Antenna for BCD796D

[MetalCarnage]

Looking at getting a base antenna for use with the BCD796D and have found this when looking through stuff at my local radio shop...

http://www.durhamradio.com/s/product.php?productid=44886&cat=1834&page=1

Is this a good choice or does anyone with this scanner have there own suggestions for an antenna that has worked for them...thanks

Also if anyone out there has a mobile antenna for in the car, please post as well.

Thanks in Advance,

 

[GBFD10]

It looks like a good antenna, and they seem to offer a lot, but I'm sure someone on here with much more knowledge will explain why it isn’t (would be cool if it was). Is that a stand under the main antenna or is that part of the receiving setup?

 

[frankh]

re: 796 antenna

using a 796, myself, mostly for fleetnet with some 800mhz with a niljon super m antenna,mounted inthe attic lol with great results, excellent antenna, very small, and wife pleasing(house doesn't look like an antenna farm).. )

 

[MacombMonitor]

It's hard to determine. Their specs are very vague. They say high gain, but they don't give you any numbers! They say low loss coax, but they don't tell you what kind of coax it is. You might want to call them and ask for the particulars, to back up their claims.

I'm not familiar with it, and never saw one before. It's probably being made in someone's basement.

 

[JohnWayne]

Those specs are pure marketing hype. My favorite one is "Highest gain and best performance on LO-HI/VHF/UHF/Polic/Fire/cordless and cellular telephone bands", in case you needed a good cordless phone eavesdropping antenna!

The best base antennas are the single-band ones, but if you need a multi-band, please try to find one from a reputable company who can back thier specification claims.

Jeff

 

[MetalCarnage]

So only one person is using an antenna with their scanner?

EDIT: I do need a multi band since i listen to both 100mhz area and 800mhz area

 

[MacombMonitor]

One? I didn't even see that. That should be a pretty good indication of how good it is, or how good people think it is.

Why are you so set on that particular antenna? Have you considered any others?

 

[bobmich52]

796 d Antenna

For My 796d Mobile, I Use The Rat Shack Glass Mount Dualed Up. Single Did Not Do Well at all For Low Band Freqs, I Have Several Around Here. I Get Great Reception For Mid range Freqs, 155 & Up, All UHF Great, 800 mhz & CSP Digital Superior.

For My Base 796d, I Use A Old Mag Mount Ant, On Top Of A Soup Can Hidden Behind A AM/FM/ CD Player On My Base Station/Computer Console. Can't See The Can at All, Picks Up All Bands Fine. I Think It's a Great /Cheap Way To Listen & Not Fork Up $$$$ For A Base Ant Set Up. Also, It's Kinda Hard For My Base Ant To Get Hit By Lightning Or Blown Down By The Wind

If You Are In a General Metro Area & Depending On what Band You want To Listen To, My Little Idea For The Inside Just Might work.

 

[MetalCarnage]

One? I didn't even see that. That should be a pretty good indication of how good it is, or how good people think it is.

Why are you so set on that particular antenna? Have you considered any others?

I didnt say i was set on that antenna, all i asked is if it was any good and if it wasnt for suggestions of others from ppl who have there 796D's running an antenna.

 

[MetalCarnage]

For My 796d Mobile, I Use The Rat Shack Glass Mount Dualed Up. Single Did Not Do Well at all For Low Band Freqs, I Have Several Around Here. I Get Great Reception For Mid range Freqs, 155 & Up, All UHF Great, 800 mhz & CSP Digital Superior.

For My Base 796d, I Use A Old Mag Mount Ant, On Top Of A Soup Can Hidden Behind A AM/FM/ CD Player On My Base Station/Computer Console. Can't See The Can at All, Picks Up All Bands Fine. I Think It's a Great /Cheap Way To Listen & Not Fork Up $$$$ For A Base Ant Set Up. Also, It's Kinda Hard For My Base Ant To Get Hit By Lightning Or Blown Down By The Wind

If You Are In a General Metro Area & Depending On what Band You want To Listen To, My Little Idea For The Inside Just Might work.

Thanks for the input, very helpful bobmich52, i will take it into consideration as i dont know exactly what style i want to get yet....i am not looking for anything big because it needs to be failry mobile/packable so i can move it around...

 

[cj5]

recommendation

I highly recommend this one http://cgi.ebay.com/Base-Scanner-An...oryZ4672QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

it's cheap, and ver very effective.

 

[MetalCarnage]

I highly recommend this one http://cgi.ebay.com/Base-Scanner-An...oryZ4672QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

it's cheap, and ver very effective.

I am thinking of a Discone, but not so big a scale, 2 metres is a little big, lol, might go with a smaller one

 

[MacombMonitor]

I am thinking of a Discone, but not so big a scale, 2 metres is a little big, lol, might go with a smaller one

Here is one to consider, just under 3 feet tall. I've been thinking about getting one myself.

AOR DS3000A
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanants/3751.html

Bill

 

[SIMON11]

I am thinking of a Discone, but not so big a scale, 2 metres is a little big, lol, might go with a smaller one

Where does it say 2 metres? I read 37"! It says tuneable on 2m amateur.

 

[Al42]

I am thinking of a Discone, but not so big a scale, 2 metres is a little big, lol, might go with a smaller one

The lowest frequency on which a discone will do much good is one at which the cone length (top to bottom, measured along the cone) is 1/4 wavelength - so for 150 MHz, the cone has to be at least 19" long. (That design will work up to between 450-600 MHz - the best discones have close to 4:1 frequency spread, cheap ones are closer to 3:1.)