Airband Bandpass Filter 118-138 MHz

Description

This ultra-compact bandpass filter is tailor-made for aviation enthusiasts and SDR hobbyists. It passes the 118–138 MHz airband (civil aviation communications) and blocks everything else. Think of it as a sieve for radio: only the airplane chatter gets through clearly, while FM radio and other signals are squashed. The 4th-order Chebyshev design means a very sharp cutoff, giving a steep transition from passband to stopband. The result? Smoother, crisper reception of ATC and flight transmissions on your SDR.

Key Features

• Frequency range: 118–138 MHz (covers the full VHF airband for civilian aviation)
• Filter design: 4th-order Chebyshev – sharp cutoff for strong signal rejection
• Connectors: Two female SMA (input/output) for easy plug-in with antennas and SDR dongles.
• Size: Ultra-compact bare PCB (63 mm × 12 mm × 6.5 mm) – no enclosure, perfect for DIY integration into your setup.
• Deep rejection of out-of-band signals. For example, FM broadcast frequencies are cut by roughly 30 dB at 88 MHz and 21 dB at 98 MHz (effectively squashing local broadcast interference)

Typical Characteristics

Benefits

• Cleaner reception: Blocks unwanted signals so ATC and pilot communications come through with less noise.
• Steep roll-off: Chebyshev design means it cuts off sharply outside 118–138 MHz, preventing bleed-over from adjacent bands.
• Plug-and-play: Standard SMA jacks – just insert between your antenna and SDR/receiver.
• DIY-friendly: Bare-board design lets you easily mount or enclose it however you like.

Typical Use Cases

• Aviation scanning: Attach to an RTL-SDR, Airspy, SDRplay, or any VHF receiver to focus exclusively on the airband (ground/tower/pilot chatter) without FM bleed-through.
• Flight tracking: Works with software (VirtualRadar, PlanePlotter, etc.) or ADS-B setups to improve clarity of flight communications.
• Ham radio projects: Great for homebrew 118–138 MHz receivers or portable scanner kits.
• Portable ops: Ideal for field deployments (airshows, airports, fly-ins) – cuts city noise so you hear airplanes more clearly.

This little filter is made by aviation radio enthusiasts for aviation radio enthusiasts. It’s straightforward, no-nonsense gear: a simple bare PCB solution to dramatically cut noise and boost the quality of your airband listening. Whether you’re a pilot, plane spotter, or radio hobbyist, you’ll love how much clearer those radio calls become when you slip this filter into your setup.

Specification

• Frequency range: 118–138 MHz (covers the full VHF airband for civilian aviation)
• Filter design: 4th-order Chebyshev bandpass
• Connecting: 2 × SMA-F connectors (other SMA possible, send me a message)
• Dimensions: 63 mm × 12 mm × 6.5 mm
• Weight: 5 g

Order now and give your SDR a clearer view of the skies!