Homebrew 800

[ch40n1k]

I monitor only 800 at my location. A couple of EDACS system and our state P25 system.

I have a couple of EDACS systems that I just can't quite hear well enough.

I have a homebrew 2 meter J-Pole in the attic that works great for 2 meter. Does anyone know of any good plans for a homebrew 800mhz antenna that will do well up high? I already have coax run to the attic, so all I need to do is build the antenna.

 

[N1BHH]

Start off by using a calculator, one is online here:
http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennagpcalc.html

Next get some stiff wire, like #12 or #10, or a length of welding rod and an SO239 and fashion some type of mounting bracket. Solder on the vertical and radials, leaving them a little long, so you can trim when doen, angle the radials down and voila, you got yourself a cheap and easy ground plane.

Want other antenna ideas, there are thousands of ideas online, just use your favorite search engine. Try this one for lots of projects:
http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Antennas/VHF_UHF/

 

[ch40n1k]

Start off by using a calculator, one is online here:
http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennagpcalc.html

Next get some stiff wire, like #12 or #10, or a length of welding rod and an SO239 and fashion some type of mounting bracket. Solder on the vertical and radials, leaving them a little long, so you can trim when doen, angle the radials down and voila, you got yourself a cheap and easy ground plane.

Want other antenna ideas, there are thousands of ideas online, just use your favorite search engine. Try this one for lots of projects:
http://www.dxzone.com/catalog/Antennas/VHF_UHF/

Thanks. I have actually spent a lot of time searching ... 99% of what I find is ham related. There is very little in the way of Scanner specific stuff.

I know how the calculations work ... I just need a good idea to get started.

 

[ermin]

Try it. You'd be surprised how good home made antenna's work some times. If you can scale it to 800Mhz go ahead and make one. Then let us know.

73 Ed

 

[ch40n1k]

Heh ... works awesome. I'll tell you one thing, I can hear those pesky EDACS systems that I couldn't before. Never really thought about using a j-pole for monitoring ... I'm glad I tried it.

Long Section: 9.96"
Short Section: 3.24"
Spacing: 0.36"

I used an SO-239 post from Rat Shack (Part 278-201) to attach the coax. I used 1/2" copper pipe and a 1/2" copper pipe wrap to secure the SO-239 and a hose clamp to secure 10 AWG copper wire to the short section. Sweat soldered at the joints. One copper 1/2" elbow and one 1/2" copper "T".

As you can see it's mounted on a CD Spindle on top of my desk ... lol.

I also have a yagi that I built that I'm waiting for the epoxy to set ... I'll post pics when it's done.