hoser147
Member
Might also want to check out GRE AMERICA site they also carry a 800mhz or Max systems 8HH antenna............Good Scanin hoser147
800mhz
- Thread starter pinellasfirefighter
- Start date
- Status
thanks guys
what if i got another radio shack 800mhz with a 90 elbow.. thank that would work good? i know it works pretty good on my 396t
intrepid97
Member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2006
- Messages
- 178
- Reaction score
- 0
Should work just as good.
RayK
Member
If you looking for a hand held antenna for 800Mhz try this one ,Iv'e used it on weak signaks
and its better that the radio shack 800 antenna.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanants/2891.html
Ray
and its better that the radio shack 800 antenna.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanants/2891.html
Ray
now i just need to find a 90 degree elbow bnc connector radio shack didnt have any..
i found this one.. but i cant tell what kind of connection is on it... has anybody ever heard anything about this antenna?
http://www.scannermaster.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=14-540716
http://www.scannermaster.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=14-540716
pinellasfirefighter said:
It's probably a BNC connector; it should fit the back of the '996 with no problem. Again, whether this will be any better than the R/S brand antenna, or the stock telescoping whip, you'll just have to try it and see.
i`ll give it one shot.. thanks for the help
pinellasfirefighter said:
That looks very similar to this one > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...Pr4_PcY_BID_IT accept for the BNC - I just got it today, it arrived with the box crushed and the antenna had a few bends that shouldnt be there
it produces sound with quite a bit of crackling not present with the OEM antenna, but I assume thats because the antenna is damaged - maybe not.Check this site out http://www.lairdtech.com they have quite a few antenna to choose from. I think I'm going to give them a shot next.
I am going to try and get these and test them out ...
EXR821 824-896 MHz BN & TN 9.16"
EXE806 806-866 MHz BN, MD & SM 8.0"-8.9"
Last edited:
gcgrotz
Member
Get an 800 MHz cellular mag mount and stick it on a file cabinet or refrigerator. Try to find one with the additional ridgid section below the whip/coil. They had about 5db of gain.
Just curious, I have the 396 and a 2.5 db gain commercial rubber duckie for 800. Can't really see any difference between that and the stock uniden whip. What problems/symptoms are making you think you need a better antenna? Are you far away from the system?
Just curious, I have the 396 and a 2.5 db gain commercial rubber duckie for 800. Can't really see any difference between that and the stock uniden whip. What problems/symptoms are making you think you need a better antenna? Are you far away from the system?
Hi Grotz and all,
I'm using a trunk lip version of what you describe, the gain is 3dB, not 5 which would take an additional phasing section (coil) and whip above it and there's no such animal. You're confusing dBi with dBd which would give you 5.8dB actually. The rigid section contains a coaxial impedance matching section which adds nothing to it's gain.
A 2.5dB gain duck is referenced to isotropic and again there ain't no such animal. On a portable the best you can do without poking your eye out is a quarter wave which is unity. A duck exhibits "negative gain" over unity so in theory (and it's a helluva stretch) you could get 2.5dBi taking the loss of 0.3dB from unity into account. Now here's the stretch, that's an insignificant amount considering we call rubber duckies "dummy loads" for a very good reason.
Now here's the clincher. An omnidirectional antenna achieves gain by flattening the vertical radiation pattern down to the horizon so it is useful only in fixed and mobile applications where the pattern remains stable. Tilt it this way and that as on a portable and it's like watching a frizbee gone mad, the angle changes wildly with signal shooting into the ground or high in the air missing the other antenna entirely. Quarter wave whips and continuous loads (ducks) have a very broad vertical pattern which somewhat compensates for odd angles but not entirely which is why best transmission and reception is accomplished by holding the unit vertically.
"Just curious, I have the 396 and a 2.5 db gain commercial rubber duckie for 800. Can't really see any difference between that and the stock uniden whip."
And now you know why.
I'm using a trunk lip version of what you describe, the gain is 3dB, not 5 which would take an additional phasing section (coil) and whip above it and there's no such animal. You're confusing dBi with dBd which would give you 5.8dB actually. The rigid section contains a coaxial impedance matching section which adds nothing to it's gain.
