequency Profiles]
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| − | * [http://www.webgroomers.com/chs-scan/chsafb.html Charleston AFB SC]
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| − | * [http://www.scancapecod.us/wiki/index.php/Coast_Guard_Air_Station_Cape_Cod_Frequencies CG Air Stn. Cape Cod Frequencies]
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| − | * [http://mywebpages.comcast.net/coastalgeorgiascan/page5.html Coastal Georgia Military Monitoring]
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| − | * [[Delmarva Milcom Monitoring]]
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| − | * [http://www.markshadwick.net/scanner2.html Eastern Oklahoma/Western Arkansas Military Air Scanner Frequencies]
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| − | * [http://www.geocities.com/scanseva/index.html Hampton Roads Scanner Page]
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| − | * [http://hometown.aol.com/jerseymilair/jerseymilair.html Jersey Coastal Milair]
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| − | * [[Michigan MilAir Reference]]
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| − | * [http://henney.com/chm/mid-lant.htm Mid Atlantic Area - Military Frequencies of Interest]
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| − | * [http://www.milaircomms.com/ Military Comms Monitoring]
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| − | * [http://www.angelfire.com/mn/nhanso/military.html Minn. Military Frequencies]
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| − | * [http://www.siscom.net/%7Emmeece/military.html MONIX Military Frequency List]
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| − | * [[New England MilAir Monitoring]]
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| − | * [http://microvoltradio.com/ Northwest Aircraft Communications]
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| − | * [http://www.ohioscan.net Ohioscan]
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| − | * '''NOTE:''' A userid and password are required to access the milcom area
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| − | * [http://www.geocities.com/n0ngl/qcscan/qc/qc_mil.html Quad Cities area Military Scanning Information]
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| − | * [http://www.qsl.net/ah7e/aviation.html Radio AH7E Hawai'i Aviation]
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| − | * [http://www.scanatlanta.com/Miscellaneous.htm Scan Atlanta Miscellneous freqs]
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| − | * [[Shirley MOA, Arkansas]]
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| − | * [http://bassbinboy.junglescene.com/socalmilcom/frequencies.htm Southern Ca. Military freqs]
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| − | * [http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/scan/airfreq.html#milair St.Louis Military Air Freqs]
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| − | * [[United States Coast Guard]]
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| − | * [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/exwa.html Western Washington Military Scanner Frequencies]
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| − | | |
| − | ; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) frequencies
| |
| − | * [http://hometown.aol.com/allanstern/myhomepage/index.html Al Stern's Space Shuttle Monitoring Information]
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| − | * [http://www.milaircomms.com/uhf_ksc.html Kennedy Space Center, Florida]
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| − | * [http://www.grove-ent.com/nasa.html Monitoring NASA Communications (via MT)]
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| − | * [http://home.cfl.rr.com/scanner/launch.htm Space Shuttle and Rocket Launch Freqs]
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| − | | |
| − | ==Mailing Lists==
| |
| − | * Also see the mailing lists on the [[Utility Monitoring]] page for additional links. This list includes other mailing lists that accept milair loggings as part of their normal traffic.
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AirCommSouthwest/ Air Comm Southwest]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CSFRC/ CSFRC]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/federalfrequencygroup/ Federal Frequency Group]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FloridaScan/ FloridaScan]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FloridaMilcom/ FloridaMilcom]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HiDesertScan/ Hi Desert Scan]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/low-level/ Low Level]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mid_atlantic_milcom/ Mid Atlantic Milcom]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MilAirCommsChat/ MilAirCommsChat]
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| − | * [http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milair Military Aircraft Comms]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mil-AirUK/ Mil-AirUK]
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| − | * [http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milcom Milcom]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Milcom2/ Milcom2]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/milscanners/ MilScanners]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mil-spotters-forum/ Mil Spotters Forum]
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| − | * [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi Monitoring Times BBS]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NAMAR/ NAMAR]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NashvilleScan/ Nashville Scan]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pamilitarymonitors/ PA.Military Monitors]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PanScan/ PanScan]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pdxmilcom/ PDX Milcom]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ScanAtlanta Scan Atlanta]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ScannerTalk/ Scanner Talk]
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| − | * [http://forums.scan-nj.com/ Scan-NJ Forums]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socalmilcom/ Socal Milcom]
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| − | * [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Touchdown-News/ Touchdown News]
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| − | | |
| − | ==Receivers/Scanners==
| |
| − | ===Mini Handhelds===
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| − | Care should be used when connecting any large antenna to these handhelds. Receivers in this range will likely overload,
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| − | as their front ends simply can't handle the amount of RF such antennas may deliver. They are most useful in airshows, or
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| − | if a base is geographically close to the user. A good set of earphones is strongly recommended.
