Quick Question

[WDW1014]

I Have this antenna for my truck https://www.scannermaster.com/Wideband_Antenna_with_Mag_Mount_and_BNC_p/01-541326.htm and I need like another 6ft of wire to hide it correctly throughout the truck. My question is what cable do i need to add on the extra feet and what connector will i need if my scanner has a bnc connection at it ?

 

[W2NJS]

You need:

1. Appropriate length of RG-58 coax cable with BNC connector on each end.
2. BNC male-to-male (double female) adapter.

Don't try to "splice" the coax extension as that will mess up the impedance of the line. Do it with the adapters and you'll be fine.

 

[amusement]

Agree with W2NJS use BNC adapters. Splicing cable on a vehicle vibrating down the road or worst jerked around by pot holes will quickly cause problems. I also use heat shrink where the cable and BNC meet. Trying to keep some moisture from getting in the adapters.

 

[LtDoc]

Almost any coaxial cable will 'work'. Making the appropriate connections (couplers) will add some attenuation to the system, but that's the price you pay for an extension.
I'll say this though. That RG-174 cable supplied with that antenna is probably the worst stuff you could use for the length of run you have. It is very lossy. It works fine for very short runs, as in inches, not feet, especially at VHF/UHF.
- 'Doc

 

[kb2vxa]

Since a truck is only so big you don't need much coax but Doc brought up an important point. All things considered your best bet is make the entire run 58U by cutting all but a few inches off the 174 and couple your custom extension to the stub. I'd keep the junction inside if possible but if not I'd give it a good coat of this stuff. I've had good luck with Permatex products over the years, if you've ever worked on an engine you know what I mean. Then there's Plasti Dip, I've actually used this stuff to weatherproof an indoor balun among other things, good stuff. BTW I got a giggle out of that slogan, you Redneck engineers out there know duct tape fixes ANYTHING. (;->)

 

[W2NJS]

I missed the fine print that said RG174. Yeccch! Find another antenna that has RG58 cable and THEN you'll be fine.

 

[prcguy]

RG-316 is the silver Teflon version of RG-174 and it comes standard with many new mobile ham radio antenna mounts. A 10ft run would have about 1dB loss @ 2m and about 1.7dB loss @ 450Mhz which is not so bad if you need a compromise cable.

This same cable is used inside many 100w VHF and UHF amplifiers to connect the circuit board to the external connectors and easily handles the power.
prcguy

 

[mainetrunk]

Ive used that antenna before. I had people saying negative things about it. Hey, it did its job UNTIL. I went into the woods and a branch hit the antenna ripping it off my window.What a sound! Oh, I was peeved. Thats when I found someone who had what was right for me. Plus, being in New England, the weather turns in a day. I'd put some caulking around it to keep the moisture out. The very same woods that did me wrong, 2 months earlier-thats where I did the set up. Right in the middle of it, here comes my pd. He says " what are you doing Ronn? " I said-just hooking up an atenna. I asked-joking- can you give me a test? He asked" you got a scanner in there? " At that moment his partner in another car says " be stopping Maine,,,bla bla. The 1st cop says " did you hear that? " I says, yes, he goes-theres your check! He took off, and I was on my way to a $$ nightmare-getting more equipment. That was my 1st truck antenna. Thx for the oppertunity to tell about my 1st antenna. Ron.