ST2 vs RS Sputnik

[btlacer]

So I recently updated my antenna setup. I have a ST2, RS Sputnik and a Centerfire 700 dipole. All fed with RG11 coax at 45 feet. Antennas are mounted in my attic and mounted on tripods. I was feeding the ST2 to my Electroline EDA 2802 8 port splitter. The Centerfire is attached to my SDS200 directly. I was not using the Sputnik. While monitoring my bct15xs and 780 xlts I was pulling in great low band signals and decent am air band. Not hearing much on vhf high, so I decided to swap out the antennas and try the Suptnik. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! vhf band came in clearer and am aircraft came in better, but definitely lost the low band signals... So not sure what to do now? Use the ST2 or the Sputnik? Anyone else have a similar experience with the ST2 or RS Sputnik?

 

[vagrant]

I found my ST2 performed better than my discone in the direction where aimed as well as higher around 900 MHz, but the ST2 was not as good on Mil air. A Diamond discone with LMR-400 is now used to feed through various filters, then to a 10dB gain amplifier and finally to a zero gain multi-coupler. I use one of my ST2 antennas horizontally for TV. (None are for sale people) One of my Mil air scanners has an additional bandpass filter to really clean things up. My antennas are above my roofline.

I also have an RS Sputnik and the sweep overall was poor and the plastic bit is beginning to crack. Still, it swept well around 162 MHz. Additionally, my testing of the Sputnik was not in the same location/coax as the other two so there is that to consider. I did use it for VHF air though due to its small size inside my office. It worked, but I was across the street from the airport. I think the RS Sputnik would be a useable outdoor antenna for NOAA WX. If it was still made it would be worth properly setting it up and testing. Mine is now old and may not last a year outdoors.

If I was on a tight budget, I would purchase that inexpensive Tram discone, RG6 coaxial cable and an FM broadcast filter even if it was that old RS FM filter. The Diamond discone build is better. (I know I have both) An inline amplifier would be next, but no more than 10dB gain. Even with that low cost system, one could enjoy 120-500 MHz signals as well as strong nearby signals outside of that bandwidth. The “key” of course is getting the antenna above your roofline.

 

[trentbob]

So I recently updated my antenna setup. I have a ST2, RS Sputnik and a Centerfire 700 dipole. All fed with RG11 coax at 45 feet. Antennas are mounted in my attic and mounted on tripods. I was feeding the ST2 to my Electroline EDA 2802 8 port splitter. The Centerfire is attached to my SDS200 directly. I was not using the Sputnik. While monitoring my bct15xs and 780 xlts I was pulling in great low band signals and decent am air band. Not hearing much on vhf high, so I decided to swap out the antennas and try the Suptnik. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! vhf band came in clearer and am aircraft came in better, but definitely lost the low band signals... So not sure what to do now? Use the ST2 or the Sputnik? Anyone else have a similar experience with the ST2 or RS Sputnik?

If I could ask, where did you get this Radio Shack antenna, I've been using that antenna since the 60s when it cost $5.95 but it didn't have the two 4-in prongs poking out of it, it was just a good VHF High Ground plane. Eventually it developed into what it was when Radio Shack went Belly Up.

On the last bankruptcy liquidation sales I purchased many of them pre-wrapped. I think they were $29.95 originally but then reduced down to basically nothing, 75% off. I bought everyone I could find from every Radio Shack within and without my area and still have one left in the shrink wrap.

I consider it on the level of the RS 800. Made by GRE. Which is now remtronicx. With an SMA version and a SDS 100 water resistant o-ring sma version.

But the Sputnik is the antenna I use today along with others. Your other antennas sound good. Interesting thread.

 

[btlacer]

I think I bought it off ebay several years ago. I had one back in the 90s when I lived at home with my mom. We lived in a apartment complex and the owner put it on the top of our two story building for me. I picked up signals from Louisville KY and from St. Louis MO all the time. It was a great antenna and setup.