VHF online radio
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: London
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VHF online radio
Hi, I'm studying PPL at the moment and would like to be able to listen to (not transmit) some ATC chat. Is there an easy way to do this with uk airports online or is that sort of thing frowned upon?
Thanks
Thanks
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Up North
Age: 57
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm not aware of any online source for VHF aeronautical communications. However, there's nothing to stop you getting yourself an airband receiver and listening on that. You will of course, have to be within line of sight of your nearest GA airfield to hear both sides of the transmissions.
Do be aware though, that by no means everything you hear will be correct, as per CAP413 (the CAA radiotelephony manual).
Do be aware though, that by no means everything you hear will be correct, as per CAP413 (the CAA radiotelephony manual).
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Glasgow
Age: 40
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
see http://www.pprune.org/atc-issues/206...tions-law.html
Theoretically it is illegal to listen to aeroplane radio in the UK unless it is at an air show where the frequencies are published. That's why there are no UK feeds online at websites such as Listen to Live ATC (Air Traffic Control) Communications | LiveATC.net.
I wouldn't listen to american feeds if you are UK based as the RT is very different. I presume you've been though CAP413 ?
My school has a sample RT script which I found useful to listen to and copy. its worth seeing if your School has an equivalent.
Theoretically it is illegal to listen to aeroplane radio in the UK unless it is at an air show where the frequencies are published. That's why there are no UK feeds online at websites such as Listen to Live ATC (Air Traffic Control) Communications | LiveATC.net.
I wouldn't listen to american feeds if you are UK based as the RT is very different. I presume you've been though CAP413 ?
My school has a sample RT script which I found useful to listen to and copy. its worth seeing if your School has an equivalent.
Hey Ian
Get yourself a cheapo Maycom AR-108 scanner and visit your local airfield, or airport. Listening to Farnborough radar is probably more useful though, as local airfield RT is something you usually pick up quickly, as it's pretty much the same chatter, taxy / joining instructions, circuits etc.
Reading CAP413 is useful. I also found the Pooleys Radiotelephony book (number 7) a great help as it had the RT procedures in visual form and made them more memorable.
Andoni
Get yourself a cheapo Maycom AR-108 scanner and visit your local airfield, or airport. Listening to Farnborough radar is probably more useful though, as local airfield RT is something you usually pick up quickly, as it's pretty much the same chatter, taxy / joining instructions, circuits etc.
Reading CAP413 is useful. I also found the Pooleys Radiotelephony book (number 7) a great help as it had the RT procedures in visual form and made them more memorable.
Andoni
I agree about getting a handheld.
I disagree about getting a scanner.
Get an Icom A6E or similar - an inexpensive powerful transceiver that will allow you to listen to RT now, but going forward provides you also with a backup radio that can sit in your flightbag and might just be of great value one day.
Or even cheaper something like an A2, which are pretty cheap second hand on Ebay or AFORS, and still work fine. Just don't buy one without a battery back and charger.
I use an IC-A6E as my main radio when microlight flying, works a treat (N.B. if you want to use it with a headset you separately need BOTH a headset connector cable, and a PTT).
G
I disagree about getting a scanner.
Get an Icom A6E or similar - an inexpensive powerful transceiver that will allow you to listen to RT now, but going forward provides you also with a backup radio that can sit in your flightbag and might just be of great value one day.
Or even cheaper something like an A2, which are pretty cheap second hand on Ebay or AFORS, and still work fine. Just don't buy one without a battery back and charger.
I use an IC-A6E as my main radio when microlight flying, works a treat (N.B. if you want to use it with a headset you separately need BOTH a headset connector cable, and a PTT).
G
Theoretically it is illegal to listen to aeroplane radio in the UK
unless it is at an air show where the frequencies are published
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: EU
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are plenty of videos on Youtube and plenty of online broadcasters such as Global Tuners and Live ATC.
But, apart from YouTube, the online sources are mainly commercial flights and probably won't help you that much with your PPL.
If you look at that users channel, he has a lot of videos of him flying. I wouldn't copy his flying, he has a death wish, but there is something to be learnt from his RT if you are a new student.
As said, you can always buy a receiver and listen in at your local aerodrome. Or what I use to do was ask the radio operator at our Air-ground if I can sit in the radio room with him and listen in. They've never said no and always spoke to me and gave me RT/flying tips when they weren't talking on the radio. This is probably the best method. If you ring up your local airfield and ask them you might be pleasantly surprised. Might be different with ATC as opposed to Air-ground but no harm in asking.
But, apart from YouTube, the online sources are mainly commercial flights and probably won't help you that much with your PPL.
If you look at that users channel, he has a lot of videos of him flying. I wouldn't copy his flying, he has a death wish, but there is something to be learnt from his RT if you are a new student.
