How to use the scanner
Thread Starter
How to use the scanner
I have bought a Scanner for listening in to aircraft.
It’s a Yupiteru MVT-7100 Multiband Receiver.
Idiots guide from anyone please Help???
What reception mode do I need to be in to receive aircraft please?
On receiver I have the choice: WFM ( Wide FM), FM (NarrowFM), AM, LSB, USB?
For example if I wanted to listen to Doncaster Tower on; 128.7750. Or Doncaster Approach on; 126.2250. How do I set my scanner to receive & listen to the guys talking?
By the way, I live 7 miles from the airport & about 5 miles from where they start their approach.
Any help will be grateful, PM me if you don’t want to share this over the forum please. Thanx in advance for your help.
Trev.
It’s a Yupiteru MVT-7100 Multiband Receiver.
Idiots guide from anyone please Help???
What reception mode do I need to be in to receive aircraft please?
On receiver I have the choice: WFM ( Wide FM), FM (NarrowFM), AM, LSB, USB?
For example if I wanted to listen to Doncaster Tower on; 128.7750. Or Doncaster Approach on; 126.2250. How do I set my scanner to receive & listen to the guys talking?
By the way, I live 7 miles from the airport & about 5 miles from where they start their approach.
Any help will be grateful, PM me if you don’t want to share this over the forum please. Thanx in advance for your help.
Trev.
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Hi 7/9
I do not have a that particular scanner, but it is very easy to listen into aircraft and ATSU's (eg ATC).
All communications are on AM. Basically you need to select the frequency you are interested in and make sure AM is selected. You will find that comms back and forth between the ATSU and a/c are on the same frequency.
Some scanners are able to listen to more than one frequency at the same time, so you many be able to tune into both - but you will have to consult the manual.
As radio transmissions only work in straight lines and are distorted by buildings etc, you may not be able to receive the Tower from were you are - even though you are only 7 miles away - just a warning!
Hope this 'elps
Adam
I do not have a that particular scanner, but it is very easy to listen into aircraft and ATSU's (eg ATC).
All communications are on AM. Basically you need to select the frequency you are interested in and make sure AM is selected. You will find that comms back and forth between the ATSU and a/c are on the same frequency.
Some scanners are able to listen to more than one frequency at the same time, so you many be able to tune into both - but you will have to consult the manual.
As radio transmissions only work in straight lines and are distorted by buildings etc, you may not be able to receive the Tower from were you are - even though you are only 7 miles away - just a warning!
Hope this 'elps
Adam
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Scanner Operating Help
Hi Guys,
I have just been on holiday
and flew with Thomson in a Boeing 767.
As I have a radio scanner, I thought it would be a good idea to take in onboard and attempt to track the comms en-route to the destination airport.
Tuned into Gatwick Ground and identified our Flight number etc., I sat ready to go. The standard flight information safety video came on and I noticed one of the things you cannot use on board at anytime during the flight is a radio.
I am not a radio expert, but I thought a radio receiver received the signal, demodulated it and sent it to the speaker. I assume the demodulator causes some kind of field which can disrupt a/c systems which is protected on the cockpit radios? or it is something else?
Is this the same for all airlines?
Cheers
Ad.
I have just been on holiday
and flew with Thomson in a Boeing 767.As I have a radio scanner, I thought it would be a good idea to take in onboard and attempt to track the comms en-route to the destination airport.
Tuned into Gatwick Ground and identified our Flight number etc., I sat ready to go. The standard flight information safety video came on and I noticed one of the things you cannot use on board at anytime during the flight is a radio.
I am not a radio expert, but I thought a radio receiver received the signal, demodulated it and sent it to the speaker. I assume the demodulator causes some kind of field which can disrupt a/c systems which is protected on the cockpit radios? or it is something else?
Is this the same for all airlines?
Cheers
Ad.
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HI
I Really dont believe what ive just Read from you on one email
you ask for info on how to use a scanner mode Etc then your
actually saying "YOU Took and used a SCANNER "on a flight
ok on the ground but how did you get it on board ? if you are
a spotter didnt you Realise or know THIS IS A NO NO ?
TONY
I Really dont believe what ive just Read from you on one email
you ask for info on how to use a scanner mode Etc then your
actually saying "YOU Took and used a SCANNER "on a flight
ok on the ground but how did you get it on board ? if you are
a spotter didnt you Realise or know THIS IS A NO NO ?