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| − | | |
| − | *EHam.Net Reviews
| |
| − | ** [http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4519 Alinco DJ-X2]
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| − | ** [http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1925 Alinco DJ-X3]
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| − | | |
| − | *Strong Signals Reviews
| |
| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=035 Alinco DJ-X2]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=fi&class=recv&num=013 AOR AR16B]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=004 Welz WS1000]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=009 Welz WS2000]
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| − | | |
| − | *Wiki Pages
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| − | ** Icom [[IC-R1]]
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| − | ** Icom [[IC-R2]]
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| − | ** Icom [[IC-R5]]
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| − | ** [[Yaesu VR-120]]
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| − | ** [[Yaesu VR-500]]
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| − | | |
| − | *Other Models
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| − | ** Alinco DJ-X1
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| − | ** Alinco DJ-X5
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| − | ** [http://www.alinco.com/Products/DJ-X7/ Alinco DJ-X7T]
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| − | ** AOR AR16
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| − | ** AOR AR32
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| − | | |
| − | ===Handhelds (full size)===
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| − | | |
| − | * AOR [[AR8000]]
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| − | * AOR [[AR8200]]
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| − | * Icom [[IC-R3]]
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| − | * Icom [[IC-R10]]
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| − | * Icom [[IC-R20]] '''Note 2'''
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| − | * RS [[Pro-26]]
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| − | * RS [[Pro-96]] '''Note 1'''
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| − | * RS [[Pro-97]]
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| − | * Uniden [[BC250D]]
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| − | * Uniden [[BC296D]]
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| − | * Uniden [[BCD396T]]
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| − | * Uniden [[BR330T]]
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| − | | |
| − | *EHam.Net Reviews
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| − | **[http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1031 Alinco DJ-X10]
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| − | **[http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2699 Alinco DJ-X10]
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| − | **[http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4395 Alinco DJ-X2000]
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| − | **[http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1338 Alinco DJ-X2000]
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| − | **[http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3294 RS PRO-60]
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| − | **[http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1298 Trident TRX-100]
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| − | **[http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2601 Trident TRX-200]
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| − | **[http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2928 Yupiteru MVT-7100]
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| − | **[http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2587 Yupiteru MVT-9000]
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| − | | |
| − | *Strong Signals Reviews
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=008 Alinco DJ-X10]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=039 Alinco DJ-X2000]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=005 RS PRO-60]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=fi&class=recv&num=009 Sony IC-SP1PC]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=fi&class=recv&num=014 Trident TRX-100]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=014 Uniden BC-3000XLT]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=040 Yupiteru MVT-7300]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=016 Yupiteru MVT-9000]
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| − | | |
| − | * '''Note 1''' Programming UHF military air frequencies in the PRO-96 is only possible using [http://www.starrsoft.com/software/win96/ Win96]. In addition, sensitivity may not be optimum because the receiver was not designed for it. It's operation is otherwise normal in all other respects.
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| − | * '''Note 2''' In the November 2004 edition of Monitoring Times magazine, in the 'Scanner Equipment' column, author Bob Parnass AJ9S noted a pronounced loss of sensitivity in the 280-295 Mhz range.
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| − | * '''Note 3''' Icom receivers typically have a slow scan rate. Scanning large lists of frequencies effectively may not be possible. Software such as [http://www.datadeliverydevices.com/RadioMax.htm Radiomax] '''may''' increase the available scan rate.
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| − | * '''Note 4''' Computer control and other logging functions using RS/GRE radios is not possible. Only up/download operations are supported.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Base/Mobile===
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| − | | |
| − | * AOR [[AR3000]]
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| − | * AOR [[AR5000]]
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| − | * AOR [[AR8600]]
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| − | * Icom [[IC-R7000]]
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| − | * Icom [[IC-R7100]]
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| − | * Icom [[IC-R8500]]
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| − | * Icom [[IC-R9000]]
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| − | * RS [[Pro-2052]] '''Note 5'''
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| − | * RS [[Pro-2055]]
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| − | * RS [[Pro-2096]] '''Note 1'''
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| − | * Uniden [[BC895XLT]] '''Note 2'''
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| − | * Uniden [[BC898T]]
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| − | * Uniden [[BC780XLT]]
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| − | * Uniden [[BC785D]]
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| − | * Uniden [[BC796D]]
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| − | * Uniden [[BCD996T]]
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| − | * [[Yaesu FRG-9600]]
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| − | * [[Yaesu VR-5000]]
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| − | | |
| − | *EHam.Net Reviews
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| − | ** [http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/865 RS PRO-2004]
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| − | ** [http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/864 RS PRO-2005]
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| − | ** [http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/861 RS PRO-2006]
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| − | ** [http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/2298 Uniden BC-9000XLT]
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| − | ** [http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1186 Uniden BC-9000XLT]
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| − | | |
| − | *Strong Signals Reviews
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=011 RS PRO-2035]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=020 RS PRO-2042]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=001 RS PRO-2045]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=022 Uniden BC-9000XLT]
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| − | | |
| − |
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| − | * '''Note 1''' Programming UHF military air frequencies in the PRO-2096 is only possible using [http://www.starrsoft.com/software/win96/ Win96]. In addition, sensitivity may not be optimum because the receiver was not designed for it. It's operation is otherwise normal in all other respects.
