Telescopic antenna

[N467RX]

How good is the RS telescopic antenna for AIR and VHF bands?

I've heard that it can damage the BNC connector on the scanner, is that true?

 

[N4JNW]

As far as reception, it's excellent. I've had a couple, and I'm actually thinking about buying another in a day or so, to use on my Pro-528.

Yes, it can damage the BNC because it's so long when extended. If you'll keep the scanner still, either standing up, or clipped on a scanner stand, it's not nearly as hard on it. But, you might not want to stand the scanner up with it fully extended, because it will cause the scanner to tip over at the slightest movement.

For sitting still, they're tough to beat for air and VHF bands, although you might want to collapse a couple sections to get the antenna closer to the length it needs to be for proper resonace and best recpetion. Fully extended, I think the antenna is pretty much made for VHF-Low band, but if you collapse the first top two sections, making it shorter, VHF-Hi and Air band recpetion should increase somewhat.

I'll probably buy one tomorrow at the local RS before I leave for the weekend.

 

[N467RX]

Great, so looks like my shopping list has the telescopic for AIR and the 800Mhz for 800Mhz.

 

[N4JNW]

Wise choices..

The RS 800 is good on lots of bands, but Air is not one of them. It is very lacking there. But it's funny, VHF-Hi, 155's come in very well. I guess 155's is just the bottom of the curve for the RS 800.

 

[N467RX]

That's what somebody told me when I asked between the 800 and the deluxe, that the 800 does good around 155 as the lowest, but AIR is just bad.

I know that the stock rubber duck is good for AIR when near the airport (I tried a friend's one, since I don't own one), and the next scanner I get will include the duck, so I'm set for when I need to go portable near the airport.

 

[N4JNW]

I'm curious as to how the telescopic will do on 800 mhz.. When it's fully collapsed....

 

[policefreak]

You say that the RS 800 duck works well for VHF Highband. What about UHF? How well does it work on UHF?

 

[N4JNW]

It's marginal.... It's probably in the same class as the stock duckie on UHF.

The RS 800 is essentially your run of the mill stock rubber duckie, with enhanced 800 mhz recpetion, but with degraded air recpetion..

 

[N467RX]

It's marginal.... It's probably in the same class as the stock duckie on UHF.

The RS 800 is essentially your run of the mill stock rubber duckie, with enhanced 800 mhz recpetion, but with degraded air recpetion..

A tuned duckie that looks more like a pro-grade transceiver antenna.

 

[FrankJ]

I found the Radio Shack telescoping antenna works best on the VHF Air and Marine Band when:

1. All the bottom sections below the loading coil are collapsed
2. Collapse the bottom most section above the loading coil (all others are extended)

 

[N4JNW]

I found the Radio Shack telescoping antenna works best on the VHF Air and Marine Band when:

1. All the bottom sections below the loading coil are collapsed
2. Collapse the bottom most section above the loading coil (all others are extended)

Sweetness!! I'll have to try that!