AR-DV1 Best BNC Splitter For AOR DV1

[MStep]

One of the shortcomings of the AOR DV1 is the fact that the radio has only one antenna connector for its entire 100 KHz to 1300 MHz range. That can make finding the right antenna something of an ordeal. As some have some done, and after much experimentation with various combinations of antennas, I have found that the best option is getting a BNC splitter to allow for the input of two antennas (antenni??? LOL) simultaneously.

The best option I have found so far is this "Superbat"splitter. It is 50 ohms and there is a 6 inch length of cable attached to each leg of the splitter to allow for some "play", so as not to put too much "pull" (or tension) on the DV1's antenna connector:

Amazon.com

There are also a washer and nut on each of the female legs to allow for hobbyist mounting. With all the YMMV and FWIW caveats, of course.

 

[iMONITOR]

You need a diplexer.

 

[MStep]

I gave a diplexer a shot a few weeks ago. Perhaps I should try another, but the results were not as good as the BNC splitter that I am now using. Perhaps it was defective and I should try another. Thanks for your input.

 

[iMONITOR]

I gave a diplexer a shot a few weeks ago. Perhaps I should try another, but the results were not as good as the BNC splitter that I am now using. Perhaps it was defective and I should try another. Thanks for your input.

Did you buy one that had the proper frequency/band for each antenna?

 

[Ubbe]

The best option I have found so far is this "Superbat"splitter. It is 50 ohms

There's no impedance match in that cable. You can use a standard BNC T-adapter which will be cheaper. You often get good results just by connecting two antennas together. But the result are unpredictable as if both antennas receive a signal then one of them could be out of phase and cancel out the other antennas signal. But on the other hand they could just as well be in phase and add to each others signal.

I had several short coax jumpers of different lengths, a 1/4 wave for different frequencies, that I inserted in one antennas coax, at the BNC T adapter, to adjust the phase so they would add instead of cancel to be able to receive very weak signals. It will be a frequency and direction dependent solution but with the proper phase adaption will work as stacking two antennas to improve reception. Something that a diplexer solution cannot do but will instead have a much more predictable result. Use whatever method that gives you the best result at your location. Antennas sometimes works good at frequencies outside of it's designed frequency range. My 13dBi 400MHz yagi works best to receive 250MHz sat signals compared to any other high gain antenna I have.

If you're only interested in listening to the local unencrypted police conversations that are transmitted from a tower a couple of miles away, then any antenna will work. But if you want to hear as much as possible then it is a never ending story of experimenting with different antennas and connecting them together in different fashions to try and get the best possible signal.

/Ubbe

 

[MStep]

Did you buy one that had the proper frequency/band for each antenna?

I had borrowed it from a friend and subsequently returned it to him. I will try to contact him to see what model it was. Might you also suggest a model which might be appropriate since his did not produce the desired effect? Thanks in advance.

 

[MStep]

Snipped for brevity.......

If you're only interested in listening to the local unencrypted police conversations that are transmitted from a tower a couple of miles away, then any antenna will work. But if you want to hear as much as possible then it is a never ending story of experimenting with different antennas and connecting them together in different fashions to try and get the best possible signal.

/Ubbe

All I can actually listen to is signals within 3-5 miles or so--- since I live in the basement/first floor of a building in the middle of midtown Manhattan, with no chance of getting an antenna much higher right now, most of my HF and VHF/UHF antennas are at or below ground level.

 

[iMONITOR]

I had borrowed it from a friend and subsequently returned it to him. I will try to contact him to see what model it was. Might you also suggest a model which might be appropriate since his did not produce the desired effect? Thanks in advance.

You need to tell us the bands/frequency range of the antennas and/or the bands/frequency range you hope to monitor from each antenna to determine what diplexer would be required.

 

[MStep]

You need to tell us the bands/frequency range of the antennas and/or the bands/frequency range you hope to monitor from each antenna to determine what diplexer would be required.

Oh that's pretty easy. I split my monitoring from 100 Hz to 30 MHz, and the higher range is 30 MHz to 1300 Mhz.

 

[iMONITOR]

Oh that's pretty easy. I split my monitoring from 100 Hz to 30 MHz, and the higher range is 30 MHz to 1300 Mhz.

