Why VHF Receiver for Air Traffic Control is so expensive?

Posted by admin
bonpon2003 asked:


I want to buy a receiver so that I can listen to air traffic control. Now, each one is like $100. I am wondering why is it so expensive? I know the frequency I want to listen to, so I don’t need the scan. I am you can buy FM radio for a $1, but why can I find VHF receiver for like $10????

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    • This entry was posted on Monday, February 15th, 2010 at 3:18 am and is filed under ATC. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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    No Responses to “Why VHF Receiver for Air Traffic Control is so expensive?”

    1. Daniel K Says:
      February 18th, 2010 at 5:07 am

      One reason is supply and demand - many people listen to the radio but few listen to the aircraft band.

      Radio Shack used to make a simple transistor radio for the Aircraft band - you may find one on ebay.

      This is a cool radio that picks up the VHF airband that is on sale at Radio Shack right now: