Need an all band antenna that also covers 800 mhz as well

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senduhelp

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I am about to purchase an antenna for my scanner I will be mounting in my vehicle. I have checked out several antennas and websites that have antennas and I have a few questions. Is there an all band antenna that also covers 800 mhz as well? I have always used mag mount antennas but I understand from reading other postings that an NMO style will give me better performance. I will be mounting the antenna using a hood lip style mount. An NMO will work best for this mounting location I assume. I am hesitant purchasing the antenna and hood lip mount because I am not sure what will work. Some antennas talk about a certain size hole and I am completely lost. I was told to purchase this antenna...

www.weisd.com/store2/ANTMONR33.html

Any other thoughts on this antenna based on where I will be mounting it. How tall is this antenna? Any other antenna suggestions would be appreciated. I want to be sure to make the best decision. Thanks.
 

KC0QNB

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That particular antenna is popular and works well from what I hear
Its not a true NMO mount they take a 3/4" hole. But it will work fine for you, not sure about 800 mHz though
according to PCTEL's website it will cover form 25-1000 mHz but no further specs go for it! and don't forget the mount.
 

senduhelp

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That particular antenna is popular and works well from what I hear
Its not a true NMO mount they take a 3/4" hole. But it will work fine for you, not sure about 800 mHz though
according to PCTEL's website it will cover form 25-1000 mHz but no further specs go for it! and don't forget the mount.

Would that antenna work with a hood lip mount? If so, any ideas which one I should choose. Like I said I am used to a mag mount which is cut and dry, you buy the antenna and that is it. I am new to this whole mount business. I have a Honda Pilot if that helps with suggestions. Thanks.
 

KC0QNB

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Holes or no holes?, that is the question, I have used some right angle mounts that are best called groove mounts in most cases they have three small holes in the vertical part and one large hole for the antenna mount, to use these one needs to drill the right sized holes for screws or use some tek screws that are self drilling/tapping.
 

fmon

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From source page "Antenna Specialists MONR33 roof mount mobile scanner antenna. All band (25-50. 130-174 and 450-512 MHz) roof/deck mounting base for permanent installation. Requires 3/8 hole. 17' cable included." Since coverage tops at 512, it will be of little use for 800 MHz. Otherwise, yes, a lip mount should work.

I've been very happy with multi band Radio Shack Glass Mount (25-1300 MHz).
 

KC0QNB

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I stand corrected, the Maxrad (B)MAXSCAN1000 covers 150-170mHz, 450-470mHz and 800-840mHz, may be better. ( I am not a big A/S fan)
 

af5rn

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It is not the NMO mount that makes the difference. It is having the antenna -- regardless of mount type -- mounted directly into a hole drilled into the body of the vehicle. If you are not going to drill a hole directly into the body of your vehicle, then anything else is a compromise.

There is no substitute for height and ground plane. That being the rule, you would get better performance out of a simple mag mount in the centre of your roof than you would with one of those L brackets on the hood groove. The hole doesn't matter if it is not in the body of your vehicle.

The MONR33 is a very old design, and is not meant for 800 mhz, but it is a good, tried and true antenna for everything below 800. Almost all modern scanner antennae are made for 800 mhz performance, including the MONR752 at that same website, http://www.weisd.com/store2/ANTMON752.html . It's nearly forty dollars more than the MONR33, but it is at the top end of all-band antennae, with performance in the same range as the Austin Spectra, which costs about the same.

While 800 mhz performance is standard for almost every scanner antenna made today, low band performance is the one that is rapidly fading away, and being left off of them. Do you need low band? A lot of people in a lot of urban and metropolitan locations simply don't need low band anymore as everybody migrates to higher frequencies. If you don't need low band, then you have a much better selection of antennae to choose from. The Antenna Specialist MONR antennae are good choices if you need low band, but I wouldn't even consider them if I didn't need low band.

What bands are you MOST concerned about good reception on? What one band can you not live without getting the very best long-distance performance out of? Do you really need long distance (>15 mi.) performance at all where you live? What bands do you have little or no need for? Is money an object for your decision, or do you just want the best? Are you willing to drill a hole in your roof or trunk?
 

senduhelp

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af5rn,

Thanks for your info. The desired frequencies are tricky in my area right now. Right now the 2 major counties around me are low band (33.00-46.50). In the very near future one county is changing to digital which will then be a higher frequency and also a new scanner in my case. At that point low band won't be an issue for me. I do not need really long distance coverage because the areas I will be travelling are pretty strong signals so that shouldn't be an issue. I would like to avoid drilling holes if at all possible. Maybe I'll go that route some day, I just don't have the courage to do that right now and my wife would probably shoot me. Money is an object as it probably is for most, but I am willing to pay for a good product. The reason I was trying to avoid putting an antenna on the roof is because of the inconvenience of taking it down everytime I need to park in a parking garage, which I do for work, or am going through a drive thru where it would strike and, in the case of a mag mount, fall off. I think this answers most or all of your questions. Let me know your thoughts.
 

af5rn

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If your low band systems are simplex, with the mobiles coming in weakly at times, then I'd stick with the MONR antenna and either get a trunk lip or hood groove bracket to mount it on. That way you can quickly and easily unscrew it at work.

But if low band is high powered on repeaters (and you anticipate them moving off of low band soon anyhow), I'd get a smaller, easier to handle antenna that is cheaper and still performs very well. The Comtelco sold by ScannerMaster ( http://www.scannermaster.com/Comtelco_All_Band_Low_Prof_Antenna_p/07-540719.htm ) is a highly rated, good all round choice, only 19 inches tall, and is NMO mounted, so you can use it on a mag, a trunk lip, a hood groove, or even drill a hole in your roof if you ever get the nerve, lol.
 
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senduhelp

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af5rn,
okay thanks for the info. I will probably go with the Comtelco antenna. Any ideas on finding the hood groove mount? Is that the same thing as the hood lip mount? I thought I heard it called that, I could be wrong. Are they all pretty standard as far as working with this type of antenna? If I am mounting on the hood there shouldn't be a problem with it hitting in the parking garage I don't think. I took a peek under the hood of my pilot today and I do not have a clue where the cable will run to get through the firewall. I intend on having some place install all of this because I wouldn't know where to begin. Thanks again for your help.
 

af5rn

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Good choice. Wherever you take it to be installed should have the brackets, NMO, and coax for you, if it's a professional radio shop. Just take them the antenna and tell them what you want. Call ahead though, as you may need an appointment if they're busy. And no, you won't have any problems with it hitting the garage. It will barely stick up as high as your own roof.

This is a lip mount ---> http://www.tessco.com/productimages/300x300/88201.jpg

This is a groove mount ---> http://www.tessco.com/productimages/300x300/38150.jpg

If you don't have a trunk, you don't have a trunk lip. It's the groove mount that you need.
 

senduhelp

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Thanks so much for all of your help. Most all of the shops around me install car stereos mainly. I'm not sure where the local emergency units get their radios installed. I had planned on taking it to one of the car stereo shops to have it installed. They may have the mounts I will have to check with them first.
 

af5rn

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I'm not sure where the local emergency units get their radios installed.
Call them and find out. For most people, it is worth it to get it done professionally.

Stereo shops should be able to do it just fine, and usually cheaper. But I wouldn't count on them having the brackets, the NMO, the quality coax, or the experience placing the antenna. You'll probably have to take all that to them.
 
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