I don't think they are made in that broad of a range. Check with @prcguy, you might have some in his garage.

prcguy's garage:

 

[MStep]

I don't think they are made in that broad of a range. Check with @prcguy, you might have some in his garage.

prcguy's garage:

View attachment 110765

LOL. But the time he locates it, my DV1 might be long gone. And so might I be for that matter !!!

But perhaps you can put my in the ball field by suggesting something that would provide a low/high cutoff point around 30 MHz. At least that would give me a start. I checked MFJ and Amazon but have not found anything close to what I'm looking for. Thanks again.

 

[Ubbe]

since I live in the basement/first floor of a building in the middle of midtown Manhattan, with no chance of getting an antenna much higher right now, most of my HF and VHF/UHF antennas are at or below ground level.

It would be terrific if you could speak to the super, or whatever the building manager are called, and explain that your biggest hobby interest are to listen to police scanners, that you are not a HAM that transmits and could interfere, but you are handicapped by your location. Maybe he will let you have a look in the attic if there are some room where you can place a MLA30+ loop and a Omni-X antenna or discone. Often there are telephone cables that goes between every floor that have easy to access compartments at each floor that would make it possible to route 500ft of RG6 coax down to your apartment.

Then use a diplexer 0-30MHz/30-1300MHz to use a common coax. If you have no access to a power outlet you have to use two coaxes and power the MLA30 and an amplifier for the Omni-X thru their coaxes using bias-T.

Just listen with a portable scanner up there if the reception are better than with your ground level antennas. You can do that now on the top floor in the stairwell. Even with thick concrete walls it should be better 500ft above ground.

/Ubbe

 

[MStep]

Sent you a reply privately, and I agree, 500 ft above ground would be great. This is a small 5 story walk-up building. But even 50 ft above ground is something!

 

[marlbrook]

AERIAL COMBINERS for use with the AR-DV1
Diamond SS-500

Diamond MX-62N

https://herostechnology.co.uk/.../RF_Splitter-Combiner.html

Most will accept an HF antenna (> 30 MHz) as one input, and a VHF/UHF (to 500MHz) as another.
With a single output to the Receiver. Usually you will need suitable antenna plug/socket adaptors too'

Also the very expensive
WiNRADiO WR-ACD-1800

I have used a
WATSON WAM599 for some years with the AR-DV1 but - I CANNOT FIND ANY FOR SALE

 

[MStep]

AERIAL COMBINERS for use with the AR-DV1
Diamond SS-500

Diamond MX-62N

https://herostechnology.co.uk/.../RF_Splitter-Combiner.html

Most will accept an HF antenna (> 30 MHz) as one input, and a VHF/UHF (to 500MHz) as another.
With a single output to the Receiver. Usually you will need suitable antenna plug/socket adaptors too'

Also the very expensive
WiNRADiO WR-ACD-1800

I have used a
WATSON WAM599 for some years with the AR-DV1 but - I CANNOT FIND ANY FOR SALE

The Winradio device seems to be the most appealing, albeit at about $200 USD. But as they say, the only difference between men and boys are the price of their toys.

 

[citiot]

I use the AOR7000 for my DV1. It's up about 30 ft. I'm in somewhat of a valley, works fine.

Feeds several scanners in addition to my DV1 with Cross Country Wireless HF/VHF/UHF Multicoupler

850 Mhz out to maybe 40 miles. I use RG6 coax instead of the supplied lossy coax.

HF is OK, of course not as good as my small yagi and vertical.

AM/FM broadcast is pretty good.

Can pick up NDBs fine.

NOAA WX stations up to 100 miles with no band opening.

VHF/UHF maybe 60 miles.

I do understand you have limitations, but putting one of these up on the roof with one feedline and no diplexer complications.

Never know, maybe there is a run of RG6 in your building that goes somewhere high?

Cost for the whole antenna might be comparable or even cheaper than multiple antennas and diplexer.

AOR SA7000 Super whip Antenna 30kHz-2GHz Wideband Receive only From JAPAN 4589839882026 | eBay

$243 (though I suspect that if you live in Midtown, money might not be a problem )