SMA 800 MHz 2.5db Gain Professional Portable Antenna

[bg_nashville]

I need to replace the "SMA 800 MHz 2.5db Gain Professional Portable Antenna" I bought from Scanner Master several years ago. Unfortunately, it has been out of stock at Scanner Master for months. Can this antenna be bought elsewhere? It seems like I remember reading it was made by Watson, but I am not certain.

 

[trentbob]

I need to replace the "SMA 800 MHz 2.5db Gain Professional Portable Antenna" I bought from Scanner Master several years ago. Unfortunately, it has been out of stock at Scanner Master for months. Can this antenna be bought elsewhere? It seems like I remember reading it was made by Watson, but I am not certain.

More details on the antenna would help but I actually think I know the one you're talking about from Watson.

The ramtronix 800 MHz antenna is great, it's the old Radio Shack 800 MHz antenna made by GRE.

If I could recommend, the antenna that I use exclusively on my sds100, an antenna that I have had for many years and is hard to find, it's the Watson w-801. The REM 7-800 MHz antenna works fairly well on UHF but not so much on VHF High but the Watson gives me good performance on all three bands.

I'm amazed the good performance I get on VHF High, UHF and 7-800 MHz.. I don't think this is the one that you are talking about as it is not limited to 800 MHz.

As finding it goes and where it's available is just a matter of searching Google in various different ways and see if you can find a vendor who still sells it. Check the company website.. HTH.

 

[bg_nashville]

More details on the antenna would help but I actually think I know the one you're talking about from Watson.

The ramtronix 800 MHz antenna is great, it's the old Radio Shack 800 MHz antenna made by GRE.

If I could recommend, the antenna that I use exclusively on my sds100, an antenna that I have had for many years and is hard to find, it's the Watson w-801. The REM 7-800 MHz antenna works fairly well on UHF but not so much on VHF High but the Watson gives me good performance on all three bands.
View attachment 154964
I'm amazed the good performance I get on VHF High, UHF and 7-800 MHz.. I don't think this is the one that you are talking about as it is not limited to 800 MHz.

As finding it goes and where it's available is just a matter of searching Google in various different ways and see if you can find a vendor who still sells it. Check the company website.. HTH.

I have that one too, but it’s not the one I’m talking about. Here is the link to it on Scanner Master’s website. 800 MHz 2.5db Gain Professional Portable SMA Antenna | Scanner Master

 

[bg_nashville]

I have that one too, but it’s not the one I’m talking about. Here is the link to it on Scanner Master’s website. 800 MHz 2.5db Gain Professional Portable SMA Antenna | Scanner Master

Actually I just found the thread from back in 2012 that clarifies who made it… it was Laird and the model number was EXE-806-SM. Hopefully they stiill make it.

 

[dave3825]

an antenna that I have had for many years and is hard to find, it's the Watson w-801

Also the only antenna that shares the name with an anxiety medication.

WATSON 801 50 mg Pill Green & White Capsule/Oblong - Pill Identifier

Pill with imprint WATSON 801 50 mg is Green & White, Capsule/Oblong and has been identified as Hydroxyzine Pamoate 50 mg. It is supplied by Watson Pharmaceuticals.

www.drugs.com

 

[trentbob]

Also the only antenna that shares the name with an anxiety medication.

WATSON 801 50 mg Pill Green & White Capsule/Oblong - Pill Identifier

Pill with imprint WATSON 801 50 mg is Green & White, Capsule/Oblong and has been identified as Hydroxyzine Pamoate 50 mg. It is supplied by Watson Pharmaceuticals.

www.drugs.com

Oh that's too funny, so original poster, I did a little research myself but thought you might find out for yourself, this is a company in the United Kingdom, I think you can still buy directly from the manufacturer, but who knows, how old the link was.

Most of the reviews if you were to look at them by simply Googling radio reference Watson-801 are good with some mixed reviews on VHF High, so I tested it today. I found it comparable to the standard issue Uniden antenna on VHF High, which is not that bad. The stock antenna usually comes up short on 7-800 megahertz reception.

Glad to see others chime in on this thread, I was beginning to wonder.

And OP, the antenna that you posted a photo of is exactly the antenna I was thinking that you were talking about, and I do own one. I think it's in the garage in one of the Ziploc bags, I remember receiving it, testing it, and never using it again as not being what I was looking for. That was many years ago.😉

 

[trentbob]

Laird, by the way, probably was the manufacturer of the antenna you're looking for. I just did some research, but I don't think they had any affiliation with the w801, Interesting.

 

[devicelab]

... it was Laird and the model number was EXE-806-SM. Hopefully they stiill make it.

Nah they've been discontinued for a while now. What little stock remains was just wholesalers and distributors dumping their stockpiles.

The antennas pop up on E-Bay regularly so keep checking that site. There are a few listed now but they use different connectors, etc.

The Laird EXE is an excellent 800 meg antenna but it's not exactly hard to find other brands, etc. You can get a Motorola version for $15 off E-bay if you're willing to use an adapter. The Motorola 800 "green" is also very, very good for trunking. You'd need a SMA-M to SMA-M adapter though for scanner use. (I just use Loctite on the adapter and it won't go anywhere.)

Here's the Motorola: 8505241U11 - Motorola OEM Flexible Whip Antenna, Dual Band, 764-870 MH