A Couple of Compactenna Questions

[garys]

I'm considering purchasing a Compactenna scanner antenna and have a couple of questions.

I've read the posts here a couple of people mentioned mounting the antenna on a metal filing cabinet using a NMO mag mount. I know it's also mentioned somewhere in the company literature. Does it really work well that way? I know that there is a large YMMV factor, but I'd appreciate some opinions.

Depending on how well that works, I might do some swapping around and mount it on my truck. I've seen references to moisture and not removing the antenna. Since I'll have to take my truck to the car wash and will definitely want remove the antenna as I do now, can someone comment on that issue, if there is one?

 

[Enforcer52]

I don't know about the swapping or car washing, but if you are in an area that uses 700-800mhz this ain't the antenna for you since it is only vhf/440uhf.

 

[garys]

I was thinking of this one,

COMPACtenna

small HIGH PERFORMANCE Antennas

compactenna.com

 

[Enforcer52]

Ok, the other one is what came up when I searched and didn't see this one.

 

[garys]

They have a variety of models and you have do a bit of drill down to get the scanner one. At least I had to.

Ok, the other one is what came up when I searched and didn't see this one.

 

[prcguy]

The COMPACtennas will work fine on a filing cabinet to the extent any antenna would work on a filing cabinet.They like to be at the edge of a ground plane which improves the match on VHF and they are about a 1/4 wave equivalent on each band. I have several models including the Scan III and it’s also good for transmitting with commercial multiband radios.

It’s best to get any antenna outdoors and up high and an indoor antenna will be more prone to picking up RFI inside the house from computer and other noisy electronics.

 

[paulears]

dB-meg is a good guide to smoke and mirrors, often used to compare a poor antenna with a replacement. Typically, a compromise antenna on a handheld. Poor or non-existent ground plane, with artificially shortened length compared to a quarter wave. Swap it for the magic antenna and bingo, gain you can measure based on received signal strength. So A 5dB gain antenna, but 5dB more than an undisclosed alternative. Easy to manipulate. Gain over a quarter wave makes sense, but a quarter wave on a handheld or poor groundplane is not the same as a quarterwave on a good ground plane. An antenna is a lump of metal with a capture area. They can also have effective gain. One gets played against the other!

 

[K4EET]

Hi @garys,

You are looking at nice antennas that work. Not only do COMPACtenna antennas outperform other antennas as recorded in various posts here on Radio Reference, I can attest to the fact that the claims are legitimate. I have some COMPACtenna models myself and the patented design is remarkably effective. I have even used my VHF/UHF model to receive transmissions from the International Space Station (ISS).

Having communicated with Dr. Jack Nilsson on many occasions, I am learning a lot about his patented designs of the COMPACtenna lineup. Following are some answers to your questions.

With respect to car washes with the antenna in-place, either a brushless car wash or hand washing by a place that offers detail cleaning is your best choice.

As for sensible and prudent weatherizing, not only is the antenna itself sealed, a quality gasket and special Super Lube is provided to reduce the risk of water ingress into the NMO mount as well as where the coax enters the mount.

There is a CompacCounterpoise available that was designed as an optimized ground plane for various COMPACtennas including the SCAN-III model.

I think you will be quite pleased with the antenna’s performance. I know that I am with my COMPACtennas.

 

[buddrousa]

It is the antenna of choice for me also works better than my Larsen or MaxRad but when I go through a carwash I take it off and put on a raincap just as I would for any antenna.

 

[garys]

Thank you, buddrousa and K4EET for your input. This is the information I was looking for. I'm going to order one and give it a try in the house.

I'm not overly interested in mounting it outside, even though I know that's the best place. I'm not even sure how I'd route the cable into my office and by the time that's done it could be a fairly long stretch of coax.

 

[rgchristy]

I've owned one for about 3-4 years now. It is mounted externally on a NMO mag mount antenna.

The weather has not affected it in any way.

Attached to my SDS200, I receive about a 10dBm improvement over my Larsen 150/450/758 antenna, using the same configuration.

It also outperforms my Tram 8079.

Definitely my best performing antenna.

As like everyone else, I would never go through a car wash with any antenna.

I bought it at Ham Radio Outlet since they are within driving distance of my home and there was no sales tax.

You didn't mention which bands you were looking at listening to. If you post some, I would be happy to test them for you as a comparison.

 

[garys]

Tax free New Hampshire! Used to go to HRO there a couple of times a year. Thanks for the info, I plan to order from HRO.

 

[rgchristy]

New Castle County, Delaware, but close enough! My wife would've divorced me if I asked her to drive to New Hampshire!

 

[garys]

I didn't know that Delaware didn't have sales tax. I don't know that I've ever stopped there.

New Castle County, Delaware, but close enough! My wife would've divorced me if I asked her to drive to New Hampshire!

 

[Citywide173]

Gary, I've never tried it inside, but had very good luck with it mounted on the rear corner of my vehicle's roof. In my opinion, it's in my top 3 scanner antennas with the A/S MON series being the best and the COMPACtenna and Austin Spectra (properly installed) about equal for number 2.

 

[garys]

Thanks Ed. Up that way I had really good luck with the Hustler mobile scanner antennas, but it just doesn't work all that well inside. On my truck I have antenna I got while I was cleaning up a late friends basement shop. The only name was on the NMO base which was Antenex. Knowing my friend as I did, he could have got them separately, so there's no way of knowing what the antenna actually was or who have made it. It's likely it was a dual band ham antenna, but it pulls in VHF, UHF, 700/800/900 beautifully. Some day I'm going to post a picture in the scanner antenna forum and see if anyone has any idea what it is.

Back to Compactenna. I'm going to order a ScanIII tomorrow and give it a try.

Gary, I've never tried it inside, but had very good luck with it mounted on the rear corner of my vehicle's roof. In my opinion, it's in my top 3 scanner antennas with the A/S MON series being the best and the COMPACtenna and Austin Spectra (properly installed) about equal for number 2.

 

[rgchristy]

This was posted by @prcguy back in 2022 and is a really nice resource:

And, I'm sure that you've been here:

COMPACtenna

small HIGH PERFORMANCE Antennas

compactenna.com