A 2.5dB gain duck is referenced to isotropic and again there ain't no such animal. On a portable the best you can do without poking your eye out is a quarter wave which is unity. A duck exhibits "negative gain" over unity so in theory (and it's a helluva stretch) you could get 2.5dBi taking the loss of 0.3dB from unity into account. Now here's the stretch, that's an insignificant amount considering we call rubber duckies "dummy loads" for a very good reason.
Now here's the clincher. An omnidirectional antenna achieves gain by flattening the vertical radiation pattern down to the horizon so it is useful only in fixed and mobile applications where the pattern remains stable. Tilt it this way and that as on a portable and it's like watching a frizbee gone mad, the angle changes wildly with signal shooting into the ground or high in the air missing the other antenna entirely. Quarter wave whips and continuous loads (ducks) have a very broad vertical pattern which somewhat compensates for odd angles but not entirely which is why best transmission and reception is accomplished by holding the unit vertically.
"Just curious, I have the 396 and a 2.5 db gain commercial rubber duckie for 800. Can't really see any difference between that and the stock uniden whip."
And now you know why.
intrepid97
Member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2006
- Messages
- 178
- Reaction score
- 0
What about the 5db mobile antenna from www.antenex.com ?
900Mhz... 800Mhz.... they're close enough that it doesn't matter.
Motorola's "stubby" antnena for 800 and 900Mhz (it's like 3") is the same antenna.
I'm running a panel antenna similar to the one shown here http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/hg908p.php it's been fantastic. I have it aimed at the county over and can haul 800Mhz at full quieting, indoors!... it's actually mounted in the window. An omnidirectional antenna on the window ledge brings mediocrity to reception. The panel made it happen and it doesn't take up much room either.
-Josh
Motorola's "stubby" antnena for 800 and 900Mhz (it's like 3") is the same antenna.
I'm running a panel antenna similar to the one shown here http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/hg908p.php it's been fantastic. I have it aimed at the county over and can haul 800Mhz at full quieting, indoors!... it's actually mounted in the window. An omnidirectional antenna on the window ledge brings mediocrity to reception. The panel made it happen and it doesn't take up much room either.
-Josh
gcgrotz
Member
Hi Warren, Josh, 97:
Yeah, I did a bunch of testing of various antennas using the Anritsu SiteMaster analyzer. It doesn't measure gain but SWR/Return Loss. I figured plugging the duck onto the test port is similar to what happens on a scanner or HT. They pretty much all stink in the matching department. It also changes everything when you put your hand on the connector too. I've always figured that the designers count on your hand as part of the ground plane.
On the vehicle I have a RS thru glass scanner antenna which is not resonant on any freq, and I also use a 1/4 wave 2meter antenna for a second scanner. It works as well or better than the RS thing. I've also used old cellular antennas, they do a half decent job on VHF and good on 800.
Thing is, for local work, especially involving repeaters, pretty nuch anything will do on a scanner. If it is distant sigs (like Josh found out above), it is best to get some sort of antenna designed for the freq you're interested in. Some people try to make it too complicated, don't you think?
Yeah, I did a bunch of testing of various antennas using the Anritsu SiteMaster analyzer. It doesn't measure gain but SWR/Return Loss. I figured plugging the duck onto the test port is similar to what happens on a scanner or HT. They pretty much all stink in the matching department. It also changes everything when you put your hand on the connector too. I've always figured that the designers count on your hand as part of the ground plane.
On the vehicle I have a RS thru glass scanner antenna which is not resonant on any freq, and I also use a 1/4 wave 2meter antenna for a second scanner. It works as well or better than the RS thing. I've also used old cellular antennas, they do a half decent job on VHF and good on 800.
Thing is, for local work, especially involving repeaters, pretty nuch anything will do on a scanner. If it is distant sigs (like Josh found out above), it is best to get some sort of antenna designed for the freq you're interested in. Some people try to make it too complicated, don't you think?
thanks for all your help...
DaveH
Member
kb2vxa said:
I have a mobile "5dB" antenna which is a 5/8 over 5/8 similar to ones used on
UHF, which claim 4-5dBd gain; and it has one phasing coil. Such animal does exist.
Dave
intrepid97
Member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2006
- Messages
- 178
- Reaction score
- 0
DaveH is 100% correct as www.antenex.com sells a 5db 800mhz antenna.
- Status
Similar threads
