Best 800 Mhz Antenna or preamp

[umlawgrad]

I know this has probably been answered, but I'll ask. I am using the RS 800mhz antenna with my BC-396T and 250D. I can received the digital system I want to listen to only if I stand near a particular window.

Does anyone think I will get an improvement (meaning being able to listen around my house) from a different antenna? I am considering the seeker and the Centurion EXE-806-SM from Waltel. Does anyone think these will make a difference? I have quite a few antennas and the RS seems to do the best job on 800 mhz.

In the alternative, is there a preamp out there that might allow me to listen to this system in another room? I am in a rural area about 35 miles south of Nashville, TN. I assume a preamp would work well, but I would like some suggestions on tried and true models.

I look forward to responses.

Thanks,
Chris
KA2YVX

 

[Voyager]

I know this has probably been answered, but I'll ask. I am using the RS 800mhz antenna with my BC-396T and 250D. I can received the digital system I want to listen to only if I stand near a particular window.

Does anyone think I will get an improvement (meaning being able to listen around my house) from a different antenna? I am considering the seeker and the Centurion EXE-806-SM from Waltel. Does anyone think these will make a difference? I have quite a few antennas and the RS seems to do the best job on 800 mhz.

In the alternative, is there a preamp out there that might allow me to listen to this system in another room? I am in a rural area about 35 miles south of Nashville, TN. I assume a preamp would work well, but I would like some suggestions on tried and true models.

I look forward to responses.

Thanks,
Chris
KA2YVX

If you can only hear it by that one window, changes are neither an antenna nor a preamp will bring it in to reliably hear it elsewhere in the room. An outside antenna may help, as might a mobile antenna near that window connected to the scanner, but I don't think either is what you are looking for.

I've had the best success on 800 MHz with the Radio Shack 800 MHz antenna, but it really won't bring the signal to reliable from nothing.

Joe M.

 

[jimyleg]

A preamp on a digital system would not work. If it's analog mabe. Though probobly not. Get a bigger anntena, shoot for 30ft high.

 

[N_Jay]

A preamp on a digital system would not work. If it's analog mabe. Though probobly not. Get a bigger anntena, shoot for 30ft high.

A preamp works the SAME on digital and on analog.

But read up an where they work well and where they don't.

 

[jimyleg]

I thought that a preamp would cause a noise? Some one told me that on in anntenas.

 

[Al42]

I thought that a preamp would cause a noise? Some one told me that on in anntenas.

If the preamp overloads the scanner it causes all sorts of noise. But that has nothing to do with whether the signal you're listening to, or the one causing the overload, is modulated with analog data (like voice) or digital data (like digitized voice).

That's like saying that a preamp will work with speech but not with music.

 

[hamopt]

preamps

I use a outdoor TV antenna and a $54 Radio Shack pre-amp. They are the ones that have a box you mount at the antenna and hook it up to a control/power box. These you can adjust the gain. I have to use mine at the lowest setting. I can pick up trunking systems wether they are Digital or analog from 35 miles or more.

 

[n5ims]

I use a outdoor TV antenna and a $54 Radio Shack pre-amp. They are the ones that have a box you mount at the antenna and hook it up to a control/power box. These you can adjust the gain. I have to use mine at the lowest setting. I can pick up trunking systems wether they are Digital or analog from 35 miles or more.

Great information! I'm sure that this was just what was needed to resolve the OP's nearly 5 year old problem.

 

[VE2ZPS]

This Thread reminds me of a test I did 2-3 years ago with respect to the performance of the GRE Super Amplifier on 800 MHz Trunking Systems.

Under normal operating conditions, I had full meter signal on both P25 and EDACS Trunking systems subjected to this test with a simple BMAX8053.
In order to isolate the potential impact generated by the Amplifier, I used over 75 feet of RG58 and I put the BMAX8053 in the Freezer.
( yes ... in the Freezer )

I validated the signal of the various Trunking Systems with this set-up; I had absolutely no control channel signal on any of them (which is exactly what I wanted for this test). I then added the Amplifier and to my extreme surprise, I obtained a very decent signal and a solid audio (considering the 75 feet of RG58, the multiples coax adapters and the antenna still in the Freezer).

Consequently, based on this test, I think it is fair to say that this Amplifier can potentially generate impressive results in the 800 MHz and yes the results were the same for both P25 and EDACS Trunking Systems.

The RS-800 is one of the best flexible for 800 MHz but if it only works close to the window, the primary option would be a good external antenna, the utilization of Amplifier, despite the above mentionned results, should be considered as an alternative option.

 

[hamopt]

Correction

I use a outdoor TV antenna and a $54 Radio Shack pre-amp. They are the ones that have a box you mount at the antenna and hook it up to a control/power box. These you can adjust the gain. I have to use mine at the lowest setting. I can pick up trunking systems wether they are Digital or analog from 35 miles or more.

I checked mine to make sure. I have mine set to the highest gain.

 

[Richardneu316]

Thanks

This Thread reminds me of a test I did 2-3 years ago with respect to the performance of the GRE Super Amplifier on 800 MHz Trunking Systems.

Under normal operating conditions, I had full meter signal on both P25 and EDACS Trunking systems subjected to this test with a simple BMAX8053.
In order to isolate the potential impact generated by the Amplifier, I used over 75 feet of RG58 and I put the BMAX8053 in the Freezer.
( yes ... in the Freezer )

I validated the signal of the various Trunking Systems with this set-up; I had absolutely no control channel signal on any of them (which is exactly what I wanted for this test). I then added the Amplifier and to my extreme surprise, I obtained a very decent signal and a solid audio (considering the 75 feet of RG58, the multiples coax adapters and the antenna still in the Freezer).

Consequently, based on this test, I think it is fair to say that this Amplifier can potentially generate impressive results in the 800 MHz and yes the results were the same for both P25 and EDACS Trunking Systems.

The RS-800 is one of the best flexible for 800 MHz but if it only works close to the window, the primary option would be a good external antenna, the utilization of Amplifier, despite the above mentionned results, should be considered as an alternative option.

Thanks for this info i was wondering about this