Chaos703
Member
I'm in desperate need of a new mobile antenna. Two problems: 1) I don't know what antenna to get and 2) I don't understand the principles of grounding an antenna.
First the antenna:
After doing some reading, I keep coming back to the Austin Spectra. It's expensive but seems to have the best multi-band offerings. I'm in fine shape on 800 but I'm tired of listening to the crap static for everything else. Additionally, I really do enjoy listening to OHP low band (where you can find it). So I don't mind paying for it if it actually works. Has anyone had good or bad experience with either the Spectra or something else?
Next the grounding:
I hate asking this because I feel I'm admitting that I failed Scanning 101, but put simply, does the woven copper shield in the coax have to be grounded to the body of the car or should it be terminated? I've always assumed the way it's SUPPOSE to work is that the shielding in the coax connects with the mounting base which is grounded to the body of the car creating a ground continuity through the antenna, scanner and the car. I've tried it both ways and have always seemed to have better success by NOT connecting the base to the metal of the car with the exception of a mag mount which I ASSUME connects to the metal of the car—but I could be totally wrong about that. And then there's glass mounts that confuse me even more.
And if that wasn't enough, I'm also confused about the relationship between electrical grounding and the ground plane. Is the ground plan established by physically "grounding" the coax or is it a totally different deal?
Can anyone offer any help?
First the antenna:
After doing some reading, I keep coming back to the Austin Spectra. It's expensive but seems to have the best multi-band offerings. I'm in fine shape on 800 but I'm tired of listening to the crap static for everything else. Additionally, I really do enjoy listening to OHP low band (where you can find it). So I don't mind paying for it if it actually works. Has anyone had good or bad experience with either the Spectra or something else?
Next the grounding:
I hate asking this because I feel I'm admitting that I failed Scanning 101, but put simply, does the woven copper shield in the coax have to be grounded to the body of the car or should it be terminated? I've always assumed the way it's SUPPOSE to work is that the shielding in the coax connects with the mounting base which is grounded to the body of the car creating a ground continuity through the antenna, scanner and the car. I've tried it both ways and have always seemed to have better success by NOT connecting the base to the metal of the car with the exception of a mag mount which I ASSUME connects to the metal of the car—but I could be totally wrong about that. And then there's glass mounts that confuse me even more.
And if that wasn't enough, I'm also confused about the relationship between electrical grounding and the ground plane. Is the ground plan established by physically "grounding" the coax or is it a totally different deal?
Can anyone offer any help?