Please ID this antenna
- Thread starter Solidjake
- Start date
AB5ID
Member
Looks like a little j-pole or dual band with separate vertical elements.
How would that work and for what frequencies (practical use scenario). Never seen that before sorry.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Harris sells the same Stico antenna with their name on it (and a price increase).
Not a J-pole.
Not a J-pole.
Sti-co makes great antennas. I have one of those that I use with my Motorola APX-8000.
No. Well, difficult question because it will work about the same or a little better on some frequencies and a little worse on others. I have one plus most of the offerings from Larsen, Laird, PCTEL and others and I was a little disappointed with this particular Sti-co.
As I mentioned in my earlier response, the StiCo strange dual-whip antenna works fine on UHF, VHF, 700, and 800 Mhz for a scanner. I tried it on my UHF/VHF Amateur Radio transceiver and it performed fine. However, you could get a Larsen, Laird, PCTEL, and please don't forget EmWave. They make an excellent multi-band scanner antenna for much less which performs excellently on all of the above bands. None of these scanner antennas should be used for transmitting, except for the StiCo to the best of my knowledge.
Here is the link to the Em Wave which I am partial to for most antenna applications. Plus it has a rubber-coated spring. The hight is 17.7" with an NMO connector at the base.
theantennafarm.com
Here is the link to the Em Wave which I am partial to for most antenna applications. Plus it has a rubber-coated spring. The hight is 17.7" with an NMO connector at the base.
EM Wave EM-M43002 - Triple Band Mobile Antennas
Tri-Band 150-162/450-490/763-870 MHz IP67 Rated Roof Mount Antenna
theantennafarm.com
You can transmit on all that have been mentioned. Here are some VHF/UHF/700/800 tri-bands I have that I could find on short notice and all are rated for transmit to 100w or more. From left to right PCTEL, Larsen, Tram, Comtelco, PCTEL, newer PCTEL, Laird, Sti-Co, COMPACtenna. All these get rotated on my vehicle for testing with multiband radios.As I mentioned in my earlier response, the StiCo strange dual-whip antenna works fine on UHF, VHF, 700, and 800 Mhz for a scanner. I tried it on my UHF/VHF Amateur Radio transceiver and it performed fine. However, you could get a Larsen, Laird, PCTEL, and please don't forget EmWave. They make an excellent multi-band scanner antenna for much less which performs excellently on all of the above bands. None of these scanner antennas should be used for transmitting, except for the StiCo to the best of my knowledge.
Here is the link to the Em Wave which I am partial to for most antenna applications. Plus it has a rubber-coated spring. The hight is 17.7" with an NMO connector at the base.
EM Wave EM-M43002 - Triple Band Mobile Antennas
Tri-Band 150-162/450-490/763-870 MHz IP67 Rated Roof Mount Antenna
Which model/part number is the Tram 3rd from the left? Also how tall is it? I'm limited with my garage door, but will clear 12 or so inches from the top of my SUV.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
3rd from the left looks a lot like the Larsen NMO-150/450/758SF
www.arcantenna.com
It's a bit under 18", but the spring and the "SF" Super Flex whip makes it pretty gumby like. I had one on the roof of my wifes truck and she had about 12" clearance in the garage and it had no issue doing that 6 days a week.
In fact, if that photo is from his multiband antenna shootout test he did a year or so ago, that may actually be MY antenna. I loaned it to him for the test.
NMO150/450/758SF Tri-Band Antenna 150/450/758, 0dBi/5dBi/4dBi
NMO150/450/758SF has Operating over the 150-174MHz, 430-520MHz & 750-870MHz VHF, UHF, and 700/800 MHz. Gain specs are 0dBi/5dBi/4dBi respectively.
www.arcantenna.com
In fact, if that photo is from his multiband antenna shootout test he did a year or so ago, that may actually be MY antenna. I loaned it to him for the test.
Tram 8079, about $30 with shipping. I run this one most of the time on my Jeep and it s working similar to others shown above. If I had a newer Larsen or EM Wave with spring I would probably use those a lot due to the small size and spring. But you really can’t fault the Tram for 30 bucks new.
Tram 8079 Tri Band NMO Antenna UHF 440-520, VHF 150-170, 800-960 mobile radio | eBay
Tram Tri-Band High Gain NMO Antenna. Mount Type: NMO Style Required.
www.ebay.com
I'm still torn between the Tram and the EM Wave. I love my EM Wave antennas. I probably own 10-15 of them. It should be a no-brainer, but I still like to experiment with various models.
PRCGUY, which one performs better for you? I monitor the Illinois Starcom21 700-800 Mhz. P25 system, plus a smattering of UHF/VHF frequencies.
Thanks, Matt, for the observations of these antennas.
PRCGUY, which one performs better for you? I monitor the Illinois Starcom21 700-800 Mhz. P25 system, plus a smattering of UHF/VHF frequencies.
Thanks, Matt, for the observations of these antennas.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Sorry, didn't read PRCGUY's post about it being a Tram.
Love my EM Wave also. I have the EM Wave multiband on top of my work truck. Nice antenna, has worked well on VHF, UHF and 800MHz both TX and RX. I'm running the Larsen on my personal truck (ran it on my wife's truck for a while). The Larsen is much more flexible and is thinner and therefore a bit more lower profile.
I don't think you'd go wrong with either antenna. If garage clearance is a concern, the better flexibility of the Larsen would be my suggestion.
I don't trust the Tram/Browning products after seeing a few of them. A lot of them seem to be knockoffs of the real thing, and I'm not sure how much I'd trust the Chinese to actually stick to the QC. They may work just fine, but long term survivability would be my concern.
Can you provide the model number of the Larsen you mentioned?
I also have one of those COMPACtennas for multi-band scanner use, but I'm extremely hesitant going through the car wash with it on the roof of my SUV.
I also have one of those COMPACtennas for multi-band scanner use, but I'm extremely hesitant going through the car wash with it on the roof of my SUV.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I think Antenna Farm sells it, but it doesn't show the SF (SuperFlex) suffix:
theantennafarm.com
Arc Antenna sells it with the SF suffix:
www.arcantenna.com
I do have the SF version and it's quite flexible, but not to the Stico levels of flexibility.
Larsen NMO150/450/758 Mobile Antenna Tri-Band 150-165,450-470,700/800MHz
Tri-band antenna covers 150-174, 430-520 & 750-870, 100 Watts, Whip Length 16.5"
theantennafarm.com
Arc Antenna sells it with the SF suffix:
NMO150/450/758SF Tri-Band Antenna 150/450/758, 0dBi/5dBi/4dBi
NMO150/450/758SF has Operating over the 150-174MHz, 430-520MHz & 750-870MHz VHF, UHF, and 700/800 MHz. Gain specs are 0dBi/5dBi/4dBi respectively.
www.arcantenna.com
I do have the SF version and it's quite flexible, but not to the Stico levels of flexibility.
I don’t have much to monitor on 800 and have not done my range testing with the Tram as I have with the others. On VHF/UHF the Tram is about like the old Larsen triband or the Comtelco or the far left PCTEL BMAXSCAN1000 in the picture above. Its probably loosing a little efficiency on VHF due to the coil but UHF is ok because of the coil in not being a 3/4 wave on UHF and having an upward skewed radiation pattern. Swept range testing shows a little gain difference between them but I don't notice it with actual use.
The Laird and the fat bottom PCTELs (some Motorola branded) with no coil is down a little on UHF because of the skewed radiation pattern. If you have a COMPACtenna LMR-1 or Scan III you will probably find it works a little better than the others on some bands, even VHF where it’s about 10” shorter than some. I would not run mine through an automatic car wash either.