TONY
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Hi,
I think the previous post you are refering to was in reply to another user on the forum who was asking about how to use his scanner. I don't really regard myself as a spotter - although I have a great interest in potentially learning to fly - eg the reason why I purchased the scanner in the first place to get clued up on comms.
I haven't actually had the scanner for that long, and no - I didn't realise this was a big No, No onboard aircraft - otherwise I wouldn't have used it.
Anyway - as soon as I saw the information about it I put it away - and hence the reason why I have asked the question on the forum on why it is not allowed. It is for security reasons or it is actually to do with disruption to the a/c's systems??
I have seen other people within airport lounges using scanners with no issue and obviously they are used by the pilots. I'm sure if security saw it as a problem while going through the security they would have picked by up on it anyway - this is at a time of high security remember!
Anyone know on why its not actually allowed would be grateful.
Regards
Adam.
I think the previous post you are refering to was in reply to another user on the forum who was asking about how to use his scanner. I don't really regard myself as a spotter - although I have a great interest in potentially learning to fly - eg the reason why I purchased the scanner in the first place to get clued up on comms.
I haven't actually had the scanner for that long, and no - I didn't realise this was a big No, No onboard aircraft - otherwise I wouldn't have used it.
Anyway - as soon as I saw the information about it I put it away - and hence the reason why I have asked the question on the forum on why it is not allowed. It is for security reasons or it is actually to do with disruption to the a/c's systems??
I have seen other people within airport lounges using scanners with no issue and obviously they are used by the pilots. I'm sure if security saw it as a problem while going through the security they would have picked by up on it anyway - this is at a time of high security remember!
Anyone know on why its not actually allowed would be grateful.
Regards
Adam.
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OMG....Surely you know that its not acceptable to use scanning and transmitting equipment on a plane??? Very risky and inconsiderate thing you did there I must say! I bet at the same stroke you turned off your mobile phone with you also switched on your scanner!
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apaddyinuk,
I now know it is not possible to use radios on aircraft, but my question is why??
Obviously mobile phones are not allowed as they are transmitters (as well as receivers). A scanner is only receiving equipment - eg tests for a carrier wave on each frequency it scanners, for example - although I knew the initial frequency I wanted anyway.
What is wrong with radio recieving equipment??
Adam.
I now know it is not possible to use radios on aircraft, but my question is why??
Obviously mobile phones are not allowed as they are transmitters (as well as receivers). A scanner is only receiving equipment - eg tests for a carrier wave on each frequency it scanners, for example - although I knew the initial frequency I wanted anyway.
What is wrong with radio recieving equipment??
Adam.
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So....I take it from the lack of replies (apart from the non-quantifiable ranters), no-one actually knows why we shouldn't take radio RECEIVERS on board aircraft - even pilots themselves???
Bizarre!
Ad.
Bizarre!
Ad.
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I must admit this does seem a reasonable question, as the scanner is only a receiving device, so can't really see any technical reason, although I do stand to be corrected.
That said, there are very obvious safety reasons. What if after take off your pilot declares an emergency for whatever reason. You will obviously be privvy to his talks with ATC and may react in a hysterical way, alerting other passengers who might also freak out, and before you know it the whole plane is in a panic. Whereas what would normally happen is a quick message from the pilot that there has been a problem and you are returning to X, followed by a normal landing and a normal disembark, or at worst a quick trip down a chute, that you learned about 3 mins before landing. Harldy enough time to get into a lather about it really.
I can understanf the desire to listen, and I could imagine that it could actually be quite interesting to a non pilot, but although there might be other more serious reasons, this one alone is good enough for me to say NO!
That said, there are very obvious safety reasons. What if after take off your pilot declares an emergency for whatever reason. You will obviously be privvy to his talks with ATC and may react in a hysterical way, alerting other passengers who might also freak out, and before you know it the whole plane is in a panic. Whereas what would normally happen is a quick message from the pilot that there has been a problem and you are returning to X, followed by a normal landing and a normal disembark, or at worst a quick trip down a chute, that you learned about 3 mins before landing. Harldy enough time to get into a lather about it really.
I can understanf the desire to listen, and I could imagine that it could actually be quite interesting to a non pilot, but although there might be other more serious reasons, this one alone is good enough for me to say NO!
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Good point. I had thought of this reason and it seems the only reasonable one to be honest (as I have just watched Horizon on BBC2 
)
Although, on the flight I was on it stated 'radios' and gave a picture of an old '80s style radio, indicating that even normal music radio were banned - hence the reason why I asked if there were any electronic interference issues.
I suppose tho it is easier to ban all of them from a flight attendants point of view??
