One more quick Question. What is the best Mobile antennas out there?

[ScanMaine]

Let me remind ya, I have a Pickup truck and I use it to plow and is a 2013 Ford. So I cant have a 15 ft antenna on the bumpah wacking the trees


right now I have the mag mount radio shack jobby

 

[ka3jjz]

Good Lord, you might as well as about the best car. There are as many suggestions and opinions as there are models.

Be more specific about what your needs are - Lo band, VHF Hi, etc. and let the flames begin.

I will start off with 2 just to add fuel to the fire;

a. Larsen makes a VHF/UHF/800 Mhz antenna which is favored by many, particularly those that live in urban areas

b. Austin's Spectra is another really good one

Keep in mind that scanner antennas are, at times, compromises, particularly so on VHF Lo. To get any efficiency without loading coils, etc. you need a rather long antenna for a vehicle. You can retune the Spectra for VHF lo - however the whip is rather short. It does work surprisingly well for such a small antenna on this band, as long as the antenna is firmly grounded. As an illustration, I had it on my old Camry attached to a Diamond heavy duty trunk mount, and could, on occasion, hear Howard county MSP on 39 Mhz from my home in Bowie - a good 1/2 hour ride (it was noisy, but it was there).

Mike

 

[ScanMaine]

Anything from 40 to 800 ,,,,

 

[ScanMaine]

Where to look ??? I search high and low. Analog, Digital. Scanner master don't have much, i don't know. just looking for the best I can get

 

[mikesatter]

I am about to purchase a new mobile antenna and have received several recommendations but the Larsen 150/400/800 received the highest recommendations, I will know in the next week or so.

 

[ScanMaine]

I just bought a Larsen 150.400.800

 

[lost_in_maine]

I just bought a Larsen 150.400.800

Jason, I have the Larsen Tri-Band on my car,,,does well here in Maine...good choice..

 

[ka3nxn]

I have several Austin Spectras. They Re probably the best mobile scanner antenna out there. I use it as low as 46.46MHz and all the way up to listening to ACPO 25, 800MHz. And it performs very very well at the low end and high end and everywhere in between.

 

[lep]

I have a Larsen tri-band in the trunk of my car. It is a good antenna but is TOO LONG to suit me and won't go thru the automatic car wash. I have a 1/4 MOT whip screwed onto the trunk mount NMO for the band I want to monitor on a given day/time/trip. In other words, in the trunk is a (a) wrench (b) the Larsen (C) three 1/4 wave antenna whips, one for 150, one for 450, one for 800. I put on the one I want that day <or> the Larsen.
Only takes a moment to make the switch. They are inexpensive and if they get damaged, cross threaded/ bent, etc. no big deal, I throw them away as they are very inexpensive compared to the Lalrsen.

 

[ScanMaine]

Jason, I have the Larsen Tri-Band on my car,,,does well here in Maine...good choice..

10-4 Boss.. I pick up Vermont Wx alot but its scratchy in the truck with the radioshack jobby

 

[ScanMaine]

I have a Larsen tri-band in the trunk of my car. It is a good antenna but is TOO LONG to suit me and won't go thru the automatic car wash. I have a 1/4 MOT whip screwed onto the trunk mount NMO for the band I want to monitor on a given day/time/trip. In other words, in the trunk is a (a) wrench (b) the Larsen (C) three 1/4 wave antenna whips, one for 150, one for 450, one for 800. I put on the one I want that day <or> the Larsen.
Only takes a moment to make the switch. They are inexpensive and if they get damaged, cross threaded/ bent, etc. no big deal, I throw them away as they are very inexpensive compared to the Lalrsen.

You saying you have to unscrew it from the mag base mount?? See I wont have to I will have it permount to my roof

 

[lep]

I personally would NEVER use a magnet mount base. As I understood the Question, "what is the best mobile antenna" the answer would include that the mount is mechanically and electrically secured to the vehicle.

The mounts on my vehicle are NMO screwed into holes drilled in the body. You rarely see, for example, a police or fire vehicle with a magnet antenna mount because they know better,.

But, yes, when I want to change the antenna, I unscrew it and put on another,

 

[ScanMaine]

I personally would NEVER use a magnet mount base. As I understood the Question, "what is the best mobile antenna" the answer would include that the mount is mechanically and electrically secured to the vehicle.

The mounts on my vehicle are NMO screwed into holes drilled in the body. You rarely see, for example, a police or fire vehicle with a magnet antenna mount because they know better,.

But, yes, when I want to change the antenna, I unscrew it and put on another,

Ya my antennas are all screw on.. so I was confused if yours where or if you had one of them antennex mag bases and then the antenna screwed on

 

[ka3jjz]

I would always unscrew my antennas (I had the Spectra and a good Diamond dual bander) and put weather caps on them when I'm not driving the vehicle. Too many times I'm in areas that these things would attract unwanted attention and disappear (had it happen once, and expensive to replace them).

My mounts were NMO trunk lip for the Spectra and a SO239 trunk lip type for the Diamond. Not the best position for the antenna, but living in an urban area, the slight reduction in efficiency is actually helpful

Mike

 

[tkenny53]

1/4 wave 18 inch whip on an MNO mount. Thats all you reall need.

 

[LIScanner101]

1/4 wave 18 inch whip on an NMO mount. That's all you really need.

That works surprisingly well. I use old A/S MON-52's for mobile usage, but they're not very "stealthy". On the other hand, a black VHF-hi 1/4 wave whip is VERY discreet and works almost as well.

 

[Fast1eddie]

I switch between a Larsen ham dual band (2/440) and a Spectra. Both work very well for me, if you go with the Spectra good grounding is a must!

 

[LtDoc]

I think you are running into that 'pick two' option. Works well, stealthy, easy to use/mount/etc. You get a choice of two of the three characteristics (if you're lucky). The question is how much compromise are you willing to put up with. That's not always as 'bad' as it sounds, just keep it in mind.
- 'Doc

 

[ezdropper]

The Larsen 150-450-800 tri-band works good if you want something stealthy, but doesn't pick up low band too well. The Austin Spectra works great on all bands, but isn't stealthy. The old Antenna Specialists MON/MONR antennas also work great on all bands, but they're even less stealthy than the Austin Spectra.

I have had all of these antennas, and my favorite is the Austin Spectra.