Pro-433 question

[scannerman200]

Would the pro-433 scanner be best mobile or as a base. Now I know the antenna you use makes some determination on this, but just curious if the radio would be better mobile or used as a base. If anyone uses this scanner mobile, let me know how you mounted it and how well it works mobile.

 

[DickH]

Would the pro-433 scanner be best mobile or as a base. Now I know the antenna you use makes some determination on this, but just curious if the radio would be better mobile or used as a base. If anyone uses this scanner mobile, let me know how you mounted it and how well it works mobile.

I put one in my glove compartment with an external speaker.
It works too good on our 800MHz trunking system. Within 3 or 4 blocks of a large cell phone site, it completely overloads and receives nothing, while my PRO-528 sitting on the seat still receives until it's a block away, then that goes dead too. Damn cell phones!

 

[scannerman200]

did you just sit the scanner in the glove dept? or how did you do it?

 

[DickH]

did you just sit the scanner in the glove dept? or how did you do it?

Yup, it just sits there. I drilled a hole in a corner for the 12 volt, spkr & ant. cables.
Since there's no attenuator, I'm going to put a 1/4 wave (3.25") antenna right on the back of the scanner to see if it will not overload so much around cell sites. Right now it's a piece of coax, stripped back to expose about 9-3/4" of the center conductor, sticking up behind the windshield. That length still picks up Hi-band fairly well.

 

[scannerman200]

Do you leave the glove compartment opened while driving? and how is the radio secured?

 

[DickH]

Do you leave the glove compartment opened while driving? and how is the radio secured?

It's closed. I only want to hear it, not see it.
It's a small, sloping, glove compartment so the scanner just sits there, not secured. It's heavy enough so it doesn't bounce around. That way, it's easy to remove if need be.

 

[scannerman200]

I think I'm gonna try this.

 

[StoliRaz]

I use mine as a base, with a Uniden BC92XLT as a handheld mobile. The 433 has great reception even with the somewhat cheesy OEM stock antenna. It's a good deal for the money though. I love my setup, I just get nervous that a few years from now half of the police departments in my area will go digital, or worse yet, digital with full time encryption, and my gear will be obsolete. I hate encryption.

 

[AlabamaWeather]

Just go get one of those center mounted consoles that the police use that you can place scanners and what not in it and be able to operate it while driving, use at your own risk while driving