Which scanner or receiver

[helenwarburton]

Hello

My husbands 50th is coming up soon and I want to buy him a scanner. He's been into radio's of all kinds over the years but it's been his hobby and I haven't a clue what to buy him

I have a £1000 budget so what scanner will do the most for the money?

Many thanks Helen

[stratocaster]

Firstly, welcome to TM1. Well, £1k is a good pile for a scanner. You'd have to ask him what exactly he wants from a scanner, and from the cash outlay, (for example) you'd be able to get him a Whistler TRX2 with change to spare for a decent outdoor antenna and quality coaxial cable,(that's if he wishes an indoor base station set up) I'm afraid the AOR AR DV1 scanner is a bit over the £1k mark, and that is almost a do it all scanner. If you have a look at various threads for AOR AR DV1 and the Whistler TRX2 on this site, you'll get some tips there. Another scanner that would be roughly similarly priced to the TRX2 and does similar, would be the Uniden BCT 536hp, but at present, I haven't heard if it has been released for sale in the UK yet.
The scanners I mentioned are software defined radio which means you'd have to look at their webpages for firmware updates etc, your husband would need to be aware of this and be familiar with protocol using SD/Micro SD cards for downloading from computer any updates etc onto, and then transferring that to the scanner.
However, once a scanner has been chosen, it is only as good as the antenna it is connected to. There are a decent few wideband scanner antennae around, so look at one which gives the best wide coverage and go from there. remember, with outdoor antenna, the higher the better! I hope that helps.

[Admiral]

Hi, welcome to TM1. I think stratocaters answer was pretty comprehensive, but, without being sexist, imagine if it was your 50th and he had a grand and knew you always fancied a designer handbag, so he went on a handbag forum and was recommended he buy a Louis Vuitton bag, hands it over on the big day and your heart sinks because you really wanted a Gucci.
So, long story short, surprises are nice, but I would highly recommend that you consult him and find out exactly what he wants, good luck.

[thedeerhunter270]

Admiral makes a good point about finding out a little more on what type of signals he want to listen too. Although you have a 1k budget, it doesn't mean you have to spend it all. A £125 Uniden 125xlt may be be sufficient for his needs. Or, instead of one scanner, you could get a couple of different models for different purposes.

The tricky part about scanning these days is much of the traffic is in a digital format, and need suitable equipment.

See if you can find out a bit more on what he likes and get back to us; will try to give you some better answers.

[Farty]

What a nice Lady, and a lucky husband!

Does your chap own a decent computer or laptop? Something like a Funcube Dongle Pro (or something even more specialist if he's a real radio man) will outperform any traditional scanner.

But, but, BUT! While its a superb performer it takes a little more figuring out to use, and its not something he can easily listen to while he's fishing or watching an airshow. However, if he's seriously into his radio he is liable to get jolly excited by one.

[oh5nxo]

Would a voucher do?

[helenwarburton]

Thank you all for your help and advice.

He said he listens to AF? occasionally, aircraft and general around the area we live frequencies, in Bridgwater. I want to keep it a secret really, he will be happy with whatever I get him. He had a stroke so isn't very good on a computer keyboard writing lengthy posts hence it is my job so perhaps the computer based one isn't for him.
Are the AOR and Whistlers very good?
We are in the process of moving to Salford so I have asked a question on another part of this forum about who broadcast on Winter Hill. He went to see the big antenna a few years ago and said the area had many smaller antenna so I am doing some research before I take the plunge to ensure I get a radio that covers the ones there. If I can even do that from Salford. We are going to see the house again in September so if anyone knows of any good radio shops in the Manchester area that would be good as I can take him myself and see what he likes. We go to Manchester, Blackpool and the Lakes to see family. Are there any shops there?

Thank you for the help, I am sure he will be thrilled with whatever I get him. You've all been great thanks

[paulears]

The biggest pain really is that computers are an essential part of a scanner users hobby. Forums like these provide lots of hints and information on what is out there - which is time sensitive. You can Google all sorts of lists, but then discover the stuff is out of date. Scanners can store thousands of different things, but they have to get in there, which until recently has mean HUGE amounts of typing. The Whister brands let you take a list from the internet, or maybe a purchased DVD or memory stick of info, and copy and paste them into the scanner - still slow work, but better than typing in "165.5625 AAA Taxis, 166.5625 BBB Taxis over and over again. I suspect you might have lots of work to do.

Maybe a two stage pressie. Buy the scanner, which will come with a dinky little aerial capable of doing a few aeroplanes and localist stuff - then getting something better put up once he's had a chance to see what he likes best.

If it's mainly aircraft from the civilians to the military, then a discone type aerial on the chimney could be simple and effective, but maybe he likes listing to what used to be called short wave - longer aerials more like washing lines are the key to many listeners. Other people who have specific interests like maybe marine band if they live near the sea, have a specific antenna for that purpose - but if you are inland, not too many boats to listen to?

Geography is EVERYTHING. If you wish to listen to something in the next valley, often it's just best to forget it. If you live on top of the hill, everything is totally different - you can hear much further. The old rule that if with a pair of mega strong binoculars you could see it, you can hear it - makes sense. An aeroplane hundreds of miles away can be perfectly clear, but the airport in the next valley only a few miles away is totally missing.

