Grove Scanner Beam II VS eBay Yagi

[fredg]

I am looking at this antenna: http://www.grove-ent.com/BEAMII.html
Cons- Large size

This one also looks good (to good to be true):
http://cgi.ebay.com/Scanner-Antenna...yZ149988QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Pros: Small size

Do you guys think either of these would pull in an 800MHz analog signal about 65 miles away (Topeka Kansas)? As this is Kansas it is mostly flat.

Or is it wishful thinking that anything will pull in signals that far?

Thanks! Fred

 

[spooney]

With my Grove Scanner Beam pointed directly at the source and my Stridsberg A8010 Pre-Amp I can pull in around 50 miles at best. The next closest to me is about 80 miles and I can't get it.

 

[NoRide]

Don't know anything about the Grove Scanner Beam but I know a few have had good luck with the Wilson 301111 Yagi. I'd definitely go with that one before the item on eBay. A few more dollars but proven. However, 65 miles is probably asking alot.

 

[fredg]

Thanks guys, I kind of thought 65 miles was stretching it. I currently have a well used Channel Master Monitenna (like the Scantenna) and the Radio Shack 20-176. The Monitenna is 20 years old and has been repaired several times already so I am looking to replace it.

I may just go with the Scantenna, I can listen to Topeka online anyway.

 

[iMONITOR]

Check out what DPD Productions offers:

http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_scanner.html

 

[GrayWolfSA58]

I have the grove scanner beam 50 ft in the air 30-40 miles is about it , also hooked to a preamp

 

[Dubbin]

I have the grove scanner beam 50 ft in the air 30-40 miles is about it , also hooked to a preamp

What type of coax do you have going to that beam? I'm sitting here picking up an 800mhz trunking system that is 45+ miles away with only a scantenna 35' up in the air and RG11 coax. Sure I only get 1-2 bars but thats to be expected.

 

[N8DRC]

Hello
I have the Antenna Warehouse version of that Grove beam (mounted @ 45ft.) and it does'nt do that well on 800 seems to do best on UHF if anything, I also have the Wilson 800 yagi (@ 15ft.) and would recommend it over the Grove for 800mhz. My Scantenna also out performs the beam on 800mhz..

 

[N4JNW]

If you want sheer performance, look more toward the type and quality of your coax more than the antenna.

At higher length runs, and at higher frequencies, coax gets lossy real fast. The higher you go in frequency, the more dB loss you'll have. If you're h*ll bent on pulling in Topeka, start off with some good coax. LMR-400 is a good choice.

After you've got your coax picked out, choose an antenna. If you're only concerned with Topeka's 800 mhz system, find a cellular phone yagi. The Grove scanner beam is a multiband antenna. Meaning, it will work for most anything. Being wide banded like this, means performance will be degraded somewhat to compromise.

Getting an antenna that is MADE for one specific frequency range will yield more performance.

 

[kb2vxa]

Going by the pictures rather than the claims which I automatically discount the Grove looks like a quasi log periodic, two actually on the same boom. That tells me there is a huge gap between the frequency coverage of one and the other rather like a VHF/UHF combo TV antenna that it looks like. Draw your own conclusion.

There's a log periodic ham antenna (don't remember the manufacturer) that looks like a big fish skeleton that covers 50MHz to just over a gig that I would rather put my faith in. There are no gaps in the relative element lengths like the Grove which tells me it's continuous coverage.

The one on eBay is a single band Yagi and there's no way of knowing which band. Keeping that in mind the claims are pure unadulterated horse crap. There's your "rave review", rave on!

 

[fredg]

Thanks KB2VXA, I am no expert but from what I have read I has heading for the same conclusion as you, especially on the eBay Yagi.