Railcom Railscan Antenna: What makes it so good?

[fullreversal]

http://railcom.radio-dealers.com/as...3e-9d2c-e930662aa086&content_id=2244&cat_id=3

So I've been looking at this antenna, and thinking to myself, "What makes it so good? Why is it 72 bucks? Surely I can build something with various NMO mounts, adapters, and stainless whip material."

I've found mag NMO mounts for around $20-$30 bucks brand new, and various adapters for $5-$10 bucks new. However I can't find anything like the adapter thats on the Railscan antenna.

Has anyone built their own antenna similar to this design? Is it worth the trouble to build one and save some $$? (I'm still in school, so thats a biggie...)
Or, do I just buck up and buy one of these babies?

TIA,
Darrell
Auburn, AL

 

[DPD1]

That's not a basic 1/4 wave, it's a 5/8 wave. Which means there's a coil that's tuned with the whip... Not easy to make yourself.

Dave
http://www.dpdproductions.com
- Custom Scanner, Aviation, MURS, GMRS, Marine & Ham Antennas -

 

[prcguy]

Larsen is considered the Cadillac of 5/8 VHF antennas and you could easily get one with NMO mag mount for less than $72, not including tuning for the RR freqs. There’s also Maxrad, Antenex and other less expensive brands of which the Railscan is surly re-branded from. I have one that looks identical to the Railscan but would have to go look at the label. I get flyers all the time for various antennas and crap. Here’s one, a 5/8 wave length VHF NMO with 49” black whip tunable from 144-174MHz for $7.99 and a nice 5” dia mag mount (also black) for $11.99. Call Tram-Browning wholesale parts at 1-405-359-8243 and ask for a catalog. Maybe get a group buy and the antenna would be $5.99 for 50 and the mag mount for $9.99, qty 24.
prcguy

 

[ke5lvt]

the railcom antenna is a maxrad antenna. still a very good antenna

 

[kf4lne]

For about $30 you can get a MFJ 2M amateur band antenna with NMO mag base and trim it to the RR frequencies.

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-1728B

Out of the box its tuned for the low end of the 2M ham band, actually mine was tuned down near the 142MHz range but with some good cutters and a file you can trim it to the band you want.

 

[N_Jay]

http://railcom.radio-dealers.com/as...3e-9d2c-e930662aa086&content_id=2244&cat_id=3

So I've been looking at this antenna, and thinking to myself, "What makes it so good? . . .

Marketing!:lol:

 

[n8emr]

BT barnum pretty much summed up why its cost $72.

its just a 5/8 VHF antenna that someone hyping to the railfan.

 

[mancow]

Man, I have a bundle of used 5/8 antennas at work in a corner somewhere that a guy gave me.

I'll try to remember to grab one and tune it to 160 if you want, but the mount is on you. I don't have any of those.

It's yours for the price of shipping.


$72........sheesh

 

[buggiecar]

Railscan Antenna

I have used many antennas for railfanning...this one works!

 

[ratboy]

I had a Larsen Dual band mag mount that worked OK, but on my truck, it was too long and I got tired of having to get out and take it off every day when I got home, so I went to an on glass 2M antenna, don't remember what make it was, but it worked fine, not as good as the Larsen, but 90% as well. I have a little short mag mount one now, that I got at a hamfest a couple years ago, and I just plop it on my roof. It works ok, not great, but it does the job, picking up locos about 20 miles away. The Larsen is amazing, but still hits the top of the door, so I don't use it often.