As a friend of mine is fond of saying, FM stands for "F#%@ing Magic", as this here experience would seem to illustrate:
I currently have one of those Laird/Antenex MBCN mobile>base converters paired with a Laird/Antenex B1323 (3db gain 132-174 MHz 55"). All things considered, it's a pretty good combination, and only cost me $35 for the combo. I'm using it receive-only connected to a scanner to monitor VHF Low, VHF and UHF.
The other day I came across an old Andrew model 229 mobile cell antenna (3db gain 824-896 MHz 13" open coil) I had stored away, and decided to have a little fun with it. The results of my very informal test left me baffled, and a bit miffed to be honest.
First thing I did was open the squelch fully and cycle through the NOAA channels, just to establish a "baseline" with the VHF antenna still mounted. I was able to receive the nearest transmitter 5/5, one distant transmitter 4/4, and another more distant transmitter 3/3.
I then swapped just the antenna itself for the 800 MHz model, leaving everything else untouched. Performed the same NOAA test and was now receiving two transmitters 5/5, one transmitter 4/4, one transmitter 3/3 (that I previously could not receive at all) and a fifth transmitter 2/2.
So, clearly this 800 MHz antenna outperforms a VHF antenna on the 162 MHz NOAA frequencies. Go figure.
For the next hour, I scanned some VHF Low, VHF and UHF channels with the 800 MHz antenna still connected, and noticed an improvement in reception to the frequencies I normally listen to. I then switched back to the VHF antenna to compare and verify what I was hearing.
I expected the 800 MHz antenna to outperform the VHF antenna on the UHF band, which it did. The fact that it outperformed an antenna that is supposedly tuned to the VHF band ON the VHF band definitely surprised me. However I was really blown away that this little 13" antenna was outperforming a 55" whip on VHF Low. This 800 MHz antenna must have one serious sweet spot for the frequencies I listen to most (46 MHz, 154 MHz, 453 MHz) to outperform a much larger VHF across such a wide spectrum. It performed so much better that I've decided to use it instead of the VHF for the time being, just to see what else I can pick up with it that I wasn't hearing previously.
I'm now seriously considering picking up a 5db 800 MHz 24" dual coil model to see if it improves reception further. I wonder if open coil vs. closed coil will impact performance at all.
Any thoughts? Suggestions? Explanations? Similar reactions of "WTF "? :lol:
I currently have one of those Laird/Antenex MBCN mobile>base converters paired with a Laird/Antenex B1323 (3db gain 132-174 MHz 55"). All things considered, it's a pretty good combination, and only cost me $35 for the combo. I'm using it receive-only connected to a scanner to monitor VHF Low, VHF and UHF.
The other day I came across an old Andrew model 229 mobile cell antenna (3db gain 824-896 MHz 13" open coil) I had stored away, and decided to have a little fun with it. The results of my very informal test left me baffled, and a bit miffed to be honest.
First thing I did was open the squelch fully and cycle through the NOAA channels, just to establish a "baseline" with the VHF antenna still mounted. I was able to receive the nearest transmitter 5/5, one distant transmitter 4/4, and another more distant transmitter 3/3.
I then swapped just the antenna itself for the 800 MHz model, leaving everything else untouched. Performed the same NOAA test and was now receiving two transmitters 5/5, one transmitter 4/4, one transmitter 3/3 (that I previously could not receive at all) and a fifth transmitter 2/2.
So, clearly this 800 MHz antenna outperforms a VHF antenna on the 162 MHz NOAA frequencies. Go figure.
For the next hour, I scanned some VHF Low, VHF and UHF channels with the 800 MHz antenna still connected, and noticed an improvement in reception to the frequencies I normally listen to. I then switched back to the VHF antenna to compare and verify what I was hearing.
I expected the 800 MHz antenna to outperform the VHF antenna on the UHF band, which it did. The fact that it outperformed an antenna that is supposedly tuned to the VHF band ON the VHF band definitely surprised me. However I was really blown away that this little 13" antenna was outperforming a 55" whip on VHF Low. This 800 MHz antenna must have one serious sweet spot for the frequencies I listen to most (46 MHz, 154 MHz, 453 MHz) to outperform a much larger VHF across such a wide spectrum. It performed so much better that I've decided to use it instead of the VHF for the time being, just to see what else I can pick up with it that I wasn't hearing previously.
I'm now seriously considering picking up a 5db 800 MHz 24" dual coil model to see if it improves reception further. I wonder if open coil vs. closed coil will impact performance at all.
Any thoughts? Suggestions? Explanations? Similar reactions of "WTF "? :lol:
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