Uniden UBC355CLT (BHX tuning)

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clive6354
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Uniden UBC355CLT (BHX tuning)

Post by clive6354 »

Hello

I have purchased the "Uniden UBC355CLT" receiver in order to receive transmissions from my local airport BHX and also as this receiver has 3.88Khz spacing on the airband

The frequency for BHX tower is 118.305 but I am not able to obtain this precise frequency. I can obtain 118.308 and 118.300 but not 118.305. Is it possible to enter the precise frequency on this receiver

Clive Alexander
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scan125
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Re: Uniden UBC355CLT (BHX tuning)

Post by scan125 »

You need to understand Air Band and 8.33kHz.

When your ATC or Airport calls/documents 118.305 then THIS NOT necessarily the ACTUAL frequency that is used by the radio equipment. Fully certified air band commercial equipment will take the 118.305 and display 118.305 but will actually use a frequency of 118.000. Most Scanners in the air band frequency range will display the real frequency.

Please have a little look/read here:

https://www.nick-bailey.co.uk/scan125/M ... .html#48.1

and scroll down a little to "The Civil Air Band Correction requires a little explanation with regards to Channel Spacing"

Not all scanners get the 8.33kHz usage correct. I've documented what my Uniden UBC125XLT gets right and wrong. Your UBC355CLT *may* be the same as the UBC125XLT assuming Uniden have used the same base code/algorithm.

If you read the supporting text and look at the table in my document then you can what is actually going on. My table also includes the old 25kHz spacings which are still used around the world (e.g. USA). Both the 25kHz and 8.33kHz have to live side by side. The rather confusing (to us) scheme created when the 8.33kHz spacings were introduced works for both ATC, Pilots, old 25kHz and non 8.33kHz capable equipment and equipment fully 25kHz and 8.33kHz capable equipment.

Unless you have a PC program to program your scanner that also does the Air Band Corrections like my Scan125 Control program does then you will need to print off a little crib sheet to aid you.

ATC.... -> You Set
nnn.000 -> nnn.0000
nnn.005 -> nnn.0000
nnn.010 -> nnn.0083
nnn.015 -> nnn.0166
nnn.025 -> nnn.0250
nnn.030 -> nnn.0250
nnn.035 -> nnn.0333
nnn.040 -> nnn.0416
nnn.050 -> nnn.0500
nnn.055 -> nnn.0500
nnn.060 -> nnn.0583
nnn.065 -> nnn.0666
nnn.075 -> nnn.0750
nnn.080 -> nnn.0750
nnn.085 -> nnn.0833
nnn.090 -> nnn.0916
nnn.100 -> nnn.0100
Nick - Author Of: Scan125 - Scan75 - DriveR8 - http://www.nick-bailey.co.uk
clive6354
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Re: Uniden UBC355CLT (BHX tuning)

Post by clive6354 »

Thank you for your reply, very interesting I had picked up a similar topic that you refer in the way how radio frequencies are used. I will have to read and try to understand further in an attempt to explain and resolve the current situation which is lower audio quality when receiving ATC transmissions since the 8.33Khz seperation and frequency changes were introduced.

Previously I used a discone ariel. In an attempt to resolve the low audio quality I replaced the antenna with a DBAB Dual Band Air Band Antenna. The audio quality of the ATC transmission appears to be same strength however, more background noise is pulled in making the audio more difficult to hear. The discone appeared to have less background noise. Would I be correct in my assumption that the vertical rods on discone maybe providing a better ground plane, therefore pulling in less background noise?

Clive Alexander
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