Author Topic: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:  (Read 13635 times)

Offline kc135dood

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Howdy all,

I am a frequent listener, and I gladly tip my hat to everyone one that contributes to this more than awesome site!  I started a thread a couple years ago about starting a DTW thread, but never went through with it.  Possibly cause I knew very little about radios, like I do now; Thanks to A&P tech school!  But, this time around, with more assets and knowledge, I will definitely go all out this time to surely provide a DTW feed here!  I'd like each and everyone's support to do this, and this is what I have planned for my set up, so far.  Hopefully, I'll get some feedback;

I've honed in on this radio:

Uniden BC346XT

I do want to buy a hand held, and do not want to go above $210.00 in total cost.

With that said, I also wouldn't mind wondering what kind of antenna I should buy.  Now I only want to know which antennas will be good for a DTW feed ONLY.  I live 11.1 miles away from the airport.

Also, I was curious as to if even the possibility of hooking up the BC346XT to an aircraft VHF Monopole "Broadband" antenna.  And, as I read, Dipoles are quite the great choice to use.  But I don't want to drop another $100 on an antenna.

Any feedback, positive or negative would be great!

Thanks

David



Offline VTBDflyer

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2010, 07:44:08 PM »
I'm not much help, since I don't know a great deal. But I'm very excited to have a DTW feed, this will be a great listening to NW/DL opperations.
I can't wait

Offline kc135dood

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2010, 10:01:59 PM »
Thanks for the first reply, as I am, also very excited.  I actually work at DTW, and use ICOM radios for COMMs on the deice pads.  I will absolutely go through with this feed 100% as I am kind of mad I returned my RS-2054 scanner a couple years ago.  I just went through some of the pictures, now I wish I kept it.  But I am determined to certainly buy a scanner, antenna, required cords and have it up within two weeks from this day.  I almost always leave my PC running anyways.

Offline kc135dood

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2010, 10:12:53 PM »
Also, I'd like feedback for like, what should I do to get the clearest quality signal, to output the clearest quality sound.

Offline kc135dood

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2010, 11:51:16 PM »
I just bought the BC346XT, so now it's down to an antenna and cables.  I'll appreciate any feedback!

Offline EdmontonFireRadio

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2010, 05:23:03 PM »
Looking forward to this feed as well.

Out of curiosity, how well can you hear the tower from your location?

Offline Rob K

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2010, 09:21:18 PM »
Looking forward to this feed as well.

Out of curiosity, how well can you hear the tower from your location?

I second that.  Surely at 11 miles distance you will only be able to hear the planes in the air but nothing on the ground?

 :?

Offline kc135dood

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2010, 11:25:55 PM »
When I had the Pro-2054, I tuned into something, it might have been KDTW or Groose Ile airport, back then I didn't have that much knowledge about this as I do now.  But I would like to mount a good _____ antenna?  I am not sure which I should use, but I'd like to mount it on top of my two-story house.

I'll later take a poll on which frequency to host.

Offline kc135dood

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #8 on: January 20, 2010, 08:28:43 PM »
I just received my BC346XT, now onto getting a nice antenna?  I also read that I'll need to use RG-8 low-loss dielectric coaxial cable because I think I may need more than 50 feet of cable.

Update, I have my scanner tuned into METRO TOWER:    118.4(EAST) ~ thanks to AirNav

Anyways, some transmissions come through flawlessly, but most are scrambled with minor to moderate static.  This is all with the rubber SMA antenna supplied with the scanner.  So I can't wait to purchase and use an external antenna!
« Last Edit: January 20, 2010, 09:09:42 PM by kc135dood »

Offline EdmontonFireRadio

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2010, 02:27:12 AM »
If you are looking for frequencies to program, have a look at this:

http://www.fltplan.com/AirportInformation/DTW.htm

METRO Tower Frequencies:   Hours(local) of operation: CONTINUOUS   
118.4(EAST)
135.0(WEST)
287.1(EAST-WEST)
METRO Ground Frequencies:
119.25 SOUTHEAST
119.45 NORTHEAST
121.8 NORTHWEST
132.72 SOUTHWEST
Clearance Delivery Frequencies:
120.65
Pre-Taxi Clearance Frequencies:
120.65
Emergency Frequencies:
121.5
243.0
Unicom Frequency: 122.950
DETROIT Primary Approach Frequencies:   Hours(local) of operation: CONTINUOUS   
124.05(WEST)
124.975
125.15(EAST)
363.2
Part-time Approach Frequencies: 
118.575(EAST)
124.25
DETROIT Primary Departure Frequencies:   Hours(local) of operation: CONTINUOUS   
118.95(TURBOPROPS-WEST)
125.525(TURBOJETS-WEST)
132.025(TURBOJETS-EAST)
134.3(TURBOPROPS-EAST)
239.275
Part-time Departure Frequencies: 
118.575(EAST)

Class B Frequencies:
118.95(SW)
126.85(EAST ABV 3000 FT)
127.5(NW/NE)
134.3(SE)
239.275

Offline kc135dood

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2010, 06:18:52 PM »
Thank you for that list.

I was tuned into 118.4 and 118.95 today.  It seems most of the transmissions are covered well, but some are static only.

Offline johnm1019

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2010, 03:16:35 PM »
If you could get this going it would be awesome!
I live in ann arbor and its just too far a shot for me.

Offline mrlarryf

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #12 on: February 04, 2010, 04:26:50 PM »
That would be great .I look forward to you getting up the DTW .I stumbled on this group when I was buying a app for my iphone. I am glad that I did.
I live out by the oakland/pontiac airport and no scanners out this way to listen too.
Thanks for your efforts on DTW.

Larry

Offline kc135dood

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Re: Hey everyone, DTW feed possiblities and any possible review for:
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2010, 11:59:09 PM »
I hope to get it up very soon.  The only problem is with my scanner, it seems to pause in and out of audio playback... like even when tuned into FM stations it pauses for like 3 seconds every 5 seconds.  It is so annoying, and I tried adjusting delay and other settings but it doesn't seem to change.  I think I may look into resetting it.  I tuned into 118.4 DTW's EAST Tower frequency.