Amplified antenna?

[sunfireguy]

I was wondering if there was any way i could amplify my antenna. My current mobile setup is, I have split my am/fm radio antenna. I made a wire that splits the motorola antenna wire, to one bnc and another motorola for the radio. Now i know you can buy an antenna amplifier for a car raadio, is it possible to use this for my scanner. Any other ideas that you may have would be much appreciated! P.s. I don't want this to be too noticable, I already have a lil wilson for my cb on top of my car.

 

[SAR923]

You mean you literally cut the AM/FM cable and then jury rigged some coax with a BNC to go to your scanner while the remaining lacerated cable goes to your car radio? If that's case, I'd be suprised if you're hearing anything on your scanner or your car radio. The insertion loss must be tremendous.

If you insist on using your car radio antenna for your scanner, at least get a decent multicoupler like the one at http://www.grove-ent.com/CPL63B.html . This will still cause loss of signal on both your car radio and scanner but it's better than splicing cables together.

 

[LarrySC]

Bottom line: A Tri-Band mobile antenna would cost about the same as an amp. Next Line: The best amp is the correct antenna to start with. Last Line: You would most likely amp only NOISE.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi guys,

We haven't come to the bottom line yet (;->) I expect lots more antenna suggestions. I'll close out the amplifier question, don't bother with one for any purpose, they're crap. Those DC to light amps are prone to signal overload in themselves creating mixing products (intermod) and unless your car radio and/or scanner are half deaf to begin with they'll cause the same problem when their front ends are overloaded. I got the bright idea of using one on an FM car radio that wasn't quite up to par and only made things worse.

What amazes me is that anyone could properly work with the rather strange coax that's used on car radio antennas, if you ever cut it open you know that you can't put anything but a Motorola plug on it and splicing? Well, I won't even go there.

 

[sunfireguy]

RE: My antenna setup

Just to let you guys know I actually hear everything fine, I just wanted to be able to recieve signals from further away. Also, real mad coupler, it works the same way mine does. All I did was went to radio shack bought a bnc connector, a motorola male connector and a motorola female connector I took the female connector and connected to a line of rg59 cable, then unsheethed it. I cut two pieces more of coax and unsheethed it also. I solder the center coax together then I soldered the ground wires together. Thus giving me my coupler. I then put a solderless bnc connector on one end and a motorola connector on the other and just soldered the tip for extra assurance. This connector works better than the glass mount antenna I had. Now if anyone wants to suggest an antenna that will help me recieve from possibly 100 miles than please let me know

 

[Al42]

Re: RE: My antenna setup

Just to let you guys know I actually hear everything fine, I just wanted to be able to recieve signals from further away.

The most likely limitation is the height of your antenna, not the antrenna itself.

Also, real mad coupler, it works the same way mine does.

Not really. A "real" coupler has tuned circuits inside it so that the car radio doesn't short out the higher frequency signals, which it will if connected directly to the antenna, as yours is.

Now if anyone wants to suggest an antenna that will help me recieve from possibly 100 miles than please let me know

You have to get your antenna higher - how you do that is up to you, but higher than the roof is a bit difficult in a car.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi again Surefireguy and all,

OK, you made yourself clear so at this point follow rule number one of experimenting and general maintanence, if it ain't broke don't fix it. As for that 100 miles, unless you're sitting on top of a mountain it just ain't gonna happen.

I like that handle, reminds me of Donald Trump. "Surefired." (;->)