Scanner Antenna

[KC2SVY]

What would you guys reccomend as a Scanner antenna for primarily VHF-HI (150-174)and 800 public safety bands? I live in a condo so if I can get something small I can put on the balcony or even inside the attic that'd be best. I live on the second (top) floor. Just looking to upgrade the antenna that came with my Uniden BCT15 which is a BNC connection.

 

[brandon]

The PAR Electronics MON-3 is a nice little antenna that works good on VHF/UHF and 800 MHz. It's also very small (perfect for balcony or attic) and performs very well.

 

[KC2SVY]

Looks good but appears to be discontinued unless you know a place to get it or any other suggestions?

 

[KOK5CY]

Here is a suggestion .....

Get a so-239 connector like the type in the rear of cb radio's .

Get you'r self 5 wire clothes hanger's cut each 1 @ 18" long then take 1 end of each wire and bend a small loop and bend it to a 45 angle . Then take the 5th hanger wire and solder it to the center pin of the so-239 . Use 1/4"x20" machine screws with nut's and bolt the 45 degree rod's to the casing of the connector and you got a home made scanner antenna . You can hang the antenna from the room ceiling and enjoy all coverage . This antenna work's very well it cover's the vhf,uhf,800,air . When i built mine i could hear a County sheriff repeater 25 miles away but also heard a few further than that .

 

[fuzzymoto]

For small size it is hard to beat the Radio Shack 20-176. Mine works great on VHF. As far as 800Mhz mine works well BUT my 800Mhz sources are very close to my house. The 20-176 is not known for 800Mhz performance. It is small and it is cheap ($25). With that said, I have been trying to find a PAR Mon-3 to try out. So far ONLY PAR Electronics seems to sell them and they are not cheap. About $70 + shipping. I have found no other source for the Mon-3 so far. I also have another thread going in the antenna forum about small base antenna. So far there have been no replies beyond the PAR Mon-3.

Other thread about small base antenna:
http://radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82128

 

[KC2SVY]

The primary 800 system I'd be scanning is probably about a mile from my home so 800 isn't a big deal, though I was hoping to be able to pull in atlatic city which is about 15 miles away and only 75 watts. With my current stock antenna I can't pick up atlantic city at all. Most VHF traffic in my county is simplex so that's my main focus.

 

[fuzzymoto]

I'm still hoping to find and try out a Mon-3, and so far I have not seen anyone suggest an alternative base antenna for size and band coverage. The 20-176 will work well for VHF, but I'm not sure you'll get 800Mhz at 15 miles, but again I don't have any way to test that and I simply don't have much 800Mhz stuff in my area. They do make cheap Yagi/directional 800Mhz antenna that are small and can be aimed directly at what you are trying to receive (Atlantic City). Keep in mind that while they may work great in one direction for 800Mhz, they will likely be terrible in any other direction or any other freq range.

 

[KC2SVY]

Which yagi would you reccomend, the site that is about a mile from me is probably in the same general direction and those are the only 2 800 towers I'd need.

 

[fuzzymoto]

I haven't used an 800Mhz Yagi so I can't reccomend one. I'm sure someone else will have more experience with them than I and will reccomend one. I see many cellular-type Yagi's on eBay or you can search the Wiki or any of the common antenna sites.

 

[hoser147]

For small size it is hard to beat the Radio Shack 20-176. Mine works great on VHF. As far as 800Mhz mine works well BUT my 800Mhz sources are very close to my house. The 20-176 is not known for 800Mhz performance. It is small and it is cheap ($25). With that said, I have been trying to find a PAR Mon-3 to try out. So far ONLY PAR Electronics seems to sell them and they are not cheap. About $70 + shipping. I have found no other source for the Mon-3 so far. I also have another thread going in the antenna forum about small base antenna. So far there have been no replies beyond the PAR Mon-3.

Other thread about small base antenna:
http://radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82128

Fuzzy, how close is the source of the freq you want to listen to ?

