Scantenna vs 118-1000 MHz Scanner LP Model Antenna

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mrdinks

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I have read every opinion there is about all the antennas and I know everyone has a different opinion. Has anyone had both of these antennas?
I know everyone likes the scantenna but is it just because of the price?
I think the DPD antenna looks a lot stronger and would be worth the money if it performs just as well.
 

Paulsan

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I have the DPD Productions Omni-X and can say that it is an excellent antenna. The build quality is nothing short of excellent. I haven't seen a Scantenna in person, but owners state that it is prone to structural failure. They also state that it is a great performer with an incredible price.

Now before somebody says that the title of the thread doesn't say anything about the Omni-X, let me say that I don't have the LP. I didn't have the ability to justify it's cost to "The Warden". I also wouldn't have been able to get her to go for a nine foot Scantenna on a fifteen foot mast on top of the house. That is the simple reality for me. So instead I got the Omni-X. I believe it is worth more than Dave is selling it for currently and that is probably the case with the LP.

I would say that if you have the change, go for it. If it's built anything like the Omni-X, it will last your lifetime.
 
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fuzzymoto

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I'd be very curious to find anyone running an ST-2 side-by-side with an DPD LP or a DPD Omni-X. I've asked in other threads for some real-world experience comparing these models and so far...no response.
 

TheReaper

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fuzzymoto said:
I'd be very curious to find anyone running an ST-2 side-by-side with an DPD LP or a DPD Omni-X. I've asked in other threads for some real-world experience comparing these models and so far...no response.

I would love to do this. I currently have both a Omni-X and a LP, but I live in an apartment. I'm currently looking at a house that I've just found.

The DPD's are built really strong. Only complaint is I wish they would use a better coax.
 

fuzzymoto

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TheReaper said:
It’s a pigtail that attaches to the antenna itself, and then you attach your coax to that. They use RG-58 for the coax.


Just for a short pigtail correct?
 

DPD1

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Just an explanation for the coax... It would be physically impossible to use a cable as large as an RG8 size on the antennas anyway, but when you're only talking about 2-4 feet... the comparison in loss between RG8 and RG58 for that length is so tiny, it's completely negligible. It could be bumped to RG8X I guess, but once again, the difference would pretty much be zero. Yet the cost would go up a little. Which of course we try to keep down.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist
 

CityLights

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The LP is a solid looking build. I wounder if it would help me bring in some extra public safety channels from a neighboring city. (860MHz)

What is the directional gain of the LP centered at 860MHz? I see the specs list 8 dBi but I hardly believe that would hold for the entire 118-1000 MHz range, I'm guessing thats an average for the forward lobe. I would love to see a graph of it's forward gain over it's operating spectrum.
 
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Paulsan

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Airdorn said:
That's the one that's all crooked-looking right?

I've been all over the DPD website. I've never seen one of their antennas that was "all crooked-looking". Do you have a link for that one?
 

digitalanalog

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The omni X
omnix1_new_small.jpg


FEATURES

Specs: 3 dBi VHF / 4 dBi UHF - 3 Elements - Omnidirectional Pattern - 1/2 Wave

Multi Band-Wide Coverage: The uniquely designed OmniX is tuned to multiple bands, giving it wide frequency coverage. Unlike many multi band antennas that were originally designed for the ham bands and then marketed as a scanner antenna, the OmniX was specifically designed for scanner radio use and tuned to popular commercial and civil service bands... Not the ham bands. This antenna can be quite esthetically pleasing compared to discones and other multi element antennas, and it's also more efficient.

DC Grounded: A metal ground plane is not needed with this design.

Solid Construction: The antenna is constructed of 1 1/2" aluminum tube for the core element and solid 1/4" aluminum round is used for side elements. No flimsy tubing or dimple rivets are used. The entire antenna is carefully hand crafted and all aluminum is given a brushed finish.

Isolated Mast: The actual vertical structure is comprised of UV resistant plastic. This allows the actual elements to be raised into 'free space' above your metal mounting mast.

Weather Resistant: All fasteners are stainless steel.

High Quality N Connector: Instead of the usual UHF connector that's included with most antennas, this antenna includes a 50 ohm female N connector, on the end of a small pigtail of WireMan #126 cable. N connectors are more water resistant and handle high frequencies better.

Includes Mounting Hardware: Price includes mounting clamps to allow attaching the antenna to any standard 1 1/4" mounting mast.

Dimensions: Total Length: 40" - Total Width: 30" - Feeder Cable Length: 24" (inches)

http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_scanner.html
 

mrdinks

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digitalanalog said:
I guess my only comment would be, I don't feel Scantenna's are flimsy.
Not to argue but there are a hundred posts on this site talking about how to reinforce the scantenna with a fiberglass pole. I have never seen any topic on beefing up any other antenna.

Paulsan said:
I have the DPD Productions Omni-X and can say that it is an excellent antenna. The build quality is nothing short of excellent. I haven't seen a Scantenna in person, but owners state that it is prone to structural failure. They also state that it is a great performer with an incredible price.
I would say that if you have the change, go for it. If it's built anything like the Omni-X, it will last your lifetime.
I am also considering the Omni-X so input is appreciated.

fuzzymoto said:
I'd be very curious to find anyone running an ST-2 side-by-side with an DPD LP or a DPD Omni-X. I've asked in other threads for some real-world experience comparing these models and so far...no response.
Exactly what I am looking for but I guess it has not been done.

