Antenna Help

[boby46140]

Hi everyone I just bought the Pro 2055 scanner and the "Radio Shack All Band Magnetic Mount Mobile Scanner Antenna" (Could it have a longer name?) I live in Greenfield Indiana (Hancock County) and I'm wanting to listen to the IMPD in Marion County. I'm kind of confused as I get crystal clear transmissions from the North West district yet very poor transmissions from the north district (which is want I mainly want to listen to).

Is there a better antenna I could look into? I live in an apartment so outdoor antennas are not an option. Is this the best im going to get since I want to listen to things so far away? I have the antenna just sitting on my desk, will the fact that its not attached to steel make a difference?

Thanks everyone this forum is great

 

[SouthSoundScanner]

Try putting the antenna on a cookie sheet or pizza pan it might help.

 

[nighthawks]

Hi everyone I just bought the Pro 2055 scanner and the "Radio Shack All Band Magnetic Mount Mobile Scanner Antenna" (Could it have a longer name?) I live in Greenfield Indiana (Hancock County) and I'm wanting to listen to the IMPD in Marion County. I'm kind of confused as I get crystal clear transmissions from the North West district yet very poor transmissions from the north district (which is want I mainly want to listen to).

Is there a better antenna I could look into? I live in an apartment so outdoor antennas are not an option. Is this the best im going to get since I want to listen to things so far away? I have the antenna just sitting on my desk, will the fact that its not attached to steel make a difference?

Thanks everyone this forum is great

Take a look at some of these.
http://www.scannerworld.com/content/product/model/ANT135BNC

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48157&highlight=indoor+antenna

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48149&highlight=indoor+antenna

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46921&highlight=indoor+antenna

This might help you get some ideas, maybe look into a pre-amp.

 

[k9rzz]

If you have a window that looks towards your target, there's no reason you couldn't use a directional antenna (beam, yagi, quad) aimed out the window. It won't help you in the opposite direction, but should really help haul in the stuff looking that way.

John K9RZZ

 

[ReceiverBeaver]

Hi guy, GLG is correct.

Your magnet mount mobile antenna is a Ground Plane type antenna and requires being situated over a metal surface. The part you have is the radiator while the metal surface it is placed on is the ground plane half.

As intended, the metal body of a vehicle provides the metal surface and is the OTHER HALF of the antenna.

So sitting on your desk, you only have HALF of this particular type of antenna system (Ground Plane).

Many people have found good success by using a mobile magnetic mount ground plane antenna by sticking it on a filing cabinet, a refrigerator, a washer or a dryer.

You can try a large cookie sheet on your desk but you're going to have to add something to make a complete antenna system.

good luck