Travel Technology - Listening to Air Traffic

Any suggestions as what radio to buy to listen to Air Traffic? I recently bought one from Radio Shack and was totally overwhelmed by its complexity.

Any suggestions as what radio to buy to listen to Air Traffic? I recently bought one from Radio Shack and was totally overwhelmed by its complexity.

Use the web:

http://www.thetracon.com/links/linkLIVE.htm

http://www.futurastudios.com/atc.html

Thank you very much for those sites. They are wonderful.

I also want a hand held radio so I can listen to traffic when I am not in front of a computer. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Scanners have the ability to pick up multiple frequencies, such as departure, tower, ground, arrivals, and center traffic without having to manually "tune" to each which is a nice feature.

I remember one out there that was a AM/FM radio with airband on it - that's about as simple as it gets but its all manual (digital, but using up/down to tune it) tuning.

-JC

That is about what I am looking for. If you could remember the name and model number, it would be appreciated. I tried one from Radio Shack and it was simple to set-up and I returned it. I should try e-bay.

found. model # is MR318 (also expressed as MR318A or MR-318)

Or pick up a Aviation Magazine. Lots of ads like these...

http://www.sportys.com/acb/Category.cfm?&DID=19&CATID=165

Just make sure you get a scanner as opposed to a transceiver if you're looking at something like Sporty's. Anyone can use a scanner without a radio license, but to use a transceiver, which can transmit as well as receive in those frequencies, you need the proper FCC license, or a pilot's license.

Wonderful ideas and leads. Thank you everyone. Will spend my weekend getting this accomplished.

Anyone can use a scanner without a radio license, but to use a transceiver, which can transmit as well as receive in those frequencies, you need the proper FCC license, or a pilot's license.

As long as you're listening only, you're OK. The transceiver's usually built pretty good, and have more bells and whistles.

Which means price goes up, but still great units.

overhead.