Google is your friend when it comes to channels for Aviation also CAA has a massive PDF of all channels

Yip got a list of channels thanks to Google.

Looking for what channels will be best heard around my part of Auckland and how I can improve what I'm hearing.

Depends what kind of scanner you have first of all will determine what you can do to improve receive coverage.

There is a number of things you can do 

I found this which may be of use.

http://www.radiowiki.org.nz/index.php/Scanning_Aviation_in_Auckland

More importantly what scanner are you using and what antenna are you using.

A radio is only as good as the signal it receives so an external antenna, let me know and I will advise if a better antenna is needed.

John 

If you want airband in particular, the default antennas that ship with scanners can sometimes be too wide (read, 72/82/92 xlt etc) and UHF beats any HF/VHF/AM stuff out the park.

And as they often broadcast from the airport paddock themselves, may not be any good a distance away. You can get numerous HAM antennas that may help (2M is 144Mhz, outside the 120s), or specific tuned/DIY 120/125Mhz centred antennas. 

ResponseMediaNZ:

 

Depends what kind of scanner you have first of all will determine what you can do to improve receive coverage.

 

There is a number of things you can do 

 

At the moment I've got the simple Uniden UBC72xlt... keen to hear what I could do with this device.

Oblivian:

 

If you want airband in particular, the default antennas that ship with scanners can sometimes be too wide (read, 72/82/92 xlt etc) and UHF beats any HF/VHF/AM stuff out the park.

 

And as they often broadcast from the airport paddock themselves, may not be any good a distance away. You can get numerous HAM antennas that may help (2M is 144Mhz, outside the 120s), or specific tuned/DIY 120/125Mhz centred antennas. 

 

 

 

Well I've got that 72xlt.... I assume you can't narrow it via the settings? 

Is there another antenna on the market you can get to target airband?

kiwis:

 

Yip got a list of channels thanks to Google.

 

Looking for what channels will be best heard around my part of Auckland and how I can improve what I'm hearing.

 

The Aviation related channels will be more or less the same across Auckland - specific to your area, you have North Shore Aerodrome near you, but I wouldn't imagine it is particularly active on the radio as it caters mostly to light non commercial aircraft. Due to the line of sight nature of VHF you will hear the aircraft (at high altitude) up to 100's of KM away, but the ground stations (tower etc) will be a struggle. IME a good ground signal to test receivers and antenna on are the ATIS frequencies (127.8 and 128.3 MHz) because they consistently transmit. 

To improve what you your are hearing, you need an external antenna located as high as possible. Geography plays a big part - if you are at the top of a hill, you will hear more and if you are in a valley then your listening menu is curtailed. A good aerial will help, but can only pull in signals that are present - it can't pull in something that is being blocked by a mountain.  Also, eliminate/turn off sources or interference in your house - all sorts of electronics can emit noise now days. I found my solar inverter was generating a lot of interference. I've also found faulty computer monitors and cheap LED lights have blotted out signals I'm trying to receive.

Just google it but don't limit your options to a Scanner specific antenna. The broad-band nature of scanner specific antenna compromises their gain in any one band. An aviation band transceiver aerial will work better if you are targeting the aviation band. Sorry, can't remember where I got mine from.

I have a number of specific role ones from Mobile One (ex DSE). I note they ceased trading under my nose some years ago after recommending the site to someone recently... oops!

New owner:

http://www.rojone.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/sc229-di-cd.pdf 

But you'll pay the earth for a commercial one like that built for purpose :) 

You can always DIY a J-pole or similar. 

https://forums.liveatc.net/feed-setup-pictures/how-to-build-a-j-pole-antenna/ 

Warning.. some of those links appear to have been casino/SEOexploited.