Frequency Scanner, Don't go to the field without one!!  
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Frequency Scanner, Don't go to the field without one!! - 4/3/2002 10:31:10 AM   
crash and burn



Posts: 307
Joined: 2/26/2002
From: WA
Status: offline 		Hello to all,

Just wanted to make you guys & gals aware of a great product I just set up for scanning R/C air frequencies.

It is the ICOM IC-Q7A and it's saved a model or two the first time out! Seems one of our club members had left a transmitter turned on in his car that would have caused havic had I not scanned first!

This is the best $130 I have spent in this hobby!

Check out ICOM's site for more details.

I must tell you that the instruction manual is NOT very helpful, but you can program this unit to scan whatever Freq's you need to and save it in memory.

Good luck,

Tom " Crash and Burn"

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< Message edited by crash and burn -- Apr 3 2002 3:37PM >
       Post #: 1

Frequency Scanner, Don't go to the field without one!! - 4/3/2002 6:54:43 PM   
pmartjr


 

Posts: 49
Joined: 2/25/2002
From: Dayton, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Tom,

Could you please list the web site for ICOM? I tried [url]www.icom.com[/url] and that was not it. I don't know what else to try.

Thanks.

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 2

www.icomamerica.com - 4/3/2002 7:38:11 PM   
TopRCDawg



Posts: 45
Joined: 2/13/2002
From: Jefferson City, MO, USA
Status: offline 		[url]www.icomamerica.com[/url]

_____________________________

Top RC Dawg
Build, fly, crash, re-build, fly, . . .

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 3

Frequency Scanner, Don't go to the field without one!! - 4/3/2002 8:13:12 PM   
Spicoli


 

Posts: 474
Joined: 1/31/2002
From: TERRACE, BC,
Status: offline 		I looked on their site and couldn't find the frequency scanner.

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 4

THE IC-Q7A IS A TRANSCEIVER THAT WILL PERFORM A SCAN. - 4/3/2002 8:30:07 PM   
crash and burn



Posts: 307
Joined: 2/26/2002
From: WA
Status: offline 		Hello again,

As mentioned above, the web site for ICOM is

[url]www.icomamerica.com[/url]

This is not listed as a scanner, it is a dual band transceiver that can be programmed to scan freq's that you put into it's memory.

You can purchase this from [url]www.texastowers.com[/url] for $129.00 plus shipping.

Good luck,

Tom

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(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 5

FCC? - 4/3/2002 9:37:41 PM   
Dzlstunter



Posts: 402
Joined: 12/9/2001
From: Jacksonville, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Aren't you supposed to have a license to operate something like this--or am I showing my ignorance once again? John

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 6

field strength?? - 4/3/2002 11:32:56 PM   
INJUN_EAR


 

Posts: 190
Joined: 1/9/2002
From: cary, IL, USA
Status: offline 		I hate to burst everyones bubble, but if you live out in the boonies these scanners are probably okay for identifying that one transient guy that's flying a park flyer nearby, unbeknownst to you or him.

However, in an area like I live in, where flying fields are seperated by just a few miles, scanners don't do a very good job. Fact is, they just make everyone aprehensive.

When we tried a scanner, we got a "hit" on just about every active rc channel over a two week period of testing.
You see, the problem is that the receiver is so sensitive it picks up legitimate operation of a rc transmitter at nearby fields.

Without knowing the field strength of the received signal, there's no way of knowing if it's a threat or not.

If we were to believe the scanner everytime it went off, none of us would ever be able to fly, anytime ever!!!

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 7

ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTIONS - 4/4/2002 4:23:46 AM   
crash and burn



Posts: 307
Joined: 2/26/2002
From: WA
Status: offline 		First, you would need a HAMM license for this if you were going to transmit with it. It is NOT illegal to own it and use it as a scanner.

Second, in response to the fella who says these are too sensitive I will have to dissagree. I have scanned the freq's several times and have always located the source of the scan. It's true, you cannot tell how far away the signal is coming from, but you at least can protect yourself from the bone head who leaves his radio on in the car or forgets to check the freq board before starting up.

No this thing won't save your plane from everyone, but it's a cheap way to at least try and save a 3-5K model.

Happy flying!!

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 8

Frequency Scanner, Don't go to the field without one!! - 4/4/2002 9:19:22 PM   
Tmoth4



Posts: 1358
Joined: 3/14/2002
From: Brecksville, OH, USA
Status: offline 		I went to texas towers web site and it said I had to have Ham license just to order from them.

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 9

Frequency Scanner, Don't go to the field without one!! - 4/5/2002 2:16:11 AM   
hilleyja


 

Posts: 2186
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Salem, WV, USA
Status: offline 		I have the ICOM R-3. It is a true scanner and can even be used as a limited Spectrum Analyzer or even a color television -- it gives me a signal strength.


_____________________________

Jim Hilley
AMA #671825
RCCA# 758
Twist 150 Brotherhood #14

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 10

I WAS NOT ASKED THIS WHEN I BOUGHT MINE! - 4/5/2002 8:23:05 PM   
crash and burn



Posts: 307
Joined: 2/26/2002
From: WA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tmoth4
I went to texas towers web site and it said I had to have Ham license just to order from them. [/QUOTE]

Well, I was not asked if I had a HAMM license when I bought mine. I called them directly on their 800 number. Maybe when you order online they have to ask.

Anyway, I have several flying buddies with this unit, and none are HAMM's.

Take care,

Tom

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 11

Frequency Scanner, Don't go to the field without one!! - 4/5/2002 9:25:01 PM   
Sawyer692-RCU



Posts: 694
Joined: 2/19/2002
From: Redding, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Out of curiosity, I e-mailed Texas Towers with the HAM question and this is what they said:

"Hello Mike,

You don't have to be a Ham operator to order from us. If you order online,
you're asked for a callsign, and if this field is left blank, the order
confirmation page says that you need a call sign to order. This is due to
the way we do address verifications on www orders. If you are not a Ham
operator, you can order by phone by calling us at (800) 272-3467.

If you use your credit card billing address on the order page, you can enter
"none" in the callsign field, and everything should work fine.

As far as the legalities are concerned, anyone can legally purchase a Ham
radio. Obviously you have to be licensed to transmit on the radio, but if
you're only going to receive with it, that's not much of a concern. In fact,
the radio shouldn't even be able to transmit on any of the R/C frequencies.
It only transmits on the 2m and 70 cm (144-148 and 430-450 MHz) ham bands.

Another option would be to look at Icom's IC-R2 receiver. It's very similar
to the IC-Q7A, but it's only a receiver, so it doesn't transmit. For
whatever reason it's $30 ore than the IC-Q7A.

Please let us know if you need further information.


-Matthew Williamson, N5VQT
Texas Towers
(800) 272-3467"

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 12

Mike, thanks for the research! - 4/6/2002 12:51:13 AM   
crash and burn



Posts: 307
Joined: 2/26/2002
From: WA
Status: offline 		Hey Mike,

I appreciate you contacting Texas Towers.
That was exactly what I thought they would say. You've been very helpful.

Tom

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 13

Frequency Scanner, Don't go to the field without one!! - 4/6/2002 8:02:48 AM   
Tmoth4



Posts: 1358
Joined: 3/14/2002
From: Brecksville, OH, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks for the info. I'm going to order one of these. With all the money we spend on this hobby, it couldn't hurt to have one of these around. We had a renegade flyer in a schoolyard only about a mile from our club field last summer.

(in reply to crash and burn)
       Post #: 14

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