Antenna Specialists ?

[SLWilson]

Hello All,

Info requested.....Is aN ANTENNA SPECIALISTS Model APA874.3M any Good for use with a Pro2096 scanner on the Ohio MARCS trunked radio system?

The specs say it's for 806-869 MHz. Shows a 3db gain, but, I assume that's on transmit only....Won't be doing any of that....

It's a through the glass modeL....

Thanks for any info!!!

Steve/KB8FAR....

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by SLWilson

Hello All,

Info requested.....Is aN ANTENNA SPECIALISTS Model APA874.3M any Good for use with a Pro2096 scanner on the Ohio MARCS trunked radio system?

The specs say it's for 806-869 MHz. Shows a 3db gain, but, I assume that's on transmit only....Won't be doing any of that....

It's a through the glass modeL....

Thanks for any info!!!

Steve/KB8FAR....

Through glass antennas are general a compromise.

Antennas are symmetrical TX and RX.

Whatever the gain is in TX it is the same in RX.

(Where do some of these myths come from? Second time this one was posted today. )

[kf4lne]

Well, Since AS was one of (i think the only) pioneer of on glass "cellular" antennas and from my experience with them I would say it will work just fine for what you want. These antennas are popular for unmarked, non-traditional police cars since they look like the typical On-Star cellular antenna you see on GM cars and trucks. As far as the gain, its a 3db gain antenna, that applies to both TX and RX. These antennas are typically fairly reliable and rugged and look great. When looking for a place to install one look for a place on the glas that does NOT have any tint. Factory tint is often a metallic powder embedded in the glass and it will cause the antenna to perform like crap if it works at all. Personally i would rather use the ASPRA1980 NMO mounted antenna. Although its marketed as a "Rooftop mount" it can be mounted to any NMO mount suited for 800/900MHz use. You can pick up the L brackets at just about any comm shop.

[kyguy]

Hey Steve, have you tried this antenna out yey ? If so, how does it do ? I'm trying to find a mobile ant. for my 996 that covers everything from 39.58 to MARCS .

[kf4lne]

Those are great antennas for what they are tuned for, beyond that they suck. Those antennas were not designed for multi band scanner use, they were designed for 800MHz TRS and conventional radio systems. They work great to listen to those systems but the farther below the design frequency range you go the less effective it will be. If you need an antenna to monitor a wide frequency range then take a look at one of the MONR series antennas by Antenna Specialists