Which Phantom Antenna?

[notblake]

New member here, but long time lurker. I'm a long distance roadtripper and am looking for a low profile scanner antenna to compliment the BCD436HP with GPS location-based scanning. I'm currently running a Laird ABSCAN antenna and while it performs well on the range I need (150-850mhz) I would really like to run a lower profile antenna on my 2015 Mustang GT.

Ultimately I want to know which frequency phantom I should run to provide the best nationwide scanner coverage (RX only, no TX). 150, 450 or 850 range?

Here's a picture of the mounting location with a CB whip installed for reference:

http://i.imgur.com/FMFJDZu.jpg

Thanks very much in advance

 

[popnokick]

Phantoms are reportedly crud on 150, and not so hot on 450. Ok on 800 for strong sig on 800. RR has a Search function... Use it and you'll see the user reports. Do yo think something will be different when you mount a short, compromised antenna to replace your ABSCAN? And that reason is....?

 

[W8RMH]

I have used a Laird Technologies TRAB7603 for over 5 years on several different vehicles, primarily for 760-870 MHz. It also performs well on UHF and fair on VHF. It is about the size of the base on your current antenna. The PhantomTRAB7603 antenna provides low visibility with a wide bandwidth and low angle radiation pattern that can produce results superior to many high gain antennas. Made from high grade plastic. 2.7" high. I will never go back to a whip antenna for scanner use.

 

[notblake]

Phantoms are reportedly crud on 150, and not so hot on 450. Ok on 800 for strong sig on 800. RR has a Search function... Use it and you'll see the user reports. Do yo think something will be different when you mount a short, compromised antenna to replace your ABSCAN? And that reason is....?

I've searched for more information on this and have not been successful in my efforts, hence the starting of a new thread.

Are you saying that the Phantom designed for 150Mhz is crud on 150Mhz? There will absolutely be a difference in replacing my abscan, the difference will be a more streamlined less noticiable antenna protruding from the trunk of my car. That is the primary objective of this antenna.

I'm trying to determine WHICH of the phantom antennas, 150, 450, or 850 will provide the most balanced performance across these three bands. Logic would say the 450 would perform best across all three, but I'm not sure if that is nessisarially the case. I could see where the extra length of the 150mhz coil might enable better reception across bands other than 150.

Again, I know the perfomance will not be impressive. Just looking for better than the rubber ducky levels of performance. I always have the ABSCAN when I need a high performance antenna.

 

[notblake]

I have used a Laird Technologies TRAB7603 for over 5 years on several different vehicles, primarily for 760-870 MHz. It also performs well on UHF and fair on VHF. It is about the size of the base on your current antenna. The PhantomTRAB7603 antenna provides low visibility with a wide bandwidth and low angle radiation pattern that can produce results superior to many high gain antennas. Made from high grade plastic. 2.7" high. I will never go back to a whip antenna for scanner use.

Thank you W8RMH. For my purposes (scanning across VHF and UHF) do you think it would be more apt for me to install the 450mhz Phantom or the 800mhz? Keeping in mind that i will not be TXing on any of these frequencies.

Thanks again for the very helpful reply.

 

[PACNWDude]

Laird UHF Phantom works well.

The soup can sized Laird Phantom VHF antennas only had a 1MHz bandwidth and needed tuning. So if you were using it for 150MHz, it needed to be tuned for that frequency. They also needed a large enough ground plane for them to work well.

The UHF ones worked pretty well. Higher frequency ones worked well too. Here is a picture of an older car I use a UHF one on. The whip is for VHF, since it works much better than a Phantom antenna.

My currently used Phantom antennas are all UHF, they were the only ones that still work. It has been 12 years since they were all installed though, and used for transmit as well as receive.

 

[popnokick]

How did you search? Whatever you did you missed this -
http://forums.radioreference.com/amateur-radio-antennas/324747-low-profile-2m-70cm-antenna.html

 

[prcguy]

I have a couple of VHF Phantom NMO antennas, Antenex/Laird I believe. Compared to a 1/4 wave VHF whip or a Larsen tri band or Maxrad BMAXSCAN1000 its grim on performance in the VHF band and worthless anywhere else.
prcguy

I've searched for more information on this and have not been successful in my efforts, hence the starting of a new thread.

Are you saying that the Phantom designed for 150Mhz is crud on 150Mhz? There will absolutely be a difference in replacing my abscan, the difference will be a more streamlined less noticiable antenna protruding from the trunk of my car. That is the primary objective of this antenna.

I'm trying to determine WHICH of the phantom antennas, 150, 450, or 850 will provide the most balanced performance across these three bands. Logic would say the 450 would perform best across all three, but I'm not sure if that is nessisarially the case. I could see where the extra length of the 150mhz coil might enable better reception across bands other than 150.

Again, I know the perfomance will not be impressive. Just looking for better than the rubber ducky levels of performance. I always have the ABSCAN when I need a high performance antenna.