Antenna for Uniden BCD 996XT

[MisterLongwire]

I am getting the 996 this week. I had a RS Pro96 where I took the ducky off and put a Diamond RH77A on. The results were night and day. I gave the Pro 96 to my son as he got a sudden interest in scanning and I kept the Diamond antenna. My question is will there be an appreciable difference with the Diamond RH77CA on the 996 versus the stock antenna? I have an angle adapter I'll be using for the 996XT. An outside antenna isn't necessary with the experience I've had with the Diamond antenna. Thx guys/gals

 

[JamesO]

Suggest you tell your son to buy the Radio Shack 800 duck antenna for the PRO96 assuming the majority of his listening is 800 MHz trunk systems. I run the Radio Shack 800 duck on most of my handheld scanner.

I have some issues with the Diamond RH77A was not so good with the 800 MHz trunked systems, some it would not even pick them up and I thought I had a problem with one of my scanners until I swapped over to the Radio Shack 800 MHