NMO Ground Plane or Discone For Scanning?

[ASTRO_Man]

Hello All,

I’m looking to put a scanning antenna on side of the house, and there isn’t really a limit on how high I can put it. However, I’m really debating on either getting an NMO ground plane kit off eBay or get a discone kit? I mainly listen to a good portion of UHF, 800 digital, and some VHF as well. So here’s where I’m looking for advice:

1. Do I get the NMO ground plane and slap on my Larsen Triband VHF/UHF/800 since it’s a pretty good antenna and tuned better for those bands?

2. Do I just get the (wideband) discone and hope for the best? Would it be better? (Any good one in particular?)

Would a discone (wideband) be better off than a Larsen Triband on a ground plane? I’m not sure what others’ expirences are, and maybe someone could help point me in the right direction

Thanks everyone!

 

[DJ11DLN]

I have that exact setup with the Larsen and GP kit and it works quite well for me up about 30'. It's better than the old discone I used to have until the weather destroyed it. If you're only interested in those 3 bands it should work well for you and there's no doubt in my mind that it will be up long after a consumer-grade discone will die from wind, ice storm, or what-have-you.

The only thing it doesn't exceed the discone at is RX'ing outside those bands.

 

[trap5858]

I would put a ground plane kit on the Larsen as it is a better performer in the bands you listen to. Both the ground plane and the discone are omni-directional so you won't lose anything there.

 

[ASTRO_Man]

I would put a ground plane kit on the Larsen as it is a better performer in the bands you listen to. Both the ground plane and the discone are omni-directional so you won't lose anything there.

It’s been a while since I’ve used my Larsen. About how much “leeway” does it give on the 150/450/800 frequencies to where it won’t be beneficial? I do listen to a lot of medical 460 frequencies, 880, and soon 700.

Thanks!

 

[tbharper]

Go with the NMO ground plane and Larsen tri-band, that is what I have now on a 27 ft mass and it is out performing the discone I had up on 27 mast.

 

[prcguy]

If your listening is confined to roughly 150-160, 450-470 and 800MHz then the Larson triband and a ground plane kit will work noticeably better on 800 and equal to and maybe a tiny bit better on the other bands.

If you have future needs for VHF air, UHF mil air or frequencies outside the very narrow range of the Larsen, then a Discone will work much better there. The typical scanner Discone is not that good on 800.
prcguy

 

[trp2525]

...I’m really debating on either getting an NMO ground plane kit off eBay...

This Laird MBCN with N-connector termination would be a good choice: https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-technologies-mbcn-7531

 

[ASTRO_Man]

So this whole time I thought I had a Larsen Triband antenna. It turns out I have the “Comtelco All-Band Low-Profile Mobile Antenna“. So for the ground plane setup, would it be worth it to get the Larsen Triband or should I stick to the Comtelco for 150/450/800.

I would like airband as well if it’s “possible”, not it’s not nearly as important as public safety bands. Thanks again for the guidance thus far.

 

[cmdrwill]

Both Larsen and Comtelco ground plane kits are very similar. Both NMO.

And try to get the better N type connector.