Dish as a scanner antenna

[byndhlptom]

This has indirectly be talked about, but here goes.

Where HOA's have limited your outside antenna options, the recent Court decisions have said the they cannot 'unduly restrict' TV reception. Could you electrically isolate the dish from the mount (nylon washers?), tie the center conductor of the coax to the dish, the shield to the mount and end up with a usable outside antenna. Even put a dummy piece of coax to the old feed so it looks 'right'. It would at least be outside and higher than the back of radio antenna. Just remember to point it south as part of the illusion

Just a thought from this old brain.....

tom

 

[rankin39]

I'd guess you'd probably be better off installing a "Ventenna", available from various ham radio suppliers. it would be closer to resonance and even less intrusive/visible.

Bob, WoNXN

 

[prcguy]

It would be better than nothing and would probably resonate between 50 and 100MHz. You could also use the dish and mount as a counterpoise and mount a very thin piano wire whip sticking out of the top lip of the dish.
prcguy

 

[blueangel-eric]

or stick a mini mag mount on the top of the dish but cut a piece to bend flat so it sticks straight up. or attach a small flat piece of metal like a pizza pan to stick it on. but even a thin ground plane antenna on top of it would work better and be low profile.

 

[gcgrotz]

or stick a mini mag mount on the top of the dish but cut a piece to bend flat so it sticks straight up. or attach a small flat piece of metal like a pizza pan to stick it on. but even a thin ground plane antenna on top of it would work better and be low profile.

Good idea, and if anyone asks, tell them it is a lightning rod for the dish. You can get that type of right angle bracket from any of the Ham suppliers, of perhaps even a luggage rack-type mount.