antenna
- Thread starter DJBio
- Start date
Back of set? External for the house? Vehicle mount?
Then the question is what frequencies are of the most interest?
Of course this question gets asked all the time, so did you try a search? The specific model of scanner is less an issue than the questions I asked above.
Then the question is what frequencies are of the most interest?
Of course this question gets asked all the time, so did you try a search? The specific model of scanner is less an issue than the questions I asked above.
For general listening, you can't miss with the good ole' discone. I see you're in Canada.. Radio World sells them. Here's one of the lower cost ones. MFJ-1866 25-1300 Mhz VHF Discone Antenna with SO-239 – GPS Central
Here's a recent thread in the Scanner/Receiver Antenna Forum (go figure) that discusses 2 of the most popular discones.
forums.radioreference.com
(if you don't have time to read it, it comes down to quality/durability. My vote is to spend the investment in a Diamond)
Tram or Diamond Discone Antenna
After not having a scanner for a few years and having moved I find myself in need of an antenna. I just purchased a BCD536HP and need to decide which antenna would be best. I'm looking at the Diamond D130NJ and the Tram 1410 or1411. I had a discone antenna in the past and it worked well. The...
(if you don't have time to read it, it comes down to quality/durability. My vote is to spend the investment in a Diamond)
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
The steel roof is going to impact performance.
You really do want it outside and in the clear (above roof line, if you can).
Thanks that what I was thinking
got one of the Discone antennas just waiting to see if I can get a power pole from the electric company that is replacing the old ones and going to get a 10 foot 1 1/4” EMT conduit pipe
Got all the connections for it and RG6 quad shield cable hopefully have everything with in a week or so to get it installed before winter and the ground is frozen
Thinking when I do the out side connections to put some dielectric grease to keep water off them instead of putting electrical tape around them
Got all the connections for it and RG6 quad shield cable hopefully have everything with in a week or so to get it installed before winter and the ground is frozen
Thinking when I do the out side connections to put some dielectric grease to keep water off them instead of putting electrical tape around them
1 1/4" EMT seems a bit large for a single coax feed,but that's your choice. I would suggest you run the conduit all the way into the house (with a lightning arrestor installed on the cable before it enters your home) and you must ground the conduit (and the arrestor) to an 8' ground rod for lightning protection. I presume you have a way to properly setup the pole and know how to climb it.
I ended up with a 9’ piece of Aluminum tubing to mount this too got it cheaper then the 10’ EMT conduit tubing
Now to get the power pole and get it in the ground
But I might get a 5gallon bucket and pack it full of sand and put that in the ground till I get the pole for a permit mount
And I just noticed that the antenna has the piece to tune in for CB don’t think I will be tuning in for them as all I get around my area is skip
Was talking with a family member who works for one of the local power companies and they are replacing some poles and he believes he can get me one that is 30-40 feet long and will come with the work truck and drill a hole to put it in and stand it up for me but will give me time to mount the aluminum pipe the antenna will be on to the power pole
I know this might seem odd but will it being that high extend my range of options of what I receive compared to having it at about 15-20 feet off the ground
I know this might seem odd but will it being that high extend my range of options of what I receive compared to having it at about 15-20 feet off the ground
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Typically utility poles are sunk in a hole several feet deep, so a 30 foot pole sunk in 5-6 feet won't put you much higher than your original plan of a 20 foot high antenna.
Depends on how much higher it actually is. 3-4 feet, unlikely to make a big difference. 10 feet higher, you'll probably benefit.
Since most of the frequencies used (VHF, UHF, 700, 800MHz) are mostly line of sight, the higher you get the antenna, the farther over the horizon it can see.
A good condition pole installed by professionals is a pretty sweet setup.
But consider the cost of renting a lift if you need to repair or change your antenna setup. Unless you know how to climb poles, it can get expensive (unless you buy your buddy lunch and have him bring his bucket truck by…)
my plan at first was to get one that was cut off to about 11 feet with a 9 foot aluminum pole mounted mounted so i would be so i would be about but with the what goes in the ground and onto the old pole i would be at about 12-13 feet above the ground but if i can a 30-40 foot pole i would be still be around that height as i would put the pipe on to the pole about 5 feet above the top of the pole and i asked what he would charge me to drill the hole and put it in he said nothing and he will drop the pole off and give me some time to mount the antenna to the pole then he would come and put it in place. i forgot to mention my buddy is also a cousin but i will give him something but he said no i dont have to
i was also able to get some power line that was ripped down last year where i live due to a hurricane would that be a good ground cable its aluminum with a steel wire in the middle
i was also able to get some power line that was ripped down last year where i live due to a hurricane would that be a good ground cable its aluminum with a steel wire in the middle
Ubbe
Member
That pole are probably galvanized steel and you connect an aluminium pole to it. Wasn't there some kind of issue with that? Or is it a wooden electrical pole?
/Ubbe
/Ubbe
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