Hand held scanner with 25 - 50 mile reception range

[The-Analog-Kid]

I live in Hawthorne, and am currently using an ICom IC-R3 hand held. It has a range of about 5 miles, then it can't pick up anything else. I was wondering if there is a HAND HELD scanner out there that has a range of 25 to 50 miles. I'm not very knowledgeable about scanners, and don't know if they even have hand helds that can pick up signals from that far away. If they exist, if someone can point me in the direction of some, the info would be greatly appreciated. If they don't exist, then if someone could point me in the direction of inexpensive desktops that have that kind of range, the info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[reconrider8]

any scanner can pick up 25-50 miles just depends on the antenna and the terrain mainly

 

[fineshot1]

I live in Hawthorne, and am currently using an ICom IC-R3 hand held. It has a range of about 5 miles, then it can't pick up anything else. I was wondering if there is a HAND HELD scanner out there that has a range of 25 to 50 miles. I'm not very knowledgeable about scanners, and don't know if they even have hand helds that can pick up signals from that far away. If they exist, if someone can point me in the direction of some, the info would be greatly appreciated. If they don't exist, then if someone could point me in the direction of inexpensive desktops that have that kind of range, the info would be greatly appreciated.

Receive range is NOT a function of a scanner.

Receive range is effected by many variable parameters; ie: Transmitters power output and antenna type,
transmitter antenna height above the ground, the terrain between the receiver and transmitter, the distance between the receiver and transmitter, etc. etc. etc. You get the idea in the fact that its very complicated to determine the receiver range of a scanner or receiver. So you can not just look at a radio and determine receiver range and any such claims on a manufactures package.

 

[The-Analog-Kid]

Receive range is NOT a function of a scanner.

Receive range is effected by many variable parameters; ie: Transmitters power output and antenna type,
transmitter antenna height above the ground, the terrain between the receiver and transmitter, the distance between the receiver and transmitter, etc. etc. etc. You get the idea in the fact that its very complicated to determine the receiver range of a scanner or receiver. So you can not just look at a radio and determine receiver range and any such claims on a manufactures package.

GOTCHA! So I need not be concerned about the radio's ability to pull in signals. I need be concerned about the antenna type, and the height. Ok, how about helping me with THIS. I live in an apt, on the 2nd floor. Mounting an outdoor antenna is not an option, as the owner would not allow tenants to do such a thing. I guess the fact that I live on the 2nd floor helps a little with reception. So, what ANTENNA would you recommend to aid me in getting signals from farther away? I currently use the Radio Shack antenna shown below. I would love to hear any suggestions about an antenna that I could use indoors that would work better than the one in the image.....

 

[captclint]

any scanner can pick up 25-50 miles just depends on the antenna and the terrain mainly

To expand on this, unless you are on hill/mountain that is considerably higher than anything around, a hand held scanner will not pick up even 20 miles UNLESS you have it connected to an external antenna on your house which is also fairly high compared to surroundings. The typical range for any hand held without an external antenna is roughly 2-8 miles VHF, and less for UHF and 800 MHz, (unless you are fairly high or the Base Station Antenna is fairly high).

 

[captclint]

I guess the fact that I live on the 2nd floor helps a little with reception. So, what ANTENNA would you recommend to aid me in getting signals from farther away? I currently use the Radio Shack antenna shown below. I would love to hear any suggestions about an antenna that I could use indoors that would work better than the one in the image.....

You could get some improvement with a magnetic mount for a car if you could attach it to the top of an air conditioner or refrigerator(not likely to be on the 2nd floor). If you have neither, a steel plate 2x2 might help a little. However, the improvement may not be significant enough to justify the cost. I would move around on the 2nd floor and see if you can pull in more in different locations...especially in front of a window if you have aluminum siding which blocks radio signals..
You didn't say what type of signals you monitor(VHF, UHF, 800MHz, Air craft, etc).

 

[15plus1]

Well put .

Receive range is NOT a function of a scanner.

