AirshowStuff Forums

I have Pro-95 and Pro-97 radio scanners from Radioshack for use when spotting and at airshows, but the 95 does not do mil-air and the 97 is wearing out. What are some good newer models that I should look at?

Military frequencies are a must!

I have a Bearcat 396XT that works pretty good. It gets most Airshow Mil air. I had issues picking up the thunderbirds last year at langley tho.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001W ... UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K1 ... UTF8&psc=1

While it's missing the upper portion of the MilAir band (380-400), I've found my Uniden Bearcat BC-125AT to be reliable, particularly with the Diamond RH77 antenna.

I have a BC125AT with a Diamond antenna for portable as well. I got it late last year and have not been to any airshows yet, but I have used it spotting and it does a pretty decent job for a mobile. I've also got a DIY J-pole antenna at the house and can routinely pick up aerial refueling going on over the Fond Du Lac/Oshkosh/Appleton areas and even traffic from the Volk MOAs from Green Bay.

RyanS wrote: ↑Thu Feb 09, 2017 8:02 pm I have Pro-95 and Pro-97 radio scanners from Radioshack for use when spotting and at airshows, but the 95 does not do mil-air and the 97 is wearing out. What are some good newer models that I should look at?

Military frequencies are a must!

I have recently purchase 4 of the BCT15X DIN-sized scanners as replacements for my two aging Realistic Pro 2006s. The mil-air portion of the spectrum was extremely important to me as well. I found a great deal on Pelican-styled cases at my local Princess Auto and enclosed two scanners per case along with two BC-7 speakers mounted and recessed in the upper corners of the lid that end up coming down in front of the radios when the lid is closed. I then order some bulkhead components and can now connect my power source and antenna to the back (base) of the case and keep the lid closed until Showtime. It has been about 20 years since I upgraded my scanners and although it has cost me a bit of money they look extremely professional and should last me for another 20 years!

As an aside...after checking with the site moderator I have the go ahead to start a new thread in this section pertaining to radio frequencies for the different teams. Feel free to add any recently CONFIRMED frequencies there for every fan's listening pleasure!

Cheers!

I should have also mentioned that if you are looking for a great portable scanner, the now defunct Radio Shack Pro 668 or the Whistler 1080 scanners are great radios for the price and cover the mil-air band with style including "close call" search capabilities! They are pc programmable and a breeze to setup and also have the option for a different colored alert light depending on how you program it. Ie. Blue flashing for the Blue Angels, Red flashing for the Snowbirds, Blue and Yellow alternating flashing for the Breitlings and Green flashing for Airport Ground ops so you will know at a quick glance just who you are monitoring. The alpha-numeric display only adds to this.

Hope this helps!

Bearcat 396XT never let me down.

I usually use multiple scanners at airshows. The main ones that I use are all Uniden radios. I usually use a BC125at and a BR330T for my main show radios. I also do fire photography so I always have a BCD396XT and a BCD436HP with me at all times. All of my radios have leather cases and heavy duty belt clips. I never delete old frequencies out of my radios you never know who is going to reuse it. I usually use regular in the ear ear phones for most of the time and for the jet teams i have a Nascar style head set that I put on. I usually have boss in one ear the solos in the other and if I need to I can plug the head set into a scanner and have 3 radios going at once.

I hate when shows say NO SCANNERS. To me that takes some of the fun out of the show.