Coverage for 120.12 just outside of Chicago?

[jeffcohen]

Hello!  My first time here, so I hope I'm not asking something that's already been answered - I tried to search first as best I could.

I'm learning to try to follow flights from OHare as they travel across the country.  After takeoff, I can sometimes continue to their first departure frequency, but then often lose them as the head south or west on frequency 120.12.  That frequency shows up under the Frequency Search on iOS but the locations listed are very far from Chicago and don't seem applicable.

Anybody have any idea if I'm doing something wrong, or whether there just simply isn't that much coverage right now in the middle of Illinois?

Thanks!

[FlightLevel310]

That frequency is a low ZAU sector that handles the south departures from ORD. It doesn't look like there is coverage for it.

[RonR]

When you do a frequency search, every LiveATC feed that has that frequency will be listed.  Unfortunately, the particular sector that you're looking for is not currently covered by LiveATC.

[jeffcohen]

Thanks everyone!

[jeffcohen]

Just following up... what would be required to get coverage for some of the higher-altitude frequencies in the Chicago center area?  I don't know how close I would need to be in order to pick up some of the further-away/higher altitude zones?

I'm willing to acquire whatever equipment would be necessary to help provide some extra feeds for the Chicago center area, I'm just not sure how to get started or if it's even realistic?

[FlightLevel310]

If you’re trying to get aircraft and the controller, you’ll have to be somewhat close to one of the antennas. Are you close to any of the sites?

[jeffcohen]

I'm not exactly sure which frequencies come from which sites, but I'm about 45 miles from the facility in Aurora, IL, where I assume many of these come from.  But maybe that's too far away to be reliable?

[FlightLevel310]

Are you close to any of these locations on this page?

https://www.radioreference.com/db/aid/2241

[jeffcohen]

Thanks so much for that link!

Looks like I'm about 75 miles from the Kankakee station that transmits on 120.12.  Guessing that's too far?

[RonR]

Sorry to say, 75 miles is way too far to hear any controllers.  Generally, you have yo be very close to an ATC transmitter site - less than six miles away.  And even that distance can be problematic if there are obstructions in the way like hills or tall buildings.

You won't have any trouble hearing the aircraft on a high altitude frequency. Sometimes you can hear them when they're 200 to 300 miles away.

Do you live near an airport? Even a small regional one?

[jeffcohen]

I'm 12 miles from both O'Hare and Chicago Executive.

LiveATC has great coverage of most of the initial handoff frequencies, it's that second handoff where aircraft are getting above 15,000 feet and get handed to the next controller that I'd love to listen into.  120.12 seems to be a popular one for all flights heading south of Chicago.

No worries, I was really just hoping I could help out somehow and that missing frequency seemed like an opportunity

Thanks again.