Receive range is effected by many variable parameters; ie: Transmitters power output and antenna type,
transmitter antenna height above the ground, the terrain between the receiver and transmitter, the distance between the receiver and transmitter, etc. etc. etc. You get the idea in the fact that its very complicated to determine the receiver range of a scanner or receiver. So you can not just look at a radio and determine receiver range and any such claims on a manufactures package.

 

[wizardb]

Just and FYI. I use a Radio Shack Pro 197 (desk top) with the Radio Shack antenna you show in your picture. I can receive sites up to 35 miles away. I have to say, the terrain is flat and there are no large buildings in the way. Some days the static is bad on a couple of sites at approx 35 miles. But more often then not I can pick them up clearly.

 

[The-Analog-Kid]

You could get some improvement with a magnetic mount for a car if you could attach it to the top of an air conditioner or refrigerator(not likely to be on the 2nd floor). If you have neither, a steel plate 2x2 might help a little. However, the improvement may not be significant enough to justify the cost. I would move around on the 2nd floor and see if you can pull in more in different locations...especially in front of a window if you have aluminum siding which blocks radio signals..
You didn't say what type of signals you monitor(VHF, UHF, 800MHz, Air craft, etc).

I monitor all frequencies. I monitor from 29mhz to 2.4ghz. I need an antenna that can pick all of that up. From what I've seen on the net, I think one of those magnetic mounts would be able to fit on my windowsill in my bedroom. What would be a good wide band, powerful magnetic mount to get?

 

[MOGA]

GOTCHA! So I need not be concerned about the radio's ability to pull in signals. I need be concerned about the antenna type, and the height.

AND the height/RF power of the transmitter AND any obstructions that may exist in the line of sight between the tx and rx locations, including trees, terrain, buildings or other man made structures, etc, and the frequency/modulation of the transmission.

Ok, how about helping me with THIS. I live in an apt, on the 2nd floor. Mounting an outdoor antenna is not an option, as the owner would not allow tenants to do such a thing. I guess the fact that I live on the 2nd floor helps a little with reception. So, what ANTENNA would you recommend to aid me in getting signals from farther away? I currently use the Radio Shack antenna shown below. I would love to hear any suggestions about an antenna that I could use indoors that would work better than the one in the image.....

See above. An external antenna will not compensate for certain environmental variables. However, an antenna may help if the reception performance is largely limited by your receiver's ability to detect weak RF on the airwaves. With that said, I would acquire a tuned antenna for the band in which your primarily interested to maximize the reception capability of your receiver. Otherwise a broadband antenna is a broadband antenna. It doesn't do any one thing well, regardless of the brand.

ETA: I noticed that you have many areas on the air that you monitor....you will either have to settle for a broadband or acquire a lot of various antenna to maximize performance on a specific area of the spectrum. There really aren't many magic bullet solutions in scanner radio, unfortunately. If you really are serious about dx monitoring, you could always use a yagi-uda as a solution in conjunction with a tripod and a short mast pointed through your window in the direction of the distant transmitter.

 

[The-Analog-Kid]

Just and FYI. I use a Radio Shack Pro 197 (desk top) with the Radio Shack antenna you show in your picture. I can receive sites up to 35 miles away. I have to say, the terrain is flat and there are no large buildings in the way. Some days the static is bad on a couple of sites at approx 35 miles. But more often then not I can pick them up clearly.

Fineshot1 says the scanner's power is not an issue, but in every article I've read, it claims that desktop scanners pull in more frequencies than handhelds, because they are more "powerful". Please explain.

 

[vagrant]

As previously noted, a handheld antenna will improve your receive only so much. Some tricks I did over the years living in an apartment were:

- Buy a length of cable just long enough to reach from where I would normally use the radio and the closest window. (You can purchase F type to BNC adapters, so you can use regular coax cable) - or - purchase one of those BNC extender cables with the suction cups on it. I then used the antenna that came with the radio, or that Radio Shack telescoping antenna you noted.

