Technical Questions About 'Reaching Out'

[FreeOperator]

So, I know this question would be reserved for the equipment section, but I wanted to ask experts from Washington State what they thought would work.

I live in Lacey and am wanting to listen to Pierce County traffic. I presume a nice long antenna would do the trick, but what kind and would mounting it on the ground work, or would it need to be on the roof?

What else might I need for such an endeavor?

[DickH]

Originally Posted by FreeOperator

... I presume a nice long antenna would do the trick, ...

Long (70") will work fine for Lo Band (30 to 50 MHz). Here are the 1/4 wave lengths for various other bands.
Air (around 120 MHz) 23"
VHF Ham Band (144) 19"
Hi Band (154-174) 17"
UHF (460MHz) 6"
800 MHz 3-1/4"

[funkytoad]

I'm in Olympia, and I have an Antennacraft ST-2 just sitting in my attic attached to a Uniden BCT-15X. I can hear all of Pierce County almost as clear as I can pick up Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater. I can hear as far as Seattle pretty well on most days.