If your using a mobile antenna (NMO type) you're going to need a groundplane kit. They're on ebay for about $24.00. If your not using a mobile antenna, cool. Here's a quick fix.
If you have a way to mount some sort of mast, (even if it's a five foot mast) you're going to want to get a UHF antenna. Now, for a scanner, anything should work fine. You just have to know how to hook it up. Your going to want cable with a "PL-259" male (yes, I know, they're crap) connector on the end, as this is what most base antenna's have. If the antenna is made by Motorola, It'll either have an N connector or a Mini-U (AKA Motorola Type). But since we're just trying to start you off with the basic's and not confuse you, we'll explain the "amateur" way first.
You can go to Radio Shack and purchase a scanner antenna. On the base of the antenna is a Female PL-259 (or SO-239) connector. Get a cable from radioshack with PL-259 Male connectors on it. The connector on the back of your scanner is called a BNC connector. You will want a BNC-to-PL-259 connector. Basically it'll convert your PL-259 connector on your cable to a BNC on your scanner. After all this crap, you should be connected. That's THREE part's that you'll need.
Parts needed:
Part Number 278-120 = PL259-to-BNC adapter
Part Number 278-979 = Antenna cable with PL259 adapters (this cable is 10 feet. You can purchase this in different lenghts, tho!)
Part Number 20-176 = VHF/UHF scanner antenna
Any dummy can set up an antenna. You'll have this down pat in no time!
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Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear.
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