SpectrumForce Wideband Antenna

[RonnieUSA]

I bought one of these several months ago, and I'm not impressed by it, it receives no better than the back of the set antenna that came with the scanner.
I live in an apartment, and can't put up an outdoor antenna.
My question is, I got my ohm meter out, and was checking the connections to make sure there were no breaks, the center connection is fine, but there is no connection between the outer sleeve, and the magnet.
Is this normal? If so how do You get the ground plane affect with this antenna?

Update:

I fixed the problem by taking off the plastic cover over the magnet, now there is a connection, and working the way I thought it should.
I guess the plastic was not letting it ground just right, at least not for me.

So problem solved.

[LtDoc]

The purpose of the magnet is just to hold the thing on the metal. The other part of it is that the magnet forms one half (one plate) of a capacitor with the metal it's set on (the other plate). The capacitance between the mag-mount and metal it's on is how the "ground" connection is made. You can't measure that capacitance with a common ohm meter.
If it works 'better' after you made the change then leave it alone!
- 'Doc

[RonnieUSA]

Originally Posted by LtDoc

The purpose of the magnet is just to hold the thing on the metal. The other part of it is that the magnet forms one half (one plate) of a capacitor with the metal it's set on (the other plate). The capacitance between the mag-mount and metal it's on is how the "ground" connection is made. You can't measure that capacitance with a common ohm meter.
If it works 'better' after you made the change then leave it alone!
- 'Doc

It made a difference, I went from no sound, and no bars on a system to 4 bars, and clear as a bell sound.
So Yes I'm gonna leave it alone.

[NYRHKY94]

Hi Ronnie:

I have the same antenna and I'm also using it inside. Mine is on a cookie sheet for a ground plane but it still doesn't receive like I expected it would. Did you just peel off the plastic undercoating on the bottom of the magnet side and that was it?

Thanks

[RonnieUSA]

Originally Posted by NYRHKY94

Hi Ronnie:

I have the same antenna and I'm also using it inside. Mine is on a cookie sheet for a ground plane but it still doesn't receive like I expected it would. Did you just peel off the plastic undercoating on the bottom of the magnet side and that was it?

Thanks

Yes, and it works so much better.
I'm happy now.

[NYRHKY94]

Thanks. I'll give it a try myself and see what results I get.

[Richardneu316]

hey i did that to mine and it works better Thanks 4 the info

[Richardneu316]

Originally Posted by RonnieUSA

I bought one of these several months ago, and I'm not impressed by it, it receives no better than the back of the set antenna that came with the scanner.
I live in an apartment, and can't put up an outdoor antenna.
My question is, I got my ohm meter out, and was checking the connections to make sure there were no breaks, the center connection is fine, but there is no connection between the outer sleeve, and the magnet.
Is this normal? If so how do You get the ground plane affect with this antenna?

Update:

I fixed the problem by taking off the plastic cover over the magnet, now there is a connection, and working the way I thought it should.
I guess the plastic was not letting it ground just right, at least not for me.

So problem solved.

i just done mine the same way and it works way better thanks for the info

[RonnieUSA]

Originally Posted by Richardneu316

i just done mine the same way and it works way better thanks for the info

Your very Welcome.

[lost_in_maine]

Maybe a dumb ? what did you use to remove the plastic? just pry it off with a screwdriver?..looked at mine today, didn't get far with my fingernails...

[RonnieUSA]

Originally Posted by lost_in_maine

Maybe a dumb ? what did you use to remove the plastic? just pry it off with a screwdriver?..looked at mine today, didn't get far with my fingernails...

I used my pocket knife, just got a small corner loose, and it came up easy.
I just wasn't getting a good ground with it on there.
Works much better now.

[Richardneu316]

that is how i did my to RonnieUSA and it Works Better

[lost_in_maine]

Thanks..Will try that tomorrow....

[Richardneu316]

It made. Mine work a lot better