Good ATC Scanner?

C

CobraDane

Filing Flight Plan
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May 20, 2015
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Paul
I am a truck driver, want to become a pilot after I save up the money for some flight training, but I was thinking I could listen to ATC as I drive across the country to keep my mind occupied. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good scanner to monitor ATC frequencies that won't break the bank? It obviously needs to be mobile, or easily made mobile.
Thanks!
 
I'd pick up a used Radio Snack Pro 43 or 51 or the like off ebay. Used you can find them for under $50.
 
LiveATC app for smartphone is another solution if you are within reach of a cellular data signal (and most major highways are) and don't mind slowly burning through your data plan.
 
LiveATC app for your phone would be the way to go. You can get ATC transmission streamed from almost everywhere in the country. A scanner will be limited to the area you are in and outside if populated hubs while on the road, ATC traffic will be pretty slow and much of it may not even reach the ground where you would be.

You would wanna be listening to either a control tower or approach frequency near a busy airport. "Center" frequencies out in the open air are pretty boring generally.

http://www.liveatc.net/

You can listen free on line or their mobile app is only a few bucks and well worth it.
 
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I think my ICOM handheld can scan through multiple freqs (you will have to preset them). The advantage is you'll have a handheld when/if you start flying. The disadvantage is $$ and a limited range, plus you really will have to research the freqs you'll be driving through. Many times you'll only be able to receive one side of the conversation.

I like the idea of a liveATC app. Most of us have used liveATC at one time or another.
 
+1 on the LiveATC app. I use it in the car and at work. I usually listen to Potomac Approach handling the DC SFRA, BWI, and also my local just to hear my buddies. Listening to multiple freqs at once will really get your ear tuned to rapid-fire ATC in complex airspace. NY and Denver approach sectors are also pretty lively. I have a Uniden Bearcat scanner. It sucks. Never use it anymore.

As far as using your cellular data, I've been pleasantly surprised by how little it uses, even using it for many hours a day.
 
I was thinking about the a ATC app on my phone but i would probably use it a few hours a day and wasn't sure how much data i would burn through. Does it eat up data very fast?
 
since it doesn't really matter that its live, you could also download the archived mp3 files from liveatc.net and listen to those as you drive

downside:
they are 30 minutes each so you'd have to download quite a few to keep fresh ones for long trips.
app would be much simpler

upside:
you could pick busy airports and busy times to listen to so you're not listening to dead air
 
The data rate on LIVE ATC (especially on channels that aren't that busy) is minimal. Certainly less than streaming pandora to your phone or whatever.
 
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