Antennas For Uniden Home Patrol HP-1 While Mobile

[JASII]

I have just had my Uniden Home Patrol HP-1 for a few days now. I have it mounted in my car with a Ram Mount. I am just wondering what antennas people here are using in the mobile environment? So far, I have just used the OEM antenna and a commercial antenna that has some gain on 800 mHz. I also have an Austin Condor All-Band Portable BNC Antenna that I will probably try out soon.

Anyway, are th ere others here getting by with just a portable antenna in the vehicle? Obviously it is not optimum for many situations, but on a robust 800 mHz system I have been able to get by okay so far. I have also been considering the SpectrumForce Wideband Antenna with Mag Mount and SMA. If anybody here is using that antenna I would be interested in any feedback on it. Also, if there are any other antennas, either straight up portable or mobile worthy of consideration, please let me know.

I also might be interested in any mounts that come with feedline with an SMA connector already attached. I guess using an adapter isn't a big deal, but not having to use one might be better for my application.

 

[KB7MIB]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux i686; U; en-US) Gecko/20081217 Vision-Browser/8.1 301x200 LG VN530)

I don't have either, but I've read good things about both the Austin Sprectrum antenna I believe it is, and Larsen's tri-band 150-450-800 antenna for mobile use.

 

[bobmich52]

I also Have a HP 1 In My 2012 Tucson & the antenna I Use Is A Larsen Nmo 150/450/800 mhz & It works good On All Bands For Me Here In Ct

Works Ok On The Low band Vhf also

Black In color & Low Profile On My vehicle

 

[bee]

I have 2 Spectrum Fource antennas, in each of my vehicals. They pick up as good or better, than others i have tried. They are also low profile.

 

[W9NES]

I use a Comtelco low profile mobile antenna Model #07-540719 with a mno trunk lid mount on my trunk of my 2005 Buick Lacrosse. My Uniden Hp-1 works great on the mobile antenna. You can find this antenna on the ScanMaster Web site under mobile antennas.Cost is $34.95. I bought mine a couple of years back before I got my Uniden Hp-1.

 

[Gcom]

800 mhz gain antenna

@JASII. What band(s) are your primary interest? That will best help determine the best antenna for you . I have been testing and comparing antenna performance for several years & no i haven't tried them all but quite a few just the same ,Maxrad, Larsen, Motorola Spectrum, Antenex, Comtelco,& Antenna Specialists ,and others. 800 MHZ is the primary band utilized in my area with some Vhf-Hi band as well. I have found that the Laird base loaded colinear 800 antenna out performs any other mobile antenna that i have compared it to, with the exception to Antenna Specialists glass mount which only offers optimized 800 coverage. Only catch is that the Laird must be fed with pro flex coax ( which comes with Ant. Specialist ), Cushcraft Ultraflex ,or a similiar coax, or any gain realized will be lost through the feedline. Stay away from Maxrad RG-8x .Most so called low loss Rg-58 cables excessively attenuate signals @ 800. For the HP-1 or handheld scanners I have found that a base loaded 800mhz rubber duck ( this antenna usually has a wide rubber base approx.1.5 inches long with a 6 inch slender whip above it) attached directly to the radio & placed over the dash near the windshield performs equal to the Laird 99 percent of the time on 800 mhz and sometimes better. I only use the Laird for mobile style scanners.
here is a link for it :
Laird B8065 Antenna, 806-866 MHz, 5db Gain
Antenna Specialist :
PCTEL ANTENNA SPECIALIST 800MHZ GLASS ANTENNA SCANNER OR MOTOROLA RADIO | eBay

The Laird also works decently on UHF . Keep in mind all antennas will receive on most any band , but that doesn't mean optimally .
Btw,non base loaded 5/8 wave gain mobile antennas for UHF & 800 mhz do not offer any additional gain to your scanner . Make sure to utilize base loaded antennas.
73's

 

[lep]

When using the HP-1 mobile connect it to a MOT 900 MHz 5/8 wave on a NMO on the right rear quarter panel.
Since I am mostly listening to a system in my town, it works fine. In my auto I use only NMO mounts for either MOT or ASP whips, I carry spares in the trunk with a wrench to take them on/off for car washes, I have MOT caps to cover the mounts if needed.

 

[W9NES]

In order for the Uniden Hp-1 to cover all bands you need a mobile antenna that will cover ALL BANDS. The Comtelco Model #07-540719 works just fine. I also use NMO mounts on the back of the 2005 Buick. I also have caps to put over the mounts when I get a car wash. A Motorola 900Mhz 5/8 wave mno antenna only covers 900Mhz frequencies only and no other bands. If you are going to buy a mobile antenna make shure that is covers ALL BANDS not just 900 Mhz which is included in my Comtelco.