Start with the pressie radio. See what you can hear. Find your interest, and then spend more money. Pointless to try to guess his interest. Its the kind of hobby you grow into. Those who try to buy everything first, often just get bored. Lots of the fun comes from overcoming problems, using the internet to search out the missing links, and then pointing the hobby to your interests as it's such a diverse one. You will often find that interest in certain things wanes. I have a marine band radio in my van, but I soon realised it's the same people all the time doing the same things. I spent some money on the latest kit to listen to a marine digital system, and it took me weeks to get it working, and three days in I switched of - totally dull. Aeroplanes are always interesting - not so much the usual air traffic control, but their little company channels when you hear about the toilets being blocked or the food for the vegans containing meat, or troublesome passengers being targeted for removal on the ground. These things are what some people search out and it takes time and effort - which for your hubby could be a proper purpose. You won't know yet.

There are a few good shops, but rarely where you need them to be, so it is nowadays more an internet sourced hobby - with forums providing advice and guidance. Although many people think they're stuffy - the RSGB Radio Society of Great Britain - have useful info on their website, and most of the bigger radio shops advertise with them.
Paul

[thedeerhunter270]

if anyone knows of any good radio shops in the Manchester area that would be good as I can take him myself and see what he likes. We go to Manchester, Blackpool and the Lakes to see family. Are there any shops there?

The nearest I can think of is Radioworld @ 263 Walsall Road, Great Wyrley, Walsall, WS6 6DL

http://www.radioworld.co.uk/

Although Maplin sell some scanners - but they are expensive, but they do offer a 'price guarantee', so you should find the online best price and get them to sell to you at that price.

[helenwarburton]

Hello everybody

Well, I've spoken to Glenn today as I didn't want to get him the wrong radio. Like the handbag reference, it is a prudent one and not one I'd like to get wrong with my budget. It has spoiled my surprise but the bigger surprise may have been getting him something obsolete or he has already got.

From what he said he has never tried using the computer but would like to have a scanner on his shack computer. It has the Windows 10 on it. Most of his equipment can pick up most of what he listens to but he said the computer would be good. I assumed he struggled using the mouse but he said he manages buttons. He's just slower.
So if he gets a scanner computer is that digital and can he listen to the planes on it? Does a dongle plug into his antenna lead?
Sorry so many questions but I suppose I could get him the Whistler as suggested and a computer based on.

Now any suggestions on where to buy one from that covers everything?

Thank you so much for your help. I do appreciate it

[thedeerhunter270]

It has the Windows 10 on it.

Should be fine.

So if he gets a scanner computer is that digital and can he listen to the planes on it?

Aircraft are not digital (yet at least) they use the old technology of AM, but it works so they haven't changed it. A £60 scanner will pickup aircraft.

Does a dongle plug into his antenna lead?

Yes, and the other end in to the computer. The dongle does the receiving, and the computer does the decoding. The cheap SDR (Software Defined Radio) are tricky to set up, as they weren't designed for that purpose - but the more expensive ones are easier. Have a look at SDRPlay, this is a lower mid range SDR. http://www.sdrplay.com/. The SDRPlay is just a black box, and to be honest, not an really exciting present.

Sorry so many questions but I suppose I could get him the Whistler as suggested and a computer based on.

I've never owned a Whistler TRX1 (they are quite new), but from what I know about them they would cover more or less everything Glenn is looking for. This model the computer is used for programming and monitoring - but the radio can be used as a stand alone - unlike an SDR.

https://www.amazon.com/Whistler-WS1080- ... B00LG9J94C

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M51sqpFIZtI

In the old days, you'd have to enter all the frequencies you wanted to listen to manually in to a scanner - it could be 100's, it could take ages and was tiresome. these days you use the computer to write the memories all in one go.

PS, I'm off the The Lakes this weekend - love it there.

[thedeerhunter270]

....

[helenwarburton]

He's looked at the suggestions today and although he likes the sound of the dongle scanners I don't think he feels he'd be able to do the PC side of things. Not so much with his medical condition, more so having all the faffing around to get them to work.

He did, however, look at the Aor dv1 and if that covers digital etc and is better than the Whistler series I may spend the extra and get him something that will last a few years. He can take this one in the car too. If it was your decision would you get the AOR or Whistler. (I must admit he hadn't heard of Whistler before)

Thanks again, last question. Sorry for being a pest

[thedeerhunter270]

If it was your decision would you get the AOR or Whistler. (I must admit he hadn't heard of Whistler before)

I've owned quite a few AOR receivers in the past, AOR are a well established Japanese company. I think Whistler is a US company, but they are fairly new on the scene.

All the AOR's I've owned have kept working for 20 years or more. They do wear out eventually with heavy use, but I've never regretted getting one.

So if I had £1000 to buy a new scanner - I would be happy to get the DV1.

[Metradio]

I own both the AOR AR-DV1 and a Whistler TRX1, apart from the price difference the AOR is a digital + analogue receiver and fairly easy to get to grips with, the Whistler is a digital + analogue scanner and requires you learn how to program it and this is a steep learning curve..
Bottom line the AOR is good for listening to signals, the Whistler is good for following digital conversations..
The AOR has the added benefit of extended frequency coverage below 30MHz..

Mike