Anyone know of a good antenna to use with a Pro-96? I bought the telescoping antenna but can't really tell a big difference from the standard one that comes with it. I live in a townhouse so installing an outdoor one is really not an option for me. Is there one indoors that can be used easily with the Pro-96 that works great?
Portable antenna
- Thread starter downsrep
- Start date
- Status
hoser147
Member
If your monitoring the 800mhz try the Rs 800 mhz antenna it works much better than the stock antenna............Hoser
Possible alternative
I was checking out some of the vendor sites and stumbled across this neat little rig. I thought it could be a useful solution to those who can't, (or prefer not to) install a full-up outdoor antenna set up. Or in my case, an easy way to have an external antenna in my bedroom.
Here's the link: http://www.universal-radio.com/CATALOG/scanants/3069.html
I was checking out some of the vendor sites and stumbled across this neat little rig. I thought it could be a useful solution to those who can't, (or prefer not to) install a full-up outdoor antenna set up. Or in my case, an easy way to have an external antenna in my bedroom.
Here's the link: http://www.universal-radio.com/CATALOG/scanants/3069.html
i just use small base antennas in my bedroom. 2 dipoles (one for scanner the other for 2meter ht in the bedroom) and 1 dual band Jpole (for 2meter base) i just use camera tripods to mount them on. and a stand made out of PVC for the jpole
here's one of my homebuilt dipoles. http://picasaweb.google.com/soaked.jeans/RadiosAndAntennas/photo#5052709236018998338
there's plenty of options for small base antennas that can be mounted indoors. or look at this one if you listen to trains, I haven't tried it though
http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_traintenna.html#ttblade
or this one if you got enough room. stick it next to the wall out of the way. http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_scanner.html#omnix
i once thought about it. it looks flat sided. my apartment is very small but i manage to have 3 base antennas though taking up more room then i'd like but hey i got to have antennas!!!!
here's one of my homebuilt dipoles. http://picasaweb.google.com/soaked.jeans/RadiosAndAntennas/photo#5052709236018998338
there's plenty of options for small base antennas that can be mounted indoors. or look at this one if you listen to trains, I haven't tried it though
http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_traintenna.html#ttblade
or this one if you got enough room. stick it next to the wall out of the way. http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_scanner.html#omnix
i once thought about it. it looks flat sided. my apartment is very small but i manage to have 3 base antennas though taking up more room then i'd like but hey i got to have antennas!!!!
Last edited:
hoser147
Member
I got one Talon. if your talkin a 800 digital system there great for the car but the RS 800 does me just as well for in the house............hoser
I was thinking with the BNC connector it would lend itself to several different antennas based on what the user wanted to monitor. ie. RS 800/ RH77CA etc. I like the "portability/ non-permanent" aspect which in my mind yields itself to great flexiblity.
Northe
Member
svrstorm said:
Somewhere I read a suggestion to try an amplified TV antenna, and I happened to have one in the shop -- an RCA model with separate controls for UHF and VHF gain. The results here are very inconsistent. I get interference from TV stations on some of the VHF aero frequencies and sometimes switching back and forth with my indoor vertical dipole, the dipole receives better. On the other hand, I hear some VHF signals and an 800 MHz trunking system on the TV antenna. I still need to "twiddle" with positioning the VHF rods and pointing the UHF disk.
Northe
N6KO
Green Valley AZ
The RS telescoping antenna actually works quite well for 800 mhz (although not quite as good as the RS 800) as long as you tune it right. Did you read the instructions that came with it? If I remember correctly, for 800 mhz you extend the lower 3 sections but leave the top 3 sections collapsed so the coil is at the top of the antenna.
Yeah I probably just blew $21 for no reason on the RS 800 mhz, but I didn't think the telescoping one did a good enough job. It's hard to tell, but I know it does better on the lower frequencies. Now I have several antennas (and scanners) to choose from!
I bought the VHF/UHF scanner antenna from Radio Shack. Very simple to put together and I have it inside my house. First time I turned it on I picked up a frequency over 30 miles away! It's not mounted now, I just move it around the house from floor to floor, but I intend to install a mast on my back deck (I can't affix anything to the side or roof of the townhouse I live in due to association rules). Good so far!
hoser147
Member
You can usually find a 800 Yagi on ebay fairly cheap. Ive got one, used it in the camper this summer while doing shows just put it on a piece of pipe and pointed it in the direction of the nearest tower. I paid 4 bucks for it on ebay with about 200ft of coax cost me 20 in shippin but was worth it............Hoser
- Status