 

[lep]

good point, except that in my home community ALL services: City Police; County Sherrif; State Police, University Police, Animal Control. Hosptial, Ambulance, Garbage Trucks, everything you can think of are on the same trunking system so the one antenna is not required to be multiband Guess I am just fortunate. But if I leave town, it is only a quick change to put on another antenna for the trip.

 

[W9NES]

lep. What about if you wish to hear other things that are not on 900Mhz? Military Air? Etc. If you have a wide band mobile antenna like I do I do not miss a thing.My antenna is covers all those bands and I do not have to worry about taking the antenna off unless I get a car wash.

 

[jtech48]

I use a RS magnet-mount antenna for mine with a bnc to sma adapter and works great, i sometimes get reception on frequencies that my xts 5k isnt picking up, i use it for vhf and conventional p25 (450-512mhz) and mot smartzone system
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102469

 

[lep]

lep. What about if you wish to hear other things that are not on 900Mhz? Military Air? Etc. If you have a wide band mobile antenna like I do I do not miss a thing.My antenna is covers all those bands and I do not have to worry about taking the antenna off unless I get a car wash.

Simple. I don't wish to hear Mil Air, that's why sold my AIR/NAV receiver (but I left the 1090 Mhz beacon antenna on the tower, it was too much trouble to take down).

Everything I want to hear when I am in the car locally is received loud and clear on the 900 MHz antenna. The HP-1 is not the scanner radio permanently mounted in my auto, that is a Uniden 996T under the passenger front seat with a Remote head on the console.The HP-1 when in the auto is only temp to use the Trunking analyzer functions to explore/research as yet unidentifieds. The NMO mount on the left rear quarter panel is used for antenna(s) for 2 way radios also under the seat(s), these are Not scanners and these antennas have to be removed for the automatic car washes.

I don't use mag mounts or suction cups, I am from the school that drills holes to mount antennas on autos. I don't sell often and and a repair show can easily fix the holes without problem.

 

[Gcom]

Additional links

https://www.scannermaster.com/Laird_B8065_Antenna_806_866_MHz_5db_Gain_p/20-540972.htm
Welcome to Times Microwave | Coaxial Cable - Attenuation & Power Handling Calculator (Online Coax Calculator) Pretty neat
Search Results : The Antenna Farm :: , Your Two Way Radio Source! ( These are the type of coax
that should be utilized , dual shield . I will correct something I stated in my previous post , RG-58 can work @ 800 mhz ,if it is dual shield .
RG142 Coaxial Cable Video: Allied Wire & Cable Product Spotlight - YouTube (Feedline Video)

 

[KD8HE]

I run this one...works great.

Larsen NMO150/450/800 [NMO150/450/800] - $29.95 : The Antenna Farm :: , Your Two Way Radio Source!

Larsen 150/450/800 mhz, NMO mount. Many different NMO mounts available with your choice of connectors.
Price shown does not include mount, cable or connector.

 

[W9NES]

KD8HE, Larsen makes a great line of antenas.The antenna that you have is great. Covers all the imporant bands but also you can TRANSMT on it for VHF,UHF,and 800MHZ.

 

[lep]

KD8HE, Larsen makes a great line of antenas.The antenna that you have is great. Covers all the imporant bands but also you can TRANSMT on it for VHF,UHF,and 800MHZ.

Yes, Larsen antennas are fine, I actually have the same antenna in the trunk of my car and sometimes use the wrench to put it on one of the NMO mounts but I don't leave it on all the time as I don't need it. All the antennas I attach to my auto can be used to transmit as I don't have any radios in the car that out put more than 50w RF.

For the mount used only for a receiver it is a myth that you need a multi-band antenna, oh a matched antenna probably works best but it is not absolutely necessary. I find the HP-1 receives quite well in my home with NO antenna whatsoever except a paper clip poked into the connector and making contact.

I listen mostly to public saftety systems. Recall that the officer is typically using a HT, a compromise antenna, is indoors, maybe in the basement, etc etc. The base station has to have the ability to put a signal under difficult conditions into his HT, so my scanner which is not operating in a hostile environment doesn't need much antenna to hear well.

 

[radio17]

I just use these cheapy suction cup mount window antennas. Of course they are not optimum but they work much better then the stock antenna when the HP-1 is on the center console. Stealthy, no one notices them on my side rear window.. U need a SMA to BNC adapter.

SCANNER ANTENNA BNC Connector Suction Cup Window Mount | eBay

 

[Rt169Radio]

Have you looked at a window mount with a HT antenna attached,like the Diamond RH77CA.

MFJ-310 Window Antenna Mount BNC, mfj310