VHF Transmit and scanner antenna

[fallinsouth]

I was looking into a 150/450/800 antenna for a Tahoe I just bought. I wanted to keep it to one antenna for both. Is this a good option, or should I have a dedicated 150 antenna and another multi-band antenna?

Is the luggage rack a suitable mounting location or should I go through the roof. The truck does have a sunroof, so I would like to drill above the rear dome lamp if that will provide adequate TX/RX.

If one is possible, what splitter will provide the best bang for the buck?

 

[mcema699]

Dont Do It

Go seperate unless you want to blow out the scanner.

 

[k9rzz]

What kind of transmitting are we talking about?

Band, power, etc?

Certainly, if you have to transmit with one radio, and receive simultaneously with another, you need as much separation as possible between the two. Otherwise it's *POOF* goes the receive radio.

Details ...we need details!

 

[n5usr]

You would have to use a duplexer (some call them 'diplexers') to split VHF off from the rest. But then the scanner won't receive VHF (or any other frequencies sent to the other port) worth a darn since the signals don't get there. If you don't care about that, then yes it's possibly doable.

The next problem may be finding a duplexer that will pass the frequency range you want. Most are going to be rated for something like 1.3-170MHz on one port, 350-540MHz on the other. I did find the Comet CF-416W, which is listed as 1.3-250MHz and 400-1400MHz. Again, the scanner would only get the upper port's range of frequencies.

Comet's duplexers:
http://www.cometantenna.com/products.php?CatID=1&famID=6&childID=0

I prefer having a separate scanner antenna, so I can get all the bands. Locating the antenna(s) is a matter of choice and feasibility. The higher, and the more metal underneath it, the better the antenna will work. A potential issue with a luggage rack mount is you frequently don't get a good ground with them which can hurt performance.

 

[W4KRR]

I was looking into a 150/450/800 antenna for a Tahoe I just bought. I wanted to keep it to one antenna for both. Is this a good option, or should I have a dedicated 150 antenna and another multi-band antenna?

Is the luggage rack a suitable mounting location or should I go through the roof. The truck does have a sunroof, so I would like to drill above the rear dome lamp if that will provide adequate TX/RX.

If one is possible, what splitter will provide the best bang for the buck?

If you're referring to the Larsen 150/450/800 scanner antenna, that antenna isn't designed to transmit on. Even so, I would use seperate antennas for the transceiver and the scanner. By the time you buy a diplexer or any other device you might need to accomplish what you are trying to do, it would probably be cheaper to use a second antenna anyway.