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2 scanners, 1 antenna

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PrivatelyJeff

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So I just picked up a used WS1095 on whistlers sale to install in my car and right now I use a WS1080. I want to be able to use the 1080 and the and 1095 together on occasion and was wondering what’s the most cost effective way to use 1 antenna. The 1095 will be permanently installed with the 1080 coming and going on occasion.

I know ideally I should use a multicoupler but they look insanely expensive so I was going to try just a splitter first. I was thinking of splitting the antenna right before it connects to the 1095, then running a pigtail/jumper to where the 1080 sits. I know this isn’t ideal but I hope it works. I mainly listen to UHF/VHF/800 public safety.

What do you guys think?
 

PrivatelyJeff

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I don’t think I’ll have a problem. The signals in my area are pretty strong and it’s flat land for 60 Miles in any direction. Is there anything I should do to the cable going to my portable when I’m not using it? Maybe use some sort of terminator? I don’t plan on using both often so I was just going to curl up the second cable and stuff in under a seat.
 

kmi8dy

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scanner master is a rip off,. my thoughts only, lots and lots of them on amazon. they have a turk thats discontinued for about 10 bucks made from billet aluminum. i have 3 and work very good.
 

N9JIG

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I don’t think I’ll have a problem. The signals in my area are pretty strong and it’s flat land for 60 Miles in any direction. Is there anything I should do to the cable going to my portable when I’m not using it? Maybe use some sort of terminator? I don’t plan on using both often so I was just going to curl up the second cable and stuff in under a seat.

I haven't noticed any difference between a splitter or multicoupler being terminated or not, that includes this splitter. You can just leave the cable hanging, it shouldn't affect the other radio.
 

PrivatelyJeff

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I haven't noticed any difference between a splitter or multicoupler being terminated or not, that includes this splitter. You can just leave the cable hanging, it shouldn't affect the other radio.

Good to know. I’ll try to update this thread once it’s all set up.
 

twjr80

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I currently have two scanners in the vehicle and am using a Larsen 150/450/800 antenna for both. All I am using is a t-connector. Reception on VHF, UHF, and 800MHz is excellent on both scanners.
 

PrivatelyJeff

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I’m think that’s what I’ll go with then. I hope to get a second whistler for my car and have both of them running. I just have to figure out where to stash them. I drive a little Ford Fiesta, and I’m thinking either under the front seats or in the trunk but I’m afraid of the heat.

My ultimate goal is two scanners, a HAM rig and CB but their isn’t much room in the car.
 

gonefishn1

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scanner master is a rip off,. my thoughts only, lots and lots of them on amazon. they have a turk thats discontinued for about 10 bucks made from billet aluminum. i have 3 and work very good.

I'm not finding it on Amazon. Is that a Turk brand splitter ?? With BNC connectors?
 

N9JIG

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Those TV splitters and distribution amps usually work pretty well for scanners if you can deal with the connector issues properly. They are often an inexpensive way to get where you are going. While I prefer the Stridsberg and other devices intended for two-way and scanners, I have often used TV antenna stuff with good results.

For a while I used an 8-port TV distribution amp and had some custom cables with F connectors at one end and BNC on the other. It worked very well until I replaced it with a Stridsberg. Since I have a compression tool for the connectors and a 1000 foot box of RG-6 I was able to make the cables to fit and not need adapters.

Without such tools one will need to use adapters, and each item in line will create some loss as will a passive splitter itself. Most of the time however the loss will be negligible, not enough to prevent you from hearing your primary targets.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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So I just picked up a used WS1095 on whistlers sale to install in my car and right now I use a WS1080. I want to be able to use the 1080 and the and 1095 together on occasion and was wondering what’s the most cost effective way to use 1 antenna. The 1095 will be permanently installed with the 1080 coming and going on occasion.

I know ideally I should use a multicoupler but they look insanely expensive so I was going to try just a splitter first. I was thinking of splitting the antenna right before it connects to the 1095, then running a pigtail/jumper to where the 1080 sits. I know this isn’t ideal but I hope it works. I mainly listen to UHF/VHF/800 public safety.

What do you guys think?


Sinclair Radio Labs 4 Port 120 to 860 MHz Receiver Multicoupler | eBay
 

ElroyJetson

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DO NOT ASK ME FOR HELP PROGRAMMING YOUR RADIO. NO.
If you just use a two way splitter, you're only going to lose 3 dB of signal strength to each radio. Unless you're listening to a marginal signal you won't even notice a difference.

It's fine for a receiver. But definitely not recommended for a transmitter.

I'd use a splitter and be done with it. Cheap and simple.
 

PrivatelyJeff

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I’m going with just a cheap splitter off of Amazon. I live in central California where everything is flat so signals travel for miles. With just a simple dual band portable antenna, I can hear just about everything for 80 miles in any direction.
 
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