800 mhz antenna for BCD396T...

[SCLarmon]

Hello everyone...I finally received my new BCD396T digital scanner but I would like a new antenna for it. I am specifically looking for something to monitor 800 mhz trunked systems the best since that is what I mostly use it for. I have the RS 800 mhz antenna and it performs well, but I am looking for something around the same length but with an SMA connector instead of the BNC. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Voyager]

Hello everyone...I finally received my new BCD396T digital scanner but I would like a new antenna for it. I am specifically looking for something to monitor 800 mhz trunked systems the best since that is what I mostly use it for. I have the RS 800 mhz antenna and it performs well, but I am looking for something around the same length but with an SMA connector instead of the BNC. Anyone have any ideas?

The RS antenna with the adapter is about the best I've found so far (without getting into the really long high gain antennas)

Joe M.

 

[scnrfrq]

I ordered one of these from waltel.com. It was recommended, but I haven't received it to try it out yet:
806-866MHz Half Wave Dipole Antenna with SM Connector (CRNEXE806SM) - $25.54

There is also a thread on this board for BCD396 antenna options:
http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=27592

 

[W4KRR]

Hello everyone...I finally received my new BCD396T digital scanner but I would like a new antenna for it. I am specifically looking for something to monitor 800 mhz trunked systems the best since that is what I mostly use it for. I have the RS 800 mhz antenna and it performs well, but I am looking for something around the same length but with an SMA connector instead of the BNC. Anyone have any ideas?

I also ordered the half wave dipole from Waltel that scnrfrq mentioned above. It has some gain compared to a quarter wave. If you want something a bit shorter, Waltel also has an 800MHz quarter wave antenna, which is shorter than the half wave dipole.

 

[KT4HX]

I highly recommend the Radio Shack 800 MHz antenna. It is BNC, but since the 396 comes with the SMA/BNC adapter, you are good to go. I have one of these on both my Pro-96 and 396. I have never been disappointed.

 

[nexus]

the 1/4 wave 800mhz antenna is 17 dollars and 4 inches in lenght, the 1/2 wave is 25 dollars and 8.5 inches in lenght.
http://shop.waltel.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/4_5/products_id/187

Just a note, the antenna that radio shack sells is also 1/4 wave. For the same price you can order this one at waltel get the same reception and not have to use the sma/bnc adapter.

 

[GTO_04]

For monitoring nearby trunked systems, I am going to try a Comet SMA 501. It looks to be very good for stealthy monitoring, for when you are in a store or restaurant and want to hear what's going on.

I agree that the RS800 is very good! I have one on my Pro-96. With the SMA-to-BNC adapter it is kind of clumsy on the 396 but it works very good.

I have a quarter wave that looks very similar to the one from Waltel, only it has a BNC on the end. I use that on my 245 and 250D.

If you get the Waltel, let us know how it works.

Now if we can radio-ware.com to get a SMA version of the Seeker, we'll be all set!

GTO_04

 

[rfaricy]

I've got the Waltel 1/4 wave antenna ( http://shop.waltel.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/183 ) and it's fantastic on 800 MHz - much better compared to the Radio Shack - and slightly better than the Radio Shack antenna on VHF/UHF.

 

[crazyboy]

Has anyone used the 1/2 wave from waltel and can say how it is and how well it performs on uhf? Will it outperform a 1/4 wave uhf antenna on uhf? Thanks

 

[rfaricy]

Has anyone used the 1/2 wave from waltel and can say how it is and how well it performs on uhf? Will it outperform a 1/4 wave uhf antenna on uhf? Thanks

A 1/2 wave on 850 MHz would be a 1/4 wave on 425 MHz. It would, in theory, be perfectly acceptable on UHF frequencies and even provide a dB or two of gain.

A 1/4 wave on 850 MHz would be a 1/8 wave on 425 MHz. It would provide about 2 dB gain on 800 MHz and unity gain (none) on UHF.

This is all in theory.

 

[W1PC]

I've got the Waltel 1/4 wave antenna ( http://shop.waltel.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/183 ) and it's fantastic on 800 MHz - much better compared to the Radio Shack - and slightly better than the Radio Shack antenna on VHF/UHF.