Thanks for the sensible reply!
Ad.
)Although, on the flight I was on it stated 'radios' and gave a picture of an old '80s style radio, indicating that even normal music radio were banned - hence the reason why I asked if there were any electronic interference issues.
I suppose tho it is easier to ban all of them from a flight attendants point of view??
Thanks for the sensible reply!
Ad.
Last edited by eyeofthebeholder; 3rd Oct 2006 at 20:59. Reason: Cos I need to ?
With a very few exceptions all Radio receivers are also, to a lesser extent, transmitters, the local oscillator, a fundamental part of a simple radio, will also radiate, to a greater or lesser extent depending on design, internal screening, and perhaps expence. I have seen quite expensive products that disgust the Radio Engineer in me ! Incidently this goes for anything with an oscillator in it, so computer clocks etc also qualify. That's why you don't use them.
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Slightly off topic but I do recall flying from EGGW one day a few years back and a guy on the aircraft insisted on using his mobile phone while the aircraft was in flight. He must have been on it for ten minutes. I have to admit that my eyes were popping to put it mildly but nobody else paid any attention to him, cabin crew included.
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With a very few exceptions all Radio receivers are also, to a lesser extent, transmitters, the local oscillator, a fundamental part of a simple radio, will also radiate, to a greater or lesser extent depending on design, internal screening, and perhaps expence. I have seen quite expensive products that disgust the Radio Engineer in me ! Incidently this goes for anything with an oscillator in it, so computer clocks etc also qualify. That's why you don't use them.
The way that the oscillators produce the frequencies normally involve some sort of frequency synthesiser. That again involves another oscillator, usually in the form of a crystal oscillator.
So really a scanner can (and does) produce a heck of a lot of radio energy at all sorts of frequencies, some of which will be "in band" to a lot of the aircraft's equipment.
Hope that helps,
Astral (engineer & licenced Radio Amateur)
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Astral, good explainantion.
Isn't it something to do with harmonics? The reciever transmitting several harmonics to a receding degree. It's light years since I did any radio theory (radio's had valves then
) so I may be totally wrong. But this would also explain why mobile phones aren't permitted, as the harmonics generated may coincide with the frequencies used by equipment on the aircraft.
skiddy
Isn't it something to do with harmonics? The reciever transmitting several harmonics to a receding degree. It's light years since I did any radio theory (radio's had valves then
) so I may be totally wrong. But this would also explain why mobile phones aren't permitted, as the harmonics generated may coincide with the frequencies used by equipment on the aircraft.skiddy
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Astral, good explainantion.
Isn't it something to do with harmonics? The reciever transmitting several harmonics to a receding degree. It's light years since I did any radio theory (radio's had valves then ) so I may be totally wrong. But this would also explain why mobile phones aren't permitted, as the harmonics generated may coincide with the frequencies used by equipment on the aircraft.
skiddy
Isn't it something to do with harmonics? The reciever transmitting several harmonics to a receding degree. It's light years since I did any radio theory (radio's had valves then
) so I may be totally wrong. But this would also explain why mobile phones aren't permitted, as the harmonics generated may coincide with the frequencies used by equipment on the aircraft.skiddy
My explaination was somewhat an over simplification of what I would normally write. Most scanners and VHF / UHF equipment convert the incoming signal down in frequency at least twice. Scanners normally are double conversion superhet units. The sad part is that the filters on the front end of scanners (that would attenuate any signals getting out of the scanner) is very wide and virtually useless at stopping things getting out.
The oscillators apart from having the main fundemental frequency offset by whatever the first IF frequency is. They also produce odd or even harmonics upwards from the main frequency. So if you were say listening on 120 Mhz and the first IF was 10.7 Mhz the first oscillator would be working at 109.3 or 130.7 Mhz. Plus of course harmonics at multiples of it.
The same applies for any system generating clocks for computers, mobile phones, games consules etc. Manufacturers producing equipment for the professional market take great care to ensure that the radiation from whatever they are making is within strict limits and are checked with great care that they do not radiate anything where it could cause problems.
The reason I mention the above. Is that anything fitted into an aircraft has to pass strict tests and a long procedure to be approved. Which explains to some extent the high costs and the slowness to bring in new technology into aviation. Personally I wouldn't have it any other way. It pays my mortgage!
Astral
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Thanks for the replies - very useful - so it is also to do with the hardware within the radio itself!
A kind-of related question on radios:
I take it that you do not need to show a licence when buying a transceiver from a pilot shop or on the web? - I've never tried.
