VHF/UHF Military Monitoring

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.

Receivers/Scanners

• Mini Handhelds

Care should be used when connecting any large antenna to these handhelds. Receivers in this range will likely overload, as their front ends simply can't handle the amount of RF such antennas may deliver. They are most useful in airshows, or if a base is geographically close to the user. A good set of earphones is strongly recommended.

• EHam.Net Reviews
  • Alinco DJ-X2
  • Alinco DJ-X3
  • Yaesu VR-120
  • Yaesu VR-500

• Strong Signals Reviews
  • Alinco DJ-X2
  • AOR AR16B
  • Welz WS1000
  • Welz WS2000
  • Yaesu VR-500

• Wiki Pages
  • Icom R-1
  • Icom R-2
  • Icom R-5

• Other Models
  • Alinco DJ-X1
  • Alinco DJ-X5
  • Alinco DJ-X7T
  • AOR AR16
  • AOR AR32

• Handhelds (full size)

• EHam.Net Reviews
  • Alinco DJ-X10
  • Alinco DJ-X10
  • Alinco DJ-X2000
  • Alinco DJ-X2000
  • RS PRO-60
  • Trident TRX-100
  • Trident TRX-200
  • Yupiteru MVT-7100
  • Yupiteru MVT-9000

• Strong Signals Reviews
  • Alinco DJ-X10
  • Alinco DJ-X2000
  • RS PRO-60
  • Sony IC-SP1PC
  • Trident TRX-100
  • Uniden BC-3000XLT
  • Yupiteru MVT-7300
  • Yupiteru MVT-9000

• Wiki Links
  • AOR AOR-8000
  • AOR AOR-8200
  • Icom R-3
  • Icom R-10
  • Icom R-20 Note 2
  • RS Pro-26
  • RS Pro-96 Note 1
  • RS Pro-97
  • Uniden BC250D
  • Uniden BC296D
  • Uniden BCD396T
  • Uniden BR330T

• Note 1 Programming UHF military air frequencies in the PRO-96 is only possible using 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.
• 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.
• Note 3 Icom receivers typically have a slow scan rate. Scanning large lists of frequencies effectively may not be possible. Software such as Radiomax may increase the available scan rate.
• Note 4 Computer control and other logging functions using RS/GRE radios is not possible. Only up/download operations are supported.

• Base/Mobile

• EHam.Net Reviews
  • RS PRO-2004
  • RS PRO-2005
  • RS PRO-2006
  • Uniden BC-9000XLT
  • Uniden BC-9000XLT
  • Yaesu VR-5000
  • Yaesu FRG-9600

• Strong Signals Reviews
  • RS PRO-2035
  • RS PRO-2042
  • RS PRO-2045
  • Uniden BC-9000XLT
  • Yaesu VR-5000

• Wiki Pages
  • AOR AOR-3000
  • AOR AOR-5000
  • AOR AOR-8600
  • Icom IC-R7000
  • Icom IC-R7100
  • Icom IC-R8500
  • Icom IC-R9000
  • RS Pro-2052
  • RS Pro-2055
  • RS Pro-2096 Note 1
  • Uniden BC895XLT Note 2
  • Uniden BC898T
  • Uniden BC780XLT
  • Uniden BC785D
  • Uniden BC796D
  • Uniden BCD996T

• Note 1 Programming UHF military air frequencies in the PRO-2096 is only possible using 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.
• Note 2 The BC895XLT cannot receive the 138-144 mhz range in AM mode. The BC898T is capable of this operation
• Note 3 Icom receivers typically have a slow scan rate. Scanning large lists of frequencies effectively may not be possible. Software such as Radiomax may increase the available scan rate.
• Note 4 Computer control and other logging functions using RS/GRE radios is not possible. Only up/download operations are supported.

• Computer Controlled Receivers
  • PCR-1000/100
  • Optocom Review at Strong Signals
  • Winradio WR1000I Review at Strong Signals
  • EHam opinions on the Winradio WR1500i
  • EHam opinions on the Winradio 1550e

Antennas

• Strong Signals Antennas Page
• Also see our Antennas page for other links.
• 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. Here's a good page on the subject.
• RadioReference Antennas Forum
• Strong Signals Antennas Forum

Filters

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;

• Radiofilters.Com
• Par Electronics

Preamps/Splitters

• Stridsberg Engineering

Pages with Useful Information

• Combat Air Patrol Glossary of Terms
• Military Base frequencies
• NOTE: These lists are at the bottom of the page, in Word format
• Military Callsign List
• MilAir Comms

Frequencies

• Mid Atlantic Area - Military Frequencies of Interest
• Delmarva Milcom Monitoring

Mailing Lists

• Also see the mailing lists on the Utility Monitoring page for additional links
• Military Aircraft Comms
• Milcom
• Hi Desert Scan
• Mil Spotters Forum
• Mid Atlantic Milcom
• NAMAR
• Scanner Talk