Amplified Antenna for handheld?

[bluecool]

Is there an amplified antenna solution to my troubles with living in crowded city area with a lot of police activity but little rail and marine acitvity? THAT is what I want to hear more of these days. I'm not into trunking (I know that is a sin around here) but its a feature I look forward to discovering later on my Pro-93 (which is why it still feels new).

Is there a way to pick up rail and ships that are over 10/20 miles away? To boost the 150.000 - 160.000 range only? How hard are amplified antenna to hook up and work? Are they called Active antennas? Expensive?

Thanks for all the help.

bluecool

 

[N_Jay]

Is there an amplified antenna solution to my troubles with living in crowded city area with a lot of police activity but little rail and marine acitvity? THAT is what I want to hear more of these days. I'm not into trunking (I know that is a sin around here) but its a feature I look forward to discovering later on my Pro-93 (which is why it still feels new).

Is there a way to pick up rail and ships that are over 10/20 miles away? To boost the 150.000 - 160.000 range only? How hard are amplified antenna to hook up and work? Are they called Active antennas? Expensive?

Thanks for all the help.

bluecool

Nothing that I know of for a portable specifically.

You need a preselector (filter) infront of an amplifier.

It may still be a streach, as there is plenty of noise in teh same band as wheta you want to listen to.

I good yagi will help some in cutting down signals from directions other then wher you want to hear.

You might be best with a commercial radio tuned to the exact channels you want.

Even then, it will be a matter of luck.

10 to 20 miles from a signal at ground level is a lot of wishing! :wink:

 

[Starion]

Radio Shack used to sell a portable pre-amplifier. You can also try using a 40 inch telescopic 2-meter whip to improve reception range. Of course, the drawback is the length of the antenna. A 19 inch 5/8 wave flexible whip gives me decent results.

A 26 inch telesopic whip should work ok. Radio Shack sells one: It is item #20-006

You can also try connecting a $20 "outdoor" ground plane antenna. Try mounting it outside your window or in the attic if you can. Radio shack sells one.

Good luck!

 

[bluecool]

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried the 2006 telescoping and didn't find any difference from the rubber duck (if you can believe that). I'm still open to suggestions.

 

[Starion]

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried the 2006 telescoping and didn't find any difference from the rubber duck (if you can believe that). I'm still open to suggestions.

That's weird. Sorry to hear that you didn't see any improvement over the rubber duck.

I am in a similar situation. I know how you feel. My Pro-64 can't hear trains and boats 15 miles away.

I have difficulty hearing Amtrak Trains and airplanes that are 10 miles away. I live 10 miles west of Union Station in Washington, D.C.

I can hear the Washington Subway trains when they are 15 miles away though. :?: I can't hear any boats with my indoor antenna. I can hear the coast gurad station in Baltimore that is 45 miles away. I think there is a remote transmitter in or around Washington D.C.

I remember reading somewhere that boats on a small river are limited to 5 watts output. If you live near a big river or a shorelline, you might be able to hear the 25 watt marine radios with a decent antenna.

I haven't seen any pre-amplifiers for scanners in a while. If you find a good and used base or mobile station for a good price, buy it. The base station radios are usually more sensitive than the portable radios.

 

[bluecool]

Starion,
Thanks for sharing your story. Sounds JUST like mine here in Boston. I am thinking of a base station now, but it seems that the more I spend, the less I am able to receive.

I'm hoping the right solution will appear soon, because I am bored with all I have now on my scanner and I don't know how to modify it to get more. Buying new antennas has not helped (so far).

Thanks for letting me know I'm now alone.

bluecool
8)

 

[N_Jay]

Tryong to pick up a signal that is trasnmitted near ground level 5, 10 or 20 miles away is VERY difficult.

When you hear something that distance there is a good chance you are hearing it through a repeater (or have a very open path).

 

[mjm103]

How ab out this http://www.greamerica.com/scanner.html

 

[N_Jay]

How ab out this http://www.greamerica.com/scanner.html

The signal you are trying to pick up MUST be stronger then the noise around it.

Amplifiers don't help in high noise (city) environments.