kaitlyn4589
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my mom lives in a trailer up in tucson estates here in tucson AZ my sds100 gets signal but i dont pick anything up unless im outside of the trailer any ideas on how to solve this? oh im using the uniden stock antenna if it helps
SDS100/SDS200: my mom lives in a trailer and my sds100 isnt working help
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In the trailer you are probably surrounded by metal. Not a good environment when you want to receive signals. You need to use an external antenna, above the roofline is best, and a coaxial cable running to your scanner antenna connector, or put your scanner next to a window with the stock antenna. The problem with the latter option is that it will tend to receive signals coming from that direction and not too well from behind or to the sides.
A discone antenna works well across many frequencies, but there may be estate rules that restrict antennas. Hmm...if you can receive the signals you want with the scanner next to the window, then you could use an improved antenna indoors next to the window with a bit of coaxial cable for placement of the scanner indoors where you want. Much depends on your needs.
A discone antenna works well across many frequencies, but there may be estate rules that restrict antennas. Hmm...if you can receive the signals you want with the scanner next to the window, then you could use an improved antenna indoors next to the window with a bit of coaxial cable for placement of the scanner indoors where you want. Much depends on your needs.
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tvengr
Well Known Member
A discone antenna would probably be overkill for your needs. PCWIN uses 800 MHz frequencies which only requires a 3" long 1/4 wave mobile antenna. You could mount an antenna such as this on the trailer and it would be very inobtrusive and cover high VHF, UHF, and 700/800: Larsen NMO150/450/758 - $49.95 : The Antenna Farm, Your two way radio source It requires an NMO mount.
House trailers are notorious for poor reception of RF signals. (Even some wood frame constructed homes exhibit poor reception when a metal foil backing on the insulation batting is used.) An outside antenna will perform much better than ANY “rubber duckie” antenna. (The Remtronix 800 MHz portable antenna works well but it’s designed for the 700-800 MHz band, and that band’s characteristics are highly dependent upon the use of numerous repeater sites. (These sites can be receiver sites or both transmit/receive sites. They are used with both trunked and conventional systems because at 800 MHz, signals are mostly “line-of-sight”. (The higher you go in frequency, the more of the “line-of-sight” characteristic comes into play.) In which case a survey is done to identify poor reception spots in an agency’s geographical area to determine where a site is needed.) so, you might hear signals on those systems that use the higher frequencies on your rubber duckie antenna inside the house trailer but not the 450-460 MHz (UHF), the 136-170 MHz (VHF High band) and the 30-50 MHz (VHF Low Band), which don’t normally use additional transmit/receive sites for the weaker areas, instead, they usually increase power.
This is a very simplistic description of just one possibility that explains why there is poor reception within a trailer, and what is done to improve reception. It’s probably the most common one but an outside antenna is the answer to your question and other posts here have helped describe what you will need to do to install an outside antenna… just two cautions… the need to “ground” ANY outside antenna in an effort to protect against lightning strikes and the use of a good coaxial feedline. Not just any coax will do-I will let others expound upon that subject but I use a 50’ run of LMR400 (a stiffer thicker coax that is difficult to bend) with a short piece of smaller diameter coax that is more flexible at the radio’s end. You probably won’t need 50’ of the better quality coax but it will help, especially on the UHF and 800 MHz bands.
This is a very simplistic description of just one possibility that explains why there is poor reception within a trailer, and what is done to improve reception. It’s probably the most common one but an outside antenna is the answer to your question and other posts here have helped describe what you will need to do to install an outside antenna… just two cautions… the need to “ground” ANY outside antenna in an effort to protect against lightning strikes and the use of a good coaxial feedline. Not just any coax will do-I will let others expound upon that subject but I use a 50’ run of LMR400 (a stiffer thicker coax that is difficult to bend) with a short piece of smaller diameter coax that is more flexible at the radio’s end. You probably won’t need 50’ of the better quality coax but it will help, especially on the UHF and 800 MHz bands.
I too live in a tin can (older metal clad mobile home) but I don't have many reception issues. First of all ditch that stock antenna! I purchased the SMA to BNC antenna adapter that Jon sells on the classifieds just because I didn't like the Uniden supplied adapter but that's a preference matter. I use either a dual band antenna or one suited for 700/800mhz (both BNC) and have very little issues with the local digital systems, conventional VHF is a whole different story. Here are the two that I use Amazon.com: HYS Dual Band Telescopic/Rod Soft Antenna VHF/UHF BNC (8inch)-(14inch) 2M/70CM Antenna for Vertex HR146, HX300, HX320, HX400 Walkie Talkie: Home Audio & Theater
and ☞ Don't forget this... (whistlergroup.com) ☞. I have been in Tucson and listened to PCWINS with both of these and had no complaints. The metal roof and walls of the home are an issue no doubt and an outside mounted antenna would help, but these two other options may help your situation as well and be a little easier on the wallet. I definitely noticed an improvement over the stock antenna.
Provided the trailer has a metal roof, you could consider the use of a mobile antenna with a magnetic mount base. This Larsen antenna for 800MHz is one option.
iMONITOR
Silent Key
If you're in a good signal area some of these "mounts on the glass" antennas might be an option. Although honestly they don't work that well buy might be all you need.
Mobile Wide-Band Antennas for Police Scanner Radios | ScannerMaster.com
Mobile Wide-Band Antennas for Police Scanner Radios.
www.scannermaster.com
Outside antenna. Dont cut corners. A discone may be a bit large or overkill. Any general purpose good quality scanner antenna (mag mount is ok) will be perfect. Dont forget to make sure it terminates in the correct antenna connector for the SDS OR get the correct adapter to go from the connector on the antenna to the scanner.
Aluminum is the likely material used in mobile home cladding and is not magnetic; an nmo mount would be better. As was mentioned above, sometimes it's possible to get good reception inside metal structures depending on its location wrt transmit sites, and the frequency band in use. Higher frequencies / 700/800 band signals can enter the structure through windows and doors that are not metal.
Here's a simple, low-cost, low-risk of damage, no getting on the roof solution that may work. And if doesn't, you're out $20. Below is a link to one of many types of flat-panel, "leaf" type TV antennas. First thing most reading this say is, "What? You can't use a TV antenna on a scanner!" Au contraire - TV antennas are broad enough in frequency coverage in frequencies commonly used by public service agencies that they can work quite well. The one I've linked below is a stick on the window type, but others will work. Not good for VHF low band (30-50 mHz) but that's not what you're trying to receive in this case. They are directional, so find the window that has the best strength for the signals you are trying to hear with the scanner. And before you stick it down, rotate it 90 degrees to see if that helps reception... it may. Some of these antennas are circularly polarized and it won't matter as much, but if it is horizontal you'll want to turn it 90 degrees so it matches the vertical polarization used by 99% of what you're trying to hear on the scanner. And of course you'll need a short pigtail or other adapter to go from the 75 ohm "F" male connector to your scanner. Also, if the antenna has a switchable amplifier, try it first with the amp off / disconnected. See what you can hear. Then switch it on to see if there is an improvement. Here's the link to one at Walmart... many other stores have them as well.
Monoprice Clear Window or Wall Mount Paper Thin HDTV Antenna With In-line Active Amplifier - Walmart.com
Monoprice Clear Window or Wall Mount Paper Thin HDTV Antenna With In-line Active Amplifier - Walmart.com
TBH, I use these antennas with good results in the 700 / 800 band, both in my new car and my apartment:
Just stick it on a window, and they are cheap!
Just stick it on a window, and they are cheap!
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