Ordinary FM radio to listen to air communication.

[Lukasz W]

Hi all!
As a non-native english speaker learning to fly in UK, I found that the
most challenging part of flying lessons is talking with controllers and
understanding what other pilot say. To get some practice I got ordinary,
20-bucks FM radio changed so I could receive frequency up to 135 MHz.
London Heathrow approach is (probably) 130.25, but despite living
nearby, I can't receive it. Is the radio too weak or I'm missing
something? Some guy said air communication is digital, but somehow I
don't believe it. Or maybe you guys have some other hints for me?
Thanks,

Lukasz

[Dave S]

No.. most if not all civil voice communications is NOT digital, but analog.

Its ALSO "AM". Even though you are in the 108-135 mHz band, adjacent to
the "good times radio" band... you are trying to listen to an "amplitude
modulated" signal with a "frequency modulated" reciever. If you want to
listen to aviation chatter, just part with the $$ (or pounds) and get an
aviation band scanner. It should cost no more than 2 hours worth of
flight instruction if US prices are any indication.

Dave

Lukasz W wrote:
> Hi all!
> As a non-native english speaker learning to fly in UK, I found that the
> most challenging part of flying lessons is talking with controllers and
> understanding what other pilot say. To get some practice I got ordinary,
> 20-bucks FM radio changed so I could receive frequency up to 135 MHz.
> London Heathrow approach is (probably) 130.25, but despite living
> nearby, I can't receive it. Is the radio too weak or I'm missing
> something? Some guy said air communication is digital, but somehow I
> don't believe it. Or maybe you guys have some other hints for me?
> Thanks,
>
> Lukasz

[kontiki]

An FM receiver won't demodulate an AM carrier. An AM reciever
will, to an extent, demodulate an FM carrier if tuned slightly
off center frequency (called slope detecting).

[Ben Hallert]

Also consider the free alternative, listening to tower communication
over the internet. Websites like liveatc.com provide links to this,
and the reception will undoubtedly be better then what you can get from
a handheld antenna, as most of the transmission is line-of-sight.

It may be the difference between hearing both the tower and the plane
versus infrequently getting one signal.

Ben Hallert
PP-ASEL

[Ben Hallert]

Whoops, that was supposed to be http://www.liveatc.net , the .com
website has very poor reception indeed, unless you are looking for
advertisements about purchasing domains.

[Steve Foley]

That would explain why I can receive Kiss108 (107.9) on my VOR

"kontiki" > wrote in message
...
> An FM receiver won't demodulate an AM carrier. An AM reciever
> will, to an extent, demodulate an FM carrier if tuned slightly
> off center frequency (called slope detecting).
>

[Paul kgyy]

Good point - unless you are close to the transmitter, you typically
hear only one side of the conversation.

There's also a piece of software (Com1?) that you can install on your
PC to practice and listen to yourself. I found it helpful when working
on my instrument rating - never had a problem with the communications
part of it.

[RST Engineering]

That is exactly correct. Making a front end filter to pass tens of watts of
108.0 to 117.9 and reject megawatts ERP of 107.9 ain't gonna happen.

Jim




"Steve Foley" > wrote in message
news:3HTye.3820$vu5.3727@trndny08...
> That would explain why I can receive Kiss108 (107.9) on my VOR
>
> "kontiki" > wrote in message
> ...
>> An FM receiver won't demodulate an AM carrier. An AM reciever
>> will, to an extent, demodulate an FM carrier if tuned slightly
>> off center frequency (called slope detecting).
>>
>
>

[Morgans]

"Dave S" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> No.. most if not all civil voice communications is NOT digital, but
analog.
>
> Its ALSO "AM". Even though you are in the 108-135 mHz band, adjacent to
> the "good times radio" band... you are trying to listen to an "amplitude
> modulated" signal with a "frequency modulated" reciever. If you want to
> listen to aviation chatter, just part with the $$ (or pounds) and get an
> aviation band scanner. It should cost no more than 2 hours worth of
> flight instruction if US prices are any indication.

On the grounds of OSH, I can consistently get (I ASSume) a Chicago center
transmitter on my regular FM radio, most likely the OSH VOR relay. Must be
a harmonic, or something.
--
Jim in NC