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| − | * '''Note 2''' The BC895XLT cannot receive the 138-144 mhz range in AM mode. The BC898T is capable of this operation
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| − | * '''Note 3''' Icom receivers typically have a slow scan rate. Scanning large lists of frequencies effectively may not be possible. Software such as [http://www.datadeliverydevices.com/RadioMax.htm Radiomax] '''may''' increase the available scan rate.
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| − | * '''Note 4''' Computer control and other logging functions using RS/GRE radios is not possible. Only up/download operations are supported.
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| − | * '''Note 5''' The PRO-2052 can be forced into AM mode in the VHF land mobile band (138-144 Mhz); a circuit modification is required
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| − | | |
| − | ===Computer Controlled Receivers===
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| − | * These receivers require the use of a PC to be useful
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| − | **[[PCR-1000/100]]
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| − | **[http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=027 Optocom Review at Strong Signals]
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| − | **[[WinRadio]]
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| − | | |
| − | ===Other Sources of Reviews===
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| − | * [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/scanrbrf.html Scanner Review briefs by Bob Parnass AJ9S]
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| − | * [http://parnass.org/pubs.htm Bob Parnass AJ9S Publications list]
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| − | * [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/indexes.html MT Index of Reviews and Contents]
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| − | | |
| − | ==Antennas==
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| − | * [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/antenna.html Strong Signals Antennas Page]
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| − | * Also see our [[Scanner Antennas]] page for other links.
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| − | * Picking the right coax for your setup is very important. As you go higher in frequency, the loss from a cheap cable can be significant. [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/co-ax.html Here's] a good page on the subject.
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| − | * [http://www.radioreference.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=80 RadioReference Antennas Forum]
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| − | * [http://strongsignals.net/access/forums/viewforum.php?f=17 Strong Signals Antennas Forum]
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| − | * [http://www.grove-ent.com/BEAMII.html Grove Scanner Beam]
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| − | * [http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Scan-log.htm Antenna Warehouse Log Periodic Scanner Beam]
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| − | * [http://www.dpdproductions.com/ DPD Productions]
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| − | * [http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Scantenna.htm Antenna Warehouse Scantenna]
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| − | * [http://www.niljon.com/pages/1/index.htm NilJon Antennas]
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| − | * [http://www.rfparts.com/diamond/d130j.html Diamond D130J Discone]
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| − | | |
| − | ==Filters==
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| − | For those living in urban areas, putting up a good antenna (with the proper coax) can cause overloading. Sometimes this overloading shows up as pagers and other unwanted signals showing up in places where you don't want to hear them. These links show a few manufacturers that make filters for specific problem areas of the spectrum;
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| − | | |
| − | * [http://www.iceradioproducts.com/filtersrf.html ICE Filters Page]
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| − | * [http://www.parelectronics.com/ Par Electronics]
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| − | * [http://www.stridsberg.com/prod02.htm Stridsberg Engineering Filters]
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| − | | |
| − | ==Preamps/Splitters==
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| − | * [http://www.advancedreceiver.com/index.html AR2 Communications Products]
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| − | * [http://www.electroline.com/en/products/drop_amplifiers/eda_ug/index.html ElectroLine Drop Amps]
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| − | * [http://www.grove-ent.com/PRE01.html GRE Super Amplifier (via Grove website)]
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| − | * [http://www.hamtronics.com/lnk.htm Hamtronics Preamps]
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| − | ** [http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mt2001reviews.html#Hamtronics%20LNK-WB%20Wideband%20Preamplifier Hamtronics LNK-WB Wideband Preamp review from MT]
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| − | * [http://www.milaircomms.com/antenna_mounted_amplifier.html Radio Shack Antenna Mounted Amplifiers review by George Fetter]
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| − | * [http://www.grove-ent.com/PRE2.html Ramsey Wide Band Preamp (via Grove website)]
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| − | * [http://www.stridsberg.com/ Stridsberg Engineering]
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| − | ** [http://www.milaircomms.com/review_stridsberg_mca204.html Stridsberg MCA-204 Active Receiver Multicoupler review by George Fetter]
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| − | * [http://www.durhamradio.com/s/home.php?cat=1831 Watson WRP1300 Amplifier]
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