Best as it can get, 800Mhz. Base Antenna

[ktx7206]

Hello to all out there and a Happy New Year.
I'm going crazy, trying to find the best all around
base antenna, as well as a screaming 800Mhz. antenna.

I've tried most available, even tried one or two commercial
antennas.. there's an eight foot tall base antenna for 800mhz.
laughing, it's monstrous, shall I try that ??

I have a GRE PSR 600 and it's not getting full signal
on the 800's, Analog, the RF strength meter, goes full throw.

Maybe, everyone has the same problem, not sure.. I was hoping
to max out the RF strength meter, on most 800's... 800mhz
is supposed to be a penetrating signal, thru walls, trees, etc..

One catch, we have a metal roof and my antenna, is in the attic.
Could this very well, be my problem ??? Thin metal/tin roof, over the old
wooden roof.. ???

Thanks for any and all replies, Happy New Years to all, once again. ~!!! :-)

[dksac2]

Yes, the antenna in a metal roof attic is not doing you any favors. You might try a discone, placed outside as high as you can get it (40') at the most should be fine, 25 feet is fine also. There are antennas just for the 800 band, but they are spendy and will not work as well on the other bands. The Discone receives well on all bands. No gain, but they work if you get it outside. 800 Mhz is line of sight type signal, so the higher you can get your antenna, the better. If you are listening to just one thing on 800, there are directional antennas that would work well.

With the 800 band having such short antennas, if you are not allowed an outside antenna, just a single vertical hidden somewhere cut for the 800 band will get you signal. For a transmitting type antenna, the one's made by MP2 might work. Never tried one, but they are not real big and the company seems to think a lot of itself. They do show models that resinate at 800.

John

[LtDoc]

It sounds like your biggest problem is that metal roof. So, just for grins, try using that metal roof AS the antenna. It will certainly work as well as an antenna under that metal roof, and who knows, it may work okay for a lot of frequencies/bands.
While 800 Mhz stuff does 'penetrate' fairly well, it also is reflected/stopped pretty easily too. Depends on how 'RF' transparent that 'stuff' is and how much of it there is. It's not something you should count on very much.
Antennas would rather be above metal than beside metal and they hate being under metal...
- 'Doc

[W8RMH]

...deleted...I thought this was an amateur radio question.

[benbenrf]

ktx7206

........ what sort of budget do you have in mind?