As said, you can always buy a receiver and listen in at your local aerodrome. Or what I use to do was ask the radio operator at our Air-ground if I can sit in the radio room with him and listen in. They've never said no and always spoke to me and gave me RT/flying tips when they weren't talking on the radio. This is probably the best method. If you ring up your local airfield and ask them you might be pleasantly surprised. Might be different with ATC as opposed to Air-ground but no harm in asking.
Last edited by pudoc; 7th Jun 2012 at 11:29.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Amsterdam
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is one of those things where I think too much knowledge is a bad thing.
If you're a student pilot, just getting used to doing the R/T yourself, and in the back of your mind you have that nagging feeling that 100s of people are, at that very moment, listening to you via scanners and LiveATC-like websites, and possibly even recording everything, I can well imagine that that's an extra reason to be nervous. Which really doesn't help in that situation.
Same for learning to land an aircraft, when dozens of spotters are lined up next to the runway, with long-lens cameras.
If you're a student pilot, just getting used to doing the R/T yourself, and in the back of your mind you have that nagging feeling that 100s of people are, at that very moment, listening to you via scanners and LiveATC-like websites, and possibly even recording everything, I can well imagine that that's an extra reason to be nervous. Which really doesn't help in that situation.
Same for learning to land an aircraft, when dozens of spotters are lined up next to the runway, with long-lens cameras.
Last edited by BackPacker; 7th Jun 2012 at 11:34.
I wouldn't copy his flying, he has a death wish, but there is something to be learnt from his RT if you are a new student.
I'd not post flying like that where the aircraft owner could potentially see that if I were him, but his RT is pretty reasonable.
G
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Cambridge
Age: 38
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not necessarily - while if you have line of sight it obviously should work, as long as you're relatively close and the airfield has a powerful enough transmitter you may still pick it up anyway. For example at just over 2nm as the crow flies, with no direct line of sight (buildings + trees etc) I can pick up transmissions from the tower, though not from aircraft on the ground.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: 2nm from Old Warden
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I recently had to renew my FRTOL and found the CAA Safety Sense leaflet 22 quite good. It contains embedded sound files that support the text.
Safety Sense Leaflet 22: Radiotelephony | Publications | About the CAA
rats404
Safety Sense Leaflet 22: Radiotelephony | Publications | About the CAA
rats404
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Plumpton Green
Age: 79
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It would, of-course, be legal, should anybody present a mechanism for it to become so.
ICOM FRANCE : Produits Radiocommunication : Aviation Portatifs : IC-A6FR
ICOM FRANCE : Produits Radiocommunication : Accessoires Platines et filtres : FL-IFFM1
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There may be a cd available to purchase. I was lent one by my FI when I was doing my PPL, listened to it on a drive up to Scotland and back again and found it quite useful. It may be produced by Oxford but I can't remember.
Whopity what do you not understand about the following:
In short you can use a scanner to listen to anything broadcast for general reception, radio amateurs, CB, weather and navigation broadcasts. Unless you are a police officer or work in the emergency services you are not allowed to listen to their communications.
You can only listen to other services if you have the permission of the sender. The air show is a good example where the control tower frequencies are publicised and that would be considered permission.
In other words, it is illegal unless you have permission. That comes from OFCOM.
Ian, why don't you ask your FI if it can be arranged for you to sit in the tower and listen for a while?
Whopity what do you not understand about the following:
In short you can use a scanner to listen to anything broadcast for general reception, radio amateurs, CB, weather and navigation broadcasts. Unless you are a police officer or work in the emergency services you are not allowed to listen to their communications.
You can only listen to other services if you have the permission of the sender. The air show is a good example where the control tower frequencies are publicised and that would be considered permission.
In other words, it is illegal unless you have permission. That comes from OFCOM.
Ian, why don't you ask your FI if it can be arranged for you to sit in the tower and listen for a while?
Last edited by DX Wombat; 7th Jun 2012 at 15:41.
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: London
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
VHF online radio
Thanks, I'll listen in next time I'm there but andoni is right most of the chatter is the same; downwind, final, going around, etc. I prefer the chat on Southend radar when we're flying over there but obviously I need to focus on the flying mostly then!!! I live near LCY so would love to listen in on that, but guess the chance of getting access to sit in there is slim to none!
Will look at cheap receivers online too
Will look at cheap receivers online too
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Up North
Age: 57
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not necessarily - while if you have line of sight it obviously should work, as long as you're relatively close and the airfield has a powerful enough transmitter you may still pick it up anyway. For example at just over 2nm as the crow flies, with no direct line of sight (buildings + trees etc) I can pick up transmissions from the tower, though not from aircraft on the ground.
Obviously, it will be possible to receive ATC further away than you can hear aircraft on the ground. The tower building at Cambridge is 8 stories high I believe, so as the effective "line of sight" range is a function of the height of both the transmitter and the receiver, that is bound to happen.
For an idea of range, try putting the height of the tower and your receiver into this website.VHF/UHF Line of Sight Distance Calculator