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Shoreham Airshow 2014

Posted: 15 Aug 2014, 06:30
by M6UCW
Hi all,

does anyone have any frequencies for this air show.

Thanks

Re: Shoreham Airshow 2014

Posted: 19 Aug 2014, 18:50
by UHFenthusiast
Hi M6UCW

I'm glad you asked this question :D For the first time in its 25 year history, I am going along this year because my fiancée is very interested in aeroplanes! The website is at http://www.shorehamairshow.co.uk/ if anybody would like to have a look.

A recent edition of RadioUser magazine quoted the following VHF Airband frequencies for Shoreham, using AM of course:

123.150MHz
125.400MHz
121.175MHz
130.500MHz
130.625MHz
130.675MHz
132.900MHz
134.550MHz

I believe the first few are specific to Shoreham and the remainder are commonly used at airshows in general.

I'm sorry that I'm being rather vague, but I'm not particularly interested in VHF airband scanning. However I am much more interested in scanning in general across the VHF / UHF range. I was thinking of taking a small handheld radio with me (Baofeng probably) and I was wondering what frequencies to program into it. I would have started a "new topic" but M6UCW got there first!

The frequencies I was thinking of were:

The 8 PMR 446MHz channels;

The UK General VHF Low High and UHF frequencies (i.e. 164/169/449MHz). I think St John's Ambulance and local organisation REAC use these?;

FRS Channel 1 (462.5625MHz) just in case anybody is using "imported" walkie talkies... I heard this in use in the Shoreham area last year during the weekend;

A RAYNET frequency (I think South Sussex Raynet tend to use 144.625MHz but I don't know for sure if they're in attendance or not);

Selected Marine frequencies - 156.000 for Channel 0, 156.800 Channel 16 emergency / calling, 156.700MHz Shoreham Harbour and 161.750MHz for WX reports from Solent Coastguard. Yes I do hold a VHF marine licence before anybody says!!!; and

Amateur radio frequencies - 145.500MHz (S20 2 meter FM calling), 145.600MHz (GB3SR repeater Brighton), 433.150MHz (GB3BR repeater Brighton), and 430.8625MHz (GB3LR repeater Newhaven).

Any other suggestions please? I've had a look (tried to have a look! {bnghd} ) on the OFCOM licence map list thing and have drawn a blank.

I'm only really interested in frequencies in use inside / adjacent to the airshow, or involving activity related to it. So I don't think I need to worry about things like Shopwatch, Pubwatch, parking enforcement (or do I? :lolno: ), council street cleaning services or the like.

Many thanks in advance for your help and best 73
Ed.

Re: Shoreham Airshow 2014

Posted: 19 Aug 2014, 20:59
by M6UCW
Thanks for the info - the most informative response I've had to a post in a long time. This will be my first air show in the UK (I'm from SA).

I'm planning on using my Uniden USC230 scanner for general scanning and Baofeng UV-5R for repeaters and simplex.

Re: Shoreham Airshow 2014

Posted: 19 Aug 2014, 21:25
by UHFenthusiast
A couple more for you Mr M6UCW:

169.275MHz was attributed to "Albemarle" at Shoreham Airport in the past. A quick look at the Wikipedia entry for Shoreham Airport suggests that this company used to run the place until May 2014 - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoreham_Airport for the details. Perhaps this frequency is still in use by the current owners for... some purpose or other?

160.600MHz in the marine band (channel 99) might be in use for comms between the coastguard / lifeboats / air displays? Maybe? :?

I don't know whether I'll be down there on the Saturday or the Sunday, but I'll keep an ear from time to time on 145.500MHz and maybe put out a few calls. If you hear me then please do give me a shout. My callsign these days is M0MNG. If you want to go down the repeater route, you might find it fractionally easier to access GB3BR on 70cms (433.150 +1.6MHz shift CTCSS 88.5Hz) then GB3SR on 2m (145.600 -0.6MHz shift CTCSS 88.5Hz). As I understand it, GB3SR uses a collinear antenna whereas GB3BR uses a small beam pointing westwards from Brighton. This can make a difference if you are far away from Brighton, but to be honest Shoreham is so close that you ought to be able to access both of them from a handheld without too much difficulty.

Incidentally GB3SR has been known to be connected to Echolink periodically these past few weeks, but it does seem to be sporadic. So if you put a call through and someone comes back to you on GB3SR, then they are not *necessarily* in the Brighton area coming in via RF :D

Finally, I gather from qrz.com that you recently passed your Foundation Licence exam so congratulations on this achievement and I hope you will enjoy a wonderful hobby. Have fun at the airshow too.

Can anybody else with any frequency / scanning tips please? Many thanks.
Ed M0MNG

Re: Shoreham Airshow 2014

Posted: 20 Aug 2014, 06:56
by M6UCW
I had a look on Google earth (I have an add on showing all the repeaters) and the closest repeaters are only a few miles away. I have managed 11.5 miles using a Baofeng from the north side of Heathrow (whilst plane spotting) to GB3HR so under 5 miles should be fairly easy but then around the airport 2m simplex will be just as good (and more frequencies to choose from). I'll have to spend time this weekend adding a "Shoreham Airshow" group to Uniden and adding some frequencies to the Baofeng including the local repeaters. I'll go on the Saturday so there is no rush to get back home - I'm no fan of getting home late on a Sunday then having to get up early Monday for work. I passed my M6 at the end of June this year so still fairly new to amateur and been plane spotting / radio scanning for a few years now as I've been near LHR for +5 years. my intermediate course starts at the end of September so I should have my 2E0 late November / early December.

Re: Shoreham Airshow 2014

Posted: 28 Aug 2014, 16:58
by M6UCW
Anyone going to the Shoreham Airshow on Saturday or Sunday?

I'm planning to load up the scanner with useful frequencies as well as have my radio on listening for any amateurs (using simplex and repeaters) and pmr446 users.

Re: Shoreham Airshow 2014

Posted: 29 Aug 2014, 23:27
by UHFenthusiast
It rather looks like I'm going down there on the Sunday now, as opposed to Saturday. So I'm sorry to say that I'll probably miss you :(

However I will calls out from home tomorrow (Saturday) from time to time, or if I am out and about /M. So if you happen to hear me on 145.500MHz or via GB3SR / GB3BR, then please do give me a call.

73 and enjoy it!
Edmund M0MNG

Re: Shoreham Airshow 2014

Posted: 30 Aug 2014, 08:41
by M6UCW
I've decided to skip the airshow today.

Mainly as my 6ft dual band antenna and 12ft pole have arrived and I'm going to put it up.

I'm rather eager to improve my range as my current installation is limiting my use of radio.

Re: Shoreham Airshow 2014

Posted: 25 Apr 2018, 20:34
by AlfieDivine1
Hi there does any one know if Shopwatch / CCTV will take any part in Airshows at all
First experience listening Shopwatch and it's coming up the airshow so i thought i would listen in, would it be worth taking out the handheld?
Headcorn Events are working with the council to organise the event,
Any other freqs i should monitor,
Thanks for advise in advance
Airshow July @ Folkestone Kent.