Been doing some research recently about cost effective solutions to make a few L-per replacements.
I came across these cheep Chinese radios (https://www.amazon.com/Talkpod-A36Plus-Handheld-Receiving-Scanning/dp/B0CGL45GXK/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3JYPC9KJXQIHR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.uJ0YKw28TWaJUYJLKUWMdX24gIXdSrETNx5YMI_tJADE-qN970WsTRCfZXqaCMEluJVShH2UHTSjmIARnO3mSL14EDZUyTdDUlyPcx5mOd2qcDzQFY3vXscILRgP7mjONnbOMRpMN8ESam1y3QK78nH7nTqXIkHwtx8KuAHR8CJBspA31LW4jxwcrELSXUJ1W2bkPa7qCsFFIsivN0rk4LDpPfuCfD0qTPNxwe8qJH0.EwotFsO2KCxEVhaqFYuCB8rU_jClFdxnL9qNra9dQqc&dib_tag=se&keywords=talkpod%2Bairband&qid=1709503835&sprefix=talkpod%2Bairband%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-3&th=1) on Amazon that have airband receive functionality . Would removing the stock antennas from these and using a paper clip with some body blocking help with ELT searches in a close-proximity area?
Could using an SDR with the same antenna replacement described above work as well?
A good chunk of my non distress finds have been made with a low end Radio Shack scanner with or without the antenna, using body blocking and frequency stepping.
Another favorite (if you can find one) is the old Realistic Jetstream AM air band radio.