 

[fuzzymoto]

For me I'm looking to add a search antenna that does well on 150-160, 450-470 and 800-900 but there's not anything specific I'm aiming at. I think the OP is aiming for VHF and 800Mhz. I can literally hit the only 800Mhz tower I listen to with a gofl ball (and a 1-wood). I'm looking for a smaller base antenna (I'm limited as far as size at the mounting point). For me it has to be either a mobile mag-mount antenna or a small base antenna that does not have downward radials. It's hard to explain but my mount point is in a location where two rooves meet...so if I go down I hit the other roof and if I go up I hit my other antenna already in place.

The VHF I pick up is anywhere from 10 miles to 50 miles (and then some).

 

[KC2SVY]

I'm starting to think either I should have an omnidirectional VHF-HI and a directional 800 yagi and an antenna switch or put something up in my attic (I live in a condo so roof isn't really an option). Will having the yagi make that much of a difference if I can barely pick up the signal at all now with the stock antenna?

 

[NoRide]

I've got a Uniden BCT-15 with a Scantenna mounted outside and like to hear 800 MHz in the town I work in which is about 10 miles away. (I live in the woods.) I get limited hits with this setup. Borrowed a friends Pro-97 with the better RS rubber duckie and picked up much more. Outta pure curiousity, I mounted the rubber duckie on the Uniden and it made no difference. Sensitivity difference between the two units? Dunno. Soo, I'm thinking on getting a handheld and dedicate that for 800 MHz. scanning.

 

[bonus1331]

I'm starting to think either I should have an omnidirectional VHF-HI and a directional 800 yagi and an antenna switch or put something up in my attic (I live in a condo so roof isn't really an option). Will having the yagi make that much of a difference if I can barely pick up the signal at all now with the stock antenna?

This is the solution I ended up using. I'm sure that like all of us, we are constantly on the never ending search for better reception. I have about 15 handheld antennas.
I bought a Scantenna and use the supplied coax from AntennaWarehouse for VHF/UHF. Thought it would work for all around including 800 MHZ. WRONG! Pretty deaf on 800.
Then bought a Cushcraft 800 Mhz Yagi and 50 foot of LMR-400 coax.
This combination did the trick! Best of both worlds. Give up on thinking you can find a great antenna for multiple bands...cost me alot of money trying.
Take the advice of many here on these forums. You will need to buy a great antenna for each band you are looking to monitor.
Total cost-
Scantenna with coax $40
50 ft of LMR-400 for 800 MHZ $40
800 Mhz yagi $15 (Ebay)

Great reception, multiple bands Priceless

 

[fuzzymoto]

Do you use two different scanners or an antenna switch?

 

[bonus1331]

I am using two scanners.

 

[KC2SVY]

This is the solution I ended up using. I'm sure that like all of us, we are constantly on the never ending search for better reception. I have about 15 handheld antennas.
I bought a Scantenna and use the supplied coax from AntennaWarehouse for VHF/UHF. Thought it would work for all around including 800 MHZ. WRONG! Pretty deaf on 800.
Then bought a Cushcraft 800 Mhz Yagi and 50 foot of LMR-400 coax.
This combination did the trick! Best of both worlds. Give up on thinking you can find a great antenna for multiple bands...cost me alot of money trying.
Take the advice of many here on these forums. You will need to buy a great antenna for each band you are looking to monitor.
Total cost-
Scantenna with coax $40
50 ft of LMR-400 for 800 MHZ $40
800 Mhz yagi $15 (Ebay)

Great reception, multiple bands Priceless

So would you say the scntenna is the best choice for vhf-high? (150-174). Or would I be good with going with a wideband VHF 144-174 antenna since I'm getting into amateur radio?

 

[bonus1331]

I find the Scantenna to receive very well in both UHF and VHF.
Just don't expect anything in the 800 area.
This antenna is quite a bargain for what it does.
http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Scantenna.htm

 

[fuzzymoto]

I agree...My Scantenna/ST-2 performs very well too.

 

[Viper43]

I find the Scantenna to receive very well in both UHF and VHF.
Just don't expect anything in the 800 area.
This antenna is quite a bargain for what it does.
http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Scantenna.htm

My Scantenna works very well in 800. It's the older RS version, been through a lot and held together with duct tape but still recieves like it did new..... 15 years later.

V