- Another option is an outdoor antenna, specifically this one: Outdoor VHF-Hi/UHF Scanner Antenna : Scanner Antennas | RadioShack.com (Model: 20-176 - $30) You'll find quite a few people use these in their attics, or even as their outdoor antennas. I used to have this antenna setting on top of a bookcase and wow, did it make a difference over the stock antenna. Again, just get enough cable to reach from the radio to the antenna, with whatever slack you need. A thumbtack and string could hold up this antenna next to a window. Mine was not near a window and it still dramatically improved my receive. (I still use it at my home on a pole for one of the scanners.)

One other thing to keep in mind is interference from other sources. I personally have terrible interference on the broadcast bands AM/FM, so I use a combo filter (HPN-30118) the cost is $50 and it does wonders for cutting down all kinds of noise for me. Everyone else's milage may vary. There's also a $9 FM filter you can pick up at RadioShack that might help that connects to the coax. Experimenting is have the battle/fun of listening.

 

[captclint]

Fineshot1 says the scanner's power is not an issue, but in every article I've read, it claims that desktop scanners pull in more frequencies than handhelds, because they are more "powerful". Please explain.

Not true. Power has nothing to do with reception. They may be making that claim because a desktop is often connected to an external antenna. BTW, the antenna that Vargrant recommends is a good one...I use it, but it is mounted 15 feet above my 2 story house. However, it is not a full range antenna that you claim you need, but It does fairly well with low band , so using it indoors just might help as he indicated.

 

[captclint]

I monitor all frequencies. I monitor from 29mhz to 2.4ghz. What would be a good wide band, powerful magnetic mount to get?

Don't forget about the 2x2 steel plate...without that, you will not get as much improvement. I have no experience with this, but it does claim to be wide band: Magnet-mount mobile scanner antenna : Mobile Scanner Antennas | RadioShack.com

 

[krokus]

I monitor all frequencies. I monitor from 29mhz to 2.4ghz. I need an antenna that can pick all of that up. From what I've seen on the net, I think one of those magnetic mounts would be able to fit on my windowsill in my bedroom. What would be a good wide band, powerful magnetic mount to get?

To try and get better performance, you will have to pick and choose what you want to listen to. Having multiple radios, each configured for a different system or type of tranmission, can make a huge difference.

 

[scannerboy01]

All I can say is that reception is all in the antenna and the terrain. You could live at the top of a hill, have a great antenna and a crappy radio and you will still get good reception. You could live in a valley, a bad antenna and an expensive radio and hear very little. As long as you have good terrain and antenna, your listening capabilities can be greatly expanded.

 

[hfxChris]

I monitor all frequencies. I monitor from 29mhz to 2.4ghz. I need an antenna that can pick all of that up. From what I've seen on the net, I think one of those magnetic mounts would be able to fit on my windowsill in my bedroom. What would be a good wide band, powerful magnetic mount to get?

It's pretty difficult (if not nearly impossible) to get an antenna with excellent gain across that wide coverage. You would be best to figure out what is the most important to you, and find an antenna that excels in that frequency range.

 

[GrumpyGuard]

If you have attic access you can place your antenna in the attic and run the lead through a small hole in the closet to your radio. You can also make you own antenna, there are many plans on the internet. If you make a dipole you can place it in pvc pipe and hang it from the ceiling. By getting away from the small hand held antenna’s you will improve your scanners performance. I use a homemade dipole that works really well.

 

[SquierStrat]

some scanners pull in better then others. with EVERYTHING being equal (even antennas) my psr 500 pulls in frequencies my radio shack pro 83 couldnt even dream of pulling in. 800mhz and low band. Some scanners are CLEARLY more sensitive then others...

 

[SquierStrat]

To expand on this, unless you are on hill/mountain that is considerably higher than anything around, a hand held scanner will not pick up even 20 miles UNLESS you have it connected to an external antenna on your house which is also fairly high compared to surroundings. The typical range for any hand held without an external antenna is roughly 2-8 miles VHF, and less for UHF and 800 MHz, (unless you are fairly high or the Base Station Antenna is fairly high).

this also couldnt be further from the truth. sitting in my town, which is as flat as a board, on a daily basis i use my handhelds, with handheld antennas, to listen to rural fire departments WELL over 20 miles away...