Need help setting up a home based scanner with antenna?

[squale]

I live about 1700 ft. msl in New Jersey pretty much ontop of a nice mountain. I want to set up a scanner at my home, mainly to pick up aircraft and airports but also local fire and police. I live in more of a Rural area and don't have the first clue about Trunked systems and whether these use them by me or not, so I don't know what type of scanner to get.

Anyhow, I would like to most likely go with an external outside antenna to increase my reception range quite a bit and needed to know the best place to mount an antenna? I was thinking maybe on the roof or inside the attic? what do you guys think? the thing that worries me about mounting outside on the roof is that if lighting strikes it, I could catch my house on fire which would not be a good thing at all!

so I need some info on what particular scanners and antennas to go with that have the best reception and also how to go about mounting an antenna. I don't want to go crazy mounting the antenna and I don't want to spend a fortune. I was thinking I could just run a wire from my office up into my attic and then out onto the roof through the roof ridge vent? what do you guys think?

any and all info is greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[ThornyO5]

well, what county do you live in?

 

[squale]

USA

 

[EMSdtw]

I live in Michigan and have always wanted to move to the USA. Perhaps some day I will.

 

[Dubbin]

USA

He said county not country. We are trying to find out where you live so we can help you decide on what kind of radio you will need.

 

[squale]

lol, sorry guys, it's late here in Jersey... I am in Sussex County, NJ

 

[squale]

can anybody help with this?

 

[N_Jay]

Put it outside.

Putting it inside is like putting your driveway light in the garage!

Put it up high enough to clear any local obstructions.

Don't worry about lightening, people have had TV antennas on their roofs for 50 years. Yes, some get hit, but houses get hit with no antenna.

Use the best cable you can afford.

 

[squale]

so you are saying I do NOT need to ground an antenna connected to my roof? this seems very unsafe!!!

what specific antenna and scanner should I go with? I am mainly concerned with getting Aviation band 108Mhz-137Mhz and would also like ot pick up local police/fire/emergency, but I don't know what frequencies they use.

and does anybody have pictures of mounting options for the antenna on the roof?

 

[INDY72]

Check the Database on this site for the info regarding freqs, TRS's etc.. as to what will aork in your area, ask in the NJ forum...

You will find more help in your local forum than generally asking here...

8)

 

[twolf816]

theres an rs antenna thats 108mhz - 1300mhz, although it dosnt pick up 800mhz like it says, but its only like 30 bucks.


http://www.radioshack.com/product.a...me=CTLG_008_009_010_001&product_id=20-176

 

[scanbc780]

Or even this one. I have always had great luck with this antenna.

http://www.radioshack.com/product.a...me=CTLG_008_009_001_002&product_id=20-043

 

[N_Jay]

so you are saying I do NOT need to ground an antenna connected to my roof? this seems very unsafe!!!

what specific antenna and scanner should I go with? I am mainly concerned with getting Aviation band 108Mhz-137Mhz and would also like ot pick up local police/fire/emergency, but I don't know what frequencies they use.

and does anybody have pictures of mounting options for the antenna on the roof?

Yes, you SHOULD ground your antenna, but you do not NEED to ground your antenn. (Unless required by local building and/or electrical codes)

You SHOULD also ground/bond your rain gutteres, roof vents, chiminy, vent pipes, etc!

 

[squale]

does anybody have pictures on how I could attach the mast to the house? I am thinking attaching it to the side roof overhang might be the best bet for me..

 

[N_Jay]

does anybody have pictures on how I could attach the mast to the house? I am thinking attaching it to the side roof overhang might be the best bet for me..

any good home center should have a section with TV antenna masts and mounts.

Radio shack used to have a good selection but I don't know any more.

 

[Tweekerbob]

The overhang is a good bet. Really depends on how high your mast will be.

This might be what you are talking about. This will probably work well for many small antennas with probably no more than 10 feet of mast. (not many small antennas on one mast)

If you need to go higher to clear nearby obstructions, guying will be in order.

There are a few other ideas. I am not familiar with your roof, so I will share them all briefly.

Some folks use a chimney mount when a short mast is in order and standard size masonry chimneys are present. Radio Shack sells such a mount.

The traditional roof mount is also common. This small mount bolts into the roof to hold a short mast and will almost always require guying to hold 'er steady.

One kinda funky way I have seen to mount an antenna was taught to me by my elmers (remember those guys?). I have a air conditioner/heater unit on my roof and we used this to mount an antenna mast. Up to 50 feet total (including vertical antenna). Some simple U mounts (common plumbing supply) screwed into the top and the bottom of the unit. A 2x4 at the bottom kept the mast from grinding into the comp roof.

HTH,


Ryan

 

[Voyager]

You SHOULD also ground/bond your rain gutteres

Anyone have some good ways to ground plastic? :wink:

Joe M.

 

[N_Jay]

You SHOULD also ground/bond your rain gutteres

Anyone have some good ways to ground plastic? :wink:

Joe M.

Sure, you wait 10 years till the sun has made then brittle and the have cracked, then you replace them with metal and grount that!! :twisted:

 

[INDY72]

I can ground plastic easier than that....

Yank it off.. toss it on the ground... DONE!

WEG!

 

[Voyager]

You SHOULD also ground/bond your rain gutteres

Anyone have some good ways to ground plastic? :wink:

Joe M.

Sure, you wait 10 years till the sun has made then brittle and the have cracked, then you replace them with metal and grount that!! :twisted:

I wouldn't be surprised, but then again there are plastics that can survive the sun. Look at most any car made in the last 15 years. :wink:

Good one, Milf. 8)

Back on a serious note, I'm a FIRM believer of single point grounding. See http://www.polyphaser.com for lot of great info on how to properly ground communications systems. They are the leader in lightning protection in the commercial radio world.

Joe M.