Have anyone heard of any ATC transmissions being intrupted by someone using a transciever on the ground near airports - either on purpose or through ignorance.
I know from reading the Trevor Thom's Radiotelephony book that ATC can move to an alternative frequency - but that obviously depends on informing the aircraft of that frequency. What would happen in this case? - worst case scenario using light signals
Ad.
A kind-of related question on radios:
I take it that you do not need to show a licence when buying a transceiver from a pilot shop or on the web? - I've never tried.
Have anyone heard of any ATC transmissions being intrupted by someone using a transciever on the ground near airports - either on purpose or through ignorance.
I know from reading the Trevor Thom's Radiotelephony book that ATC can move to an alternative frequency - but that obviously depends on informing the aircraft of that frequency. What would happen in this case? - worst case scenario using light signals
Ad.
Fixed+Rotary (aircraft, not washing lines)
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As already pointed out - radio *receivers* are also transmitters which is how the tuning is done...
Think about it another way - the TV detector vans, how do they know you have a TV? They pick up the signal being transmitted by your receiver. Similarly in WWII it wasn't so hard for Nazi patrols to locate and uncover illegal radio receivers from resistance forces.
On this point, I have a watch with an analogue face. Hidden in the face is a solar panel - so I don't need batteries. Additionally the watch receives signals from the clock broadcasts in the UK and Europe. So, I'm wearing a permanently switched on - albeit low power - radio receiver. Would this not be allowed on board? I can't switch it off or remove the batteries as there aren't any (well, apart from the internal rechargable which isn't accessible). I'll probably wear another watch when flying...
Think about it another way - the TV detector vans, how do they know you have a TV? They pick up the signal being transmitted by your receiver. Similarly in WWII it wasn't so hard for Nazi patrols to locate and uncover illegal radio receivers from resistance forces.
On this point, I have a watch with an analogue face. Hidden in the face is a solar panel - so I don't need batteries. Additionally the watch receives signals from the clock broadcasts in the UK and Europe. So, I'm wearing a permanently switched on - albeit low power - radio receiver. Would this not be allowed on board? I can't switch it off or remove the batteries as there aren't any (well, apart from the internal rechargable which isn't accessible). I'll probably wear another watch when flying...
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MyData - Just like to say that I came across your website at the beginning of the year. Fantastic! Your diary is of the inspirations that has driven me along to start flying - unfortunately as with most people it is money issues that is stopping me!
I am reading the Trevor Thom books as we speak to get clued up before I possibly make the jump in next year!
Cheers
Ad.
I am reading the Trevor Thom books as we speak to get clued up before I possibly make the jump in next year
!Cheers
Ad.
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Eye
Thanks for that. A nice comment. FYI I'm now learning to fly helicopters (great fun but quite a challenge) and also doing an IMC rating. Lots to keep me busy. Stick at it - do it as quickly or slowly as you can afford, it is worth it!
To keep the thread on track - I wasn't asked for any licence when buying kit previously. I was going to go for an iCom transceiver but went for just a receiver in the end. If I'm going to do more IMC flying I might rethink that and get one of the VOR equiped iComs for backup... for personal flying that is, not on commercial flights
Thanks for that. A nice comment. FYI I'm now learning to fly helicopters (great fun but quite a challenge) and also doing an IMC rating. Lots to keep me busy. Stick at it - do it as quickly or slowly as you can afford, it is worth it!
To keep the thread on track - I wasn't asked for any licence when buying kit previously. I was going to go for an iCom transceiver but went for just a receiver in the end. If I'm going to do more IMC flying I might rethink that and get one of the VOR equiped iComs for backup... for personal flying that is, not on commercial flights
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How is it possible to get all the complex electronic equipment to work in say Air Force One or a Nimrod yet a Nokia is danger of making the wings fall off?
Always seems to me like using a mobile in a petrol station, no compelling evidence it's dangerous by in the UK we BAN things these days.
For the record I tried my scanner on a BA flight from Glasgow to Gatwick ages ago and the reception wasn't too great and I gave up afetr 5 minutes or so.
Bottom line, any "UNUSUAL" behaviour on a flight these days gives people the willies so please don't.
Always seems to me like using a mobile in a petrol station, no compelling evidence it's dangerous by in the UK we BAN things these days.
For the record I tried my scanner on a BA flight from Glasgow to Gatwick ages ago and the reception wasn't too great and I gave up afetr 5 minutes or so.
Bottom line, any "UNUSUAL" behaviour on a flight these days gives people the willies so please don't.