Antenna for Digital?

[3puttbob]

Hi Gurus
I have a little 18" mobile mag mount scanner antenna on a flat plate on my roof. It's one of those general, all around cheapies. Now, I have a BCD996XT scanner. Is there an antenna design mainly for digital frequencies? Or, does digital/analog not matter? What's your suggestion for a better antenna on the roof without spending as much as I did on the scanner?

 

[a417]

Marketing wank. There are no 'digital frequencies'. Any frequency can have a digital signal on it.

You need the antenna that will help you pull in the best signal, so if you need a directional antenna for one band in one direction...get a directional antenna, etc. If you need a wide band antenna to scan everything all around you, then you would get a wideband, omnidirectional antenna, etc.

Your local situation ,HOA rules, house construction, ability to run wire, geolocation will all affect what antenna will be best suited for you.

 

[rk911]

despite marketing attempts there is no such thing as a digital antenna. all that matters is frequency. btw, i'm using an old 2m ringo ranger on my 536 and an even older antenna specialists vhf hi/lo-uhf ground plane on my pro-197. i'm hearing everything i want just fine including digital.

 

[3puttbob]

I sort of figured as such. Was hearing suggestions and wondered if something else besides the climate may have shifted recently. Thanks, I will look for a wide band, general purpose, meat and potatoes antenna.

 

[vagrant]

A wide band, general purpose, meat and potatoes antenna = Discone

There are various brands and I have found them to work quite similar, except the reading I saw for a $600 discone. Lately I have used a $50 Tram discone and it works fine. What really helps is using LMR-400 coaxial cable. You may be able to use the coax you have now with a discone. You can always save up and purchase the LMR-400 later.

 

[doctordialtone]

What's your suggestion for a better antenna

I'm not sure if this is for your house or car. I couldn't tell.

I agree on a Discone. I use one on my house with great results.

I bought mine over 10 years ago at Radio Shack, but they are still available.

Take a look !

 

[3puttbob]

Thank you for that information. I shall look around.

 

[3puttbob]

It's going on the house. Won't be very high though. We get healthy winds up here.

 

[jonwienke]

"Digital" antennas are basically DVD rewinders.

 

[a417]

"Digital" antennas are basically DVD rewinders.

I'd put them more in the "Monster Cable for audiophiles" category.

 

[bob550]

TV antennas are subjected to the same "digital" hype. Rabbit ear antennas from the 1950's could pull in a digital signal just as well as one you bought yesterday so long as it covers the right frequency range.

 

[vagrant]

3puttbob - You are in a fine location if you enjoy monitoring military aircraft. Besides the obvious just east of you, there are constant training flights north and north east of your location. A discone antenna should pull in those 225 ~ 400 MHz frequencies fine.

 

[3puttbob]

I have one in my Amazon cart. Looking forward to it. I have about 1000 freq's in there now and I see why guys have more than one scanner going. With all those being scanned, my usual locals don't pop in until the scan gets to them. I'm guessing that's what Priority settings are for??

 

[doctordialtone]

I'm guessing that's what Priority settings are for?

Priority Channels are checked every few seconds - so if a priority channel has activity on it - it will override the current transmission.

I find it irritating to hear the constant interruptions.

Read here about Priority

 

[3puttbob]

it even overrides a channel on hold? That does sound a bit irritating.

 

[doctordialtone]

it even overrides a channel on hold?

Yep.

 

[u2brent]

I have one in my Amazon cart. Looking forward to it. I have about 1000 freq's in there now and I see why guys have more than one scanner going. With all those being scanned, my usual locals don't pop in until the scan gets to them. I'm guessing that's what Priority settings are for??

The best sort of priority is Priority Scanners.. One dedicated for each interest, Fire/EMS/PD/Business/Amateur/Federal/Rail/Air/Schools/Parks.....

 

[alcahuete]

It's going on the house. Won't be very high though. We get healthy winds up here.

I live up here as well. Healthy winds is an understatement. Ha ha!

In any event, I have found the satellite J mounts work great up here. I actually have an 18 foot antenna on one with absolutely no problem at all. Something like that would work great for a discone, and depending on if you have a 2 story house or not, would attach right to the top of the 2nd floor.

 

[3puttbob]

Thanks. Single story. 18ft is pretty good. Need guy wires?

 

[doctordialtone]

Need guy wires?

You'll have to make a judgement based upon

1) Gauge of the mast
2) How much wind you have on a regular basis


Based upon what you've told us, I'd say yes!