Best antenna for handheld Bearcat BC125AT

[corneileous]

I get HAM, EMS, FIRE, PD, etc from surrounding counties. Some as far away as 40 miles. It all depends on placement and conditions. Hey, if it doesnt work, slap it on your TV.

I just pointed it out that the one I linked was that particular frequency range and wasn't sure if the antenna like the one you had covered more down towards the 150MHz range.

 

[krokus]

I just pointed it out that the one I linked was that particular frequency range and wasn't sure if the antenna like the one you had covered more down towards the 150MHz range.

It would work, probably to an acceptable level, but not be optimal.

 

[krokus]

Where would I find the original?

From an authorized Diamond dealer, such as one of the well known dealers. (HRO, R&L, MTC, etc...)

 

[corneileous]

I appreciate all the responses and recommendations guys but let’s be honest; without going full-blown outdoor antenna, is any of these that’s been mentioned really going to increase this little handheld scanner‘s reception better than either the factory antenna or this cheap little telescopic antenna that I got from RadioShack enough to justify spending another $30-$40 on another antenna?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

If VHF high is all you need, why not consider a 2m amateur HT antenna like the Diamond RH205?. Usually they're good for 137-174mhz

 

[corneileous]

If VHF high is all you need, why not consider a 2m amateur HT antenna like the Diamond RH205?. Usually they're good for 137-174mhz

I am more than willing to try that antenna if it’ll work good. I ended up sending that seller a message right quick because the description on that Amazon page said that it was only good for 147 MHz…

my apologies if it sounds like I might be getting closer to that paralyzation from evaluation or whatever the saying’s called but I don’t know anything about this stuff.

 

[Icanhearit]

The BC125AT is an old style scanner, although when it works, is pretty good, specifically for airband & HAM etc 144/400MHZ bands,

In terms of such use case, the overall consensus I believe is Diamond RH77CA. At Amazon, is sold for $26 to $27 from different sellers (the 3rd party sellers now listed are all Diamond authorized). I have it on my BC125AT.

Recommend Antenna for your like is kind of hard as it depends your setting. e.g., for airband, if you are close to airport, the net gain is not substantial. Due to airband is usually low powered (especially for ground communication), no indoor portable antenna help you much if you live too (35-50 miles ) far away without elevation. But RH77CA can really pull-in borderline communications that would be lost for stock rubber duct. I find it usually good receiving HAM radios (from repeaters), coast guard etc.

My local EMS, fire, police etc are all in digital communications so I cannot use BC125AT to comment RH77CA performance.

 

[corneileous]

Well, being that there are so many recommendations for that diamond antenna, I went ahead and got one on Amazon just to try it and see how it works.

 

[vagrant]

The Diamond RH77CA (and its other two versions) works best around 150 and 450 MHz. If your local fire and police use those frequencies, it may work well for you.

 

[corneileous]

Well so far, this antenna seems to do better than the factory one and that telescopic one I was using but its still limited unless I go outside or look more into putting an outdoor antenna up. Inside the house, I can pick up two to three more channels.

 

[vagrant]

Which Diamond did you get the RH77CA or the RH205? Anyways, improved performance outdoors is what almost everyone would experience with an antenna connected directly to the scanner. Your domicile structure itself will limit the receive to your scanner when using an antenna indoors. Mobile homes, trailers and RV's have metal around them and block RF quite a bit as well. If I could not put an antenna outdoors, a short run of coax from the scanner to a window is what I would do, or place the scanner next/near to the window. If you have metal mini-blinds, put the antenna between the blinds and the window. Also, put the antenna as high up on the window as you can and keep it vertical. It will help. Anyways, the Diamond is an improvement and connects directly to the scanner.

While everyone's geographic and RF environment is different, I still recommend the Larsen NMO150-450-800 antenna. Attach that antenna to an NMO magnet mount and then put the magnet mount on top of some metal for a ground plane. Something around 40 inches / 100 cm in diameter. The metal for the ground plane can be thin and non-ferrous. A ground plane is essential for that antenna. That antenna of course would work better outdoors, or near a window. As to whether it will pick up more frequencies is an unknown and you would need to test. Still, you could use it on your vehicle and it would be a definite improvement over an antenna connected directly to the scanner inside a car. You will probably just need an SO239 to BNC male adapter, so you can connect the coax to the BC125AT. It is a low cost solution to test indoors, which will definitely be an improvement when used on a vehicle.

Have fun.

Well so far, this antenna seems to do better than the factory one and that telescopic one I was using but its still limited unless I go outside or look more into putting an outdoor antenna up. Inside the house, I can pick up two to three more channels.

 

[WRQS621]

The Best Buy antenna is on sale for $9.99 today.

 

[corneileous]

Which Diamond did you get the RH77CA or the RH205? Anyways, improved performance outdoors is what almost everyone would experience with an antenna connected directly to the scanner. Your domicile structure itself will limit the receive to your scanner when using an antenna indoors. Mobile homes, trailers and RV's have metal around them and block RF quite a bit as well. If I could not put an antenna outdoors, a short run of coax from the scanner to a window is what I would do, or place the scanner next/near to the window. If you have metal mini-blinds, put the antenna between the blinds and the window. Also, put the antenna as high up on the window as you can and keep it vertical. It will help. Anyways, the Diamond is an improvement and connects directly to the scanner.

While everyone's geographic and RF environment is different, I still recommend the Larsen NMO150-450-800 antenna. Attach that antenna to an NMO magnet mount and then put the magnet mount on top of some metal for a ground plane. Something around 40 inches / 100 cm in diameter. The metal for the ground plane can be thin and non-ferrous. A ground plane is essential for that antenna. That antenna of course would work better outdoors, or near a window. As to whether it will pick up more frequencies is an unknown and you would need to test. Still, you could use it on your vehicle and it would be a definite improvement over an antenna connected directly to the scanner inside a car. You will probably just need an SO239 to BNC male adapter, so you can connect the coax to the BC125AT. It is a low cost solution to test indoors, which will definitely be an improvement when used on a vehicle.

Have fun.

It's the RH77CA.