800 mhz antenna

[stc6623]

Hello, would a 800mhz antena be better for my Pro-96 or should I stick with my stock rubber ducky. Where I live they use a digital system and once in a while when they talk they are all broken up and I live like 4 miles form the main tower.

 

[RevGary]

You are experiencing the same type of issue that plagues Public Safety agencies themselves... poor PORTABLE operations on 800. An antenna specifically for 800 rather than the multiband antenna that you have on your scanner MIGHT help some. However, you will note that wherever your cellphone has signal issues in analog mode (806-920), so might your scanner in some cases. Inside metal buildings, elevators, large reinforced concrete structures and in basements just to name a few. 800 signals are unpredictable at best... and the reason that some agencies are actually going back to 450-460 UHF and dumping their 800 systems.

 

[rpowley]

I use 800MHz antenna's on my 95's with improved UHF reception. The exception is a little decrease in reception of VHF freq.'s

 

[MacombMonitor]

I find the RS800 is a considerable improvement over any stock rubber ducky antenna from Radio Shack (GRE), or Uniden. It performs well in the 450MHz band as well. As rpowley pointed out, it's not too good on 150MHz (and below).

 

[xusmarine1979]

I completely agree. I notice a huge difference between the two antennas. I also have a $30 antenna I ordered off the net and the Radio Shack antenna still beats it at half the price.

I find the RS800 is a considerable improvement over any stock rubber ducky antenna from Radio Shack (GRE), or Uniden. It performs well in the 450MHz band as well. As rpowley pointed out, it's not too good on 150MHz (and below).

 

[Chrome69]

The best rubber antenna you can buy for 800mhz is the seeker it has been proven. Radioware sells it.
http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/antenna.html see for yourself. I have the seeker and love it...
http://www.radio-ware.com/

 

[bwhite]

Alas, there is always that point where is it worth twice the money for the most minute increase in performance (with this topic and every aspect of life). Tested the the RS and Seeker, both were better than stock but couldn't tell a diff so the RS model has it. Also, the Seeker is uncomfortable long to be carrying around on your waist, the RS model is fine.

 

[Gregor]

I live very close to a main tower as well however I am monitoring analog with the PRO-97 and find that fiddling with the global attenuator or the regular attenuator may slightly help the signal. I think these units can get too much signal and distort the quality, as seems to be the case with mine. For some odd reason, I never had this problem with my old BC245 which I never even touched the attenuator on.

As for the antenna, I bought one from RS and it seems to increase the quality of the reception. I especially noticed this on my old scanner which has some static with the stock antenna but much clearer with the 800Mhz antenna.

 

[hoser147]

The 800mhz is the one to go with had one on my PAro 95 switched it over to Pro96 and put the origanal on 95 Ill definatly get anotherone for the pro95 hoser147

 

[wogggieee]

I personally have had the best experience with the radio shack stainless steel retractable one. I think it performs just as well or better than the RS 800 antenna as well as an Antenex antenna i bought as well. My area also has a lot of 150 and 460 stuff too and it does better on those ranges than the 800mhz antenna. Overall I think it is better all around, especially if you have non 800mhz stuff too. And its tunable as well. I've had the best experience with it all the way down.