TheReaper said:
I would love to do this. I currently have both a Omni-X and a LP, but I live in an apartment. I'm currently looking at a house that I've just found.

The DPD's are built really strong. Only complaint is I wish they would use a better coax.
How do you feel the Omni-X compares to the LP?
The Omni-X is smaller and cheaper but if the LP performs better I figure why not spend the extra money. Look at the money we spend on radios and scanners, why not have a "better" antenna. We are not talking that much more money.
 

fuzzymoto

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I have an ST-2 and 20-176 side by side and I'm looking to add a 3rd antenna. This 3rd antenna will most likely be a DPD Omni-X or DPD LP. Just recently there have been a few people that purchased one of the DPD antenna, but have not mounted them outside yet for comparison...so I've been watching to see if anyone responds for that. Hopefully we'll see that soon. As far as the LP vs the Omni-X I've asked and Dave's response was basically that if you're tring to reach out in one direction then the LP may benefit you more. Of course you have to balance this with the extra cost of the LP and the extra size of the LP. I haven't seen one in person, but it's my impression the LP is pretty big, so mounting it may be a little more difficult compared to the Omni-X. Finally as far as the ST-2 being fragile, I'll offer up that I did reinforce mine. I have high winds and my ST-2 is in an exposed position...and who knows if it would have broken or not. Keep in mind my ST-2 was $26 (including the coax I didn't use) and the total cost of the reinforcement was MAYBE $3. Hard to beat the ST-2 for $30. There may be hundreds of posts discussing the reinforcement, but that's because there are hundreds of people buying ST-2's.

DPD/Dave make a great antenna, I'm excited to add one and I look forward to some real-world comparisons.
 

thewenk

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fuzzymoto said:
I have an ST-2 and 20-176 side by side and I'm looking to add a 3rd antenna. This 3rd antenna will most likely be a DPD Omni-X or DPD LP. Just recently there have been a few people that purchased one of the DPD antenna, but have not mounted them outside yet for comparison...so I've been watching to see if anyone responds for that. Hopefully we'll see that soon.
fuzzymoto, I have posted elsewhere about my Omni-X and its receiving distances.
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101760

While I haven't run both the ST-2 and the Omni-X side by side, I have owned both of them.

I owned the ST-2 about four years ago and the scanners I use today are different than four years ago. So my comparison of the two is rather subjective. I was happy with the ST-2 until it fell apart. After it fell apart, I used an Antenna Specialists MON731 which is also a good antenna. However when I started listening to 700 MHz digital, I thought the MON731 was weak on 700, so I went to a Yagi for the 700. The MON 731 worked fine on VHF/UHF, but I wasn't really happy with the mounting of the 731, since it was really a mobile antenna adapted to a base installation. So recently I got the Omni-X for VHF/UHF.

The ST-2, as I remember, is a good antenna as far as reception goes. However, it reminded me of a TV antenna and its configuration seems to subject to higher wind loading. I remember watching it during one windstorm and noticing how it caused a lot of vibration to be transferred into the mast itself.

I am very happy with my Omni-X. I have no doubt that any of DPD's antennas will be excellent. So, I'd say save your pennies for a DPD antenna. IMO, this is a case of you get what you pay for.

I'm now considering the DPD 700-1000 MHz UHF LP.
Dave
 

Paulsan

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I'm no super scanner guy. But I can say that the Omni-X has provided a tremendous jump in reception for me. The build quality is second to none and it isn't obnoxious looking on the roof.

I got a high quality antenna, built in America, from a company that has an owner that has dealt with me personally, for a very reasonable price. I can rest assured that it won't fall apart from wind or ice and I won't be replacing it in four or five years. Reinforcements weren't necessary.

My next purchase from Dave will almost certainly be his 2 Meter Vertical outside antenna. Again, it is unobtrusive and I'm sure will serve me well.

But first I have to get a new scanner to replace my old BC200XLT.
 

mrdinks

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I dont want anyone to think I am bashing the scantenna. I agree it sounds like a good antenna and for the price you cant go wrong. I might end up with one myself. I am going to put up a new tower and want the the best of all worlds. I figure if I dont drive my car for a couple days what I save in gas would pay for the LP.

I am just looking for a little debate and I thank you all for your responces.
I am very interested in the Omni-X not only because of its size but also its price.

The LP is only about 4 foot x 4 foot compared to the 8 foot scantenna, and the Omni-X is only 10" shorter than the LP.
 

fuzzymoto

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Good info....I'd still love to hear from someone running any/all of these side-by-side. My current plan is to replace the 20-176 with the Omni-X and then see from there, but I'm months (or more) away from moving to the new radio room and I can't do the antenna swaps until I do. Fortunately that means I may see more responses before I make my choices. I think the DPD LP concerns me from a mounting position because of the boom length and how that will torque the mast. I'd also have to put up a new mast for that, but not for the Omni-X. Not to muddy the waters, but I've also been debating the PAR Mon-3 as a possible choice.....but of course no one is running that side-by-side with any of these either.
 
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