Best bnc scanner antenna?

[Joseph11]

Has anyone tried any if the Nagoya antennas? The rh701 looks identical to the rh77ca. I have the Nagoya na771 but it is not usable portable use.

The NA-519 is great. I have an NA-701 on the way, which I expect to be even better.

 

[SirJ]

The NA-519 is great. I have an NA-701 on the way, which I expect to be even better.

On the left is the bcd396xt with shure 460-520mhz antenna, on the right RS pro 106 with RS 800mhz way over priced antenna on eBay. The 800mhz antenna sucks on anything other then 700 - 900mhz.
The shure antenna works great from 400 to about 800mhz mhz. Did some undisclosed tests using DES and AES tests. The shure antenna is NOT Practical for a portable when mobile but should work well in the house or as a base scanner antenna as it has a angle swivel.

Both antennas work on there perspective bands as stated on there boxes, I think the shure antenna has serious gain due to the top loading/ height.

 

[bigcam406]

The good ol' Diamond RH77CA. Another one almost as good (with a surprisingly smaller footprint) is the Watson W-801 Regular Gainer. I consider that one a sleeper amongst HH scanner antennae.

i have a Watson 801 and its one of my best performing antennas.i use it for VHF/UHF and it performs great,even for airband freq's.sleeper antenna for sure IMO.

 

[Blackswan73]

The NA-519 is great. I have an NA-701 on the way, which I expect to be even better.

I tried the 701, and found it to be worse than the stock antenna.

 

[SirJ]

I tried the 701, and found it to be worse than the stock antenna.

I seem to have have mix match performance with these Nagoya antennas. The NA666 is the only model that seems to work as stated from Nagoya.

 

[K2RNI]

i have a Watson 801 and its one of my best performing antennas.i use it for VHF/UHF and it performs great,even for airband freq's.sleeper antenna for sure IMO.

Watsons, diamonds, nagoyas, all the same thing just with a different brand slapped on the label so always pays to find which ever one you can get the cheapest. They are pretty good for receiving all up and down the VHF hi to UHF range. I use the nagoya na771 or watson 881 and so forth. It's the long one, works great.

 

[SirJ]

Watsons, diamonds, nagoyas, all the same thing just with a different brand slapped on the label so always pays to find which ever one you can get the cheapest. They are pretty good for receiving all up and down the VHF hi to UHF range. I use the nagoya na771 or watson 881 and so forth. It's the long one, works great.

I have collected a few Nagoya antennas over the years there really hit or miss.

 

[KC0UHS]

I have used the RS 800mhz antenna for many years, and it works great! Obviously, a more multiband antenna would be in order if you are scanning outside 700-900 mhz.

 

[bigcam406]

Watsons, diamonds, nagoyas, all the same thing just with a different brand slapped on the label so always pays to find which ever one you can get the cheapest. They are pretty good for receiving all up and down the VHF hi to UHF range. I use the nagoya na771 or watson 881 and so forth. It's the long one, works great.

i also use the Watson 881 on my BC125AT and its great for the aircraft band.

 

[Soundman]

If you are trying to hear p25 system the radio shack 800mhz antenna is your antenna . I have 4 of them .

 

[RayAir]

I've been using the Watson W-881 for VHF/UHF since around 2009.

For 700/800/900 I use the Radio Shack 800MHz antenna.
I'm impressed with the RS 800 antenna.

I've tried various 800 band specific antennas (indoors) including Wilson cellular phone antennas and the RS still beats them down.