Transverter for aircraft band?

Mark_WS7M

As a long time pilot I would be interested in finding/building a transverter that could receive the aircraft band:  118.0 - 137.0 AM.

Any recommendations on a transverter that would/could work?

Maybe "transverter" is not the right term here as I really don't want to "transmit" on the aircraft bands...   "receiveverter?"

I do realize I could probably just buy a radioshack scanner but whats the fun in that!?  I want to use my new 6500!!!

Mark

L.Kubis

Mark, have a look at the SDR-Play SDR now being sold by HRO for $150. It's ideal for listening to the aircraft band as well other portions of the spectrum as it covers 100Khz to 2 Ghz.
Mine on the 2m band measured around 0.25uV sensivity.

I use SDRSharp freebie software for this band with good results. Simon Brown's SDRConsole on HF 
and HDSDR elsewhere.

Great little RX for the money!

Lloyd
VE3ERQ

Greg - K5GJ

Mark - if you just want to play, you can take the 10MHz reference from the 6500 and do a x10 to get to 100Mhz. Then use a VHF mixer and run the radio "IF" at 18 - 36MHz. Finally feed the front end through a BPF for aircraft band. You can probably score these components on Fleabay or at www.minicircuits.com. Now as Lloyd said, the SDR may be cheaper but this is a great way to get started in VHF xvtr design. Yell if you need more details. 73, Greg - K5GJ

Doug Hall

Also Mark, look at the schematic for the cheap 2m transverter from http://transverters-store.com/ It works in a similar fashion as the idea K5GJ presented. It has a BPF for the 2m band on the front end and a 116 MHz LO to a VHF mixer. Also see M0DGQ's 2m RX converter schematic here: http://www.m0dgq.co.uk/2m%20rx%20converter.html Either of these designs could be modified to cover the aircraft band.

I've thought about building an airband RX converter for the Flex, but at present I have a little Icom 706 that I use to listen to local traffic. Brings back memories of my days in the little Cessna 172.
73,
Doug K4DSP

dlwarnberg

SDRplay will do it now..