I second the opinion. It's every bit as good as the RS 800 Mhz antenna and it also looks good on the radio. I've also got the 1/2 wave antenna from Waltel on order and I'll report back on my impression of it after I've had a chance to try it out

 

[KT4HX]

Ok guys, even though I love the RS800 whip, you convinced me to try the Waltel product! lol I just ordered the 1/2 wave to give it a try. One thing I like is that I can pay with my PayPal account!

 

[Al42]

A 1/4 wave on 850 MHz would be a 1/8 wave on 425 MHz. It would provide about 2 dB gain on 800 MHz and unity gain (none) on UHF.

A quarter wave on 850 produces 2db gain on 800? Compared to what?

This is all in theory.

No, theory says that the gain has to be compared to something, which you're not doing. A 1/4 wave antenna (operated against ground) has, in theory and in practice, exactly 0dbd gain.

 

[Voyager]

A 1/4 wave on 850 MHz would be a 1/8 wave on 425 MHz. It would provide about 2 dB gain on 800 MHz and unity gain (none) on UHF.

A quarter wave on 850 produces 2db gain on 800? Compared to what?

This is all in theory.

No, theory says that the gain has to be compared to something, which you're not doing. A 1/4 wave antenna (operated against ground) has, in theory and in practice, exactly 0dbd gain.

Unless compared to an isotropic radiator, in which case the gain would be 2.7 dBi.

The standard is a reference to dBd which would be 0 dB gain, as Al said.

Joe M.

 

[K4APR]

I have not seen the SMA in a 396T yet. Is it the female end on the radio? If so, you can drop by your local Motorola RSS (if you have one) and buy an 800 MHz antenna meant to go on an MTX8000 or any 800 MHz Jedi radio. The only catch is, the antenna has the Female end on it, so you will need a SMA male to male adapter. I have a BNC male to SMA Male adapter I use to attach the same antenna to my PRO-95. Works great. If 800 MHz is what you are worried about, why not get an antenna designed for that band??? Crazier things have happend :lol:

 

[Voyager]

I have not seen the SMA in a 396T yet. Is it the female end on the radio? If so, you can drop by your local Motorola RSS (if you have one) and buy an 800 MHz antenna meant to go on an MTX8000 or any 800 MHz Jedi radio. The only catch is, the antenna has the Female end on it, so you will need a SMA male to male adapter. I have a BNC male to SMA Male adapter I use to attach the same antenna to my PRO-95. Works great. If 800 MHz is what you are worried about, why not get an antenna designed for that band??? Crazier things have happend :lol:

The BCD396T is female on the scanner which means you can:

Connect the scanner directly to an XTS (NOT recommended, although the knobs will prevent connecting it)

or

Connect the BCD396T scanner ANTENNA to the XTS ANTENNA.
(looks kinda neat, but not very practical)

Joe M.

 

[Al42]

The BCD396T is female on the scanner which means you can:

Connect the scanner directly to an XTS (NOT recommended, although the knobs will prevent connecting it)

or

Connect the BCD396T scanner ANTENNA to the XTS ANTENNA.
(looks kinda neat, but not very practical)

Or, with an SMA-F to SMA-F adapter ...

 

[K4APR]

The BCD396T is female on the scanner which means you can:

OK, cool, then my assumption is correct. With an SMA Female to SMA Female, connecting any SMA 800 MHz Motorola antenna will work.

 

[W4KRR]

The BCD396T is female on the scanner which means you can:

OK, cool, then my assumption is correct. With an SMA Female to SMA Female, connecting any SMA 800 MHz Motorola antenna will work.

No, in order to connect a Motorola antenna (such as the one used on the HT1000) to the BCD396T, you would need an SMA male to SMA male adapter. Both the connector on top of the BCD396T and the Motorola antenna are SMA female.

 

[K4APR]

No, in order to connect a Motorola antenna (such as the one used on the HT1000) to the BCD396T, you would need an SMA male to SMA male adapter. Both the connector on top of the BCD396T and the Motorola antenna are SMA female.

Yeah, you'e right, I stand corrected. It was late when I wrote that I work on the damn things everyday, so I knew what I was TRYING to say...its just a case of other people trying to figure out what the hell I'm saying