Just ordered a SDS200. Need antenna ideas.

[shansen1785]

So just ordered the SDS200. Any one have any good strong antenna suggestions sor other components to get for signal control and quality? Going to Ham Radio Outlet this week and picking it up but want a good strong antenna for use. I have a small condo so i cant have a towner .... at least not yet l0l?

 

[iMONITOR]

You might not need one, try the stock antenna first. Then you have to decide what you want to monitor and what bands/frequencies they use and if you are having difficulty receiving them and go from there.

 

[jonwienke]

This setup works pretty well for me:

Indoor Discone Antenna Setup

For those who for whatever reason can't set up an outdoor antenna, this setup works quite a bit better than a ducky/whip. Antenna: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QVPGKHU/ Stand: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E0PPG0/ The stand tubing is the exact right size to fit the antenna...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[popnokick]

So just ordered the SDS200. Any one have any good strong antenna suggestions sor other components to get for signal control and quality?

iMONITOR's suggestion to start with the stock telescoping whip that comes with the radio is a good one... it will let you know whether... and how much... you're missing. And what sort of improvement is needed (if any). But tell us more about what "good strong antenna" means to you... Is it any one or more of the following:
- Able to receive every frequency from DC to daylight?
- Offers "good strong" signals on every band for everything you want to hear in a 200 mile radius?
- Able to withstand 200 mph winds?
- Able to survive direct lightning hits?
- Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? (Look... it's a bird. No, it's a plane... It's SuperAntenna!!)
Seriously... tell us more about what you have in mind, what floor of your building you are on, whether you have an attic or crawlspace, any chance of getting outdoors... particularly on the roof, and what you want to listen to.

 

[nessnet]

One note on the try stock antenna first above:

'tune' the telescoping antenna to the proper length for the desired freq

Frequency - Wavelength Chart

 

[mc48]

I have good luck with a Remtronix 830B for a 700-800mhz P25 system, but they are not as good as the stock antenna for VHF.
I can't say how they perform for UHF.

ANTENNAS

www.remtronix.com

 

[ka3jjz]

Depending on what bands you want to cover, this may work for you and it would be better than the little stick whip...

Homebrewed Off-Center Fed Dipole - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[popnokick]

+1 on the RR HomeBrewed Off-Center Fed Dipole. However, works best if mounted in an attic or crawlspace. Next choice would be to hang the wire version in the highest window / sliding door / balcony of the building that faces the direction where most of the stuff you want to listen to is coming from. But we need to know more about the OP's "small condo" (same questions asked earlier in the thread).

 

[rcool101]

I use the BNC 800 MHz REMTRONIX REM-830B Base Antenna (back of set) from Scanner Master. Works great

 

[jonwienke]

It's only good tor 800MHz and the 300MHz milair bands. It's not a good general purpose scanner antenna.

 

[NoClue48]

The stock telescoping antenna has been working well for me on my new SDS200; which surprised me...

 

[N9PVW]

I build this antenna about 5 years ago for inside my shack, it works very well. Total cost was around 15.00 dollars. the PDF came from this site

 

[doctorbubba010]

Pretty fricken cool. Do you have a picture of the real thing?

 

[lsimmons]

Stock antenna works well for me in Louisville KY

 

[merlin]

Best outdoor antenna I have found is the discone. Install a Scientific Atlanta MM drop amp near the antenna, ( this is a very low noise preamp)
Use a good low loss coax from the amp into your shack, you will hear everything that can be possibly heard.
For indoor use, the stock antenna with this works well, especially in 'close call' mode

 

[doctorbubba010]

Merlin. Would you suggest an Amp in a roof mount antenna for mobile use.

https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-technologies-abscancs-5587

 

[N9PVW]

Pretty fricken cool. Do you have a picture of the real thing?

My daughter, has my stepladder, getting it back tomorrow Antenna is hanging at the top of my ceiling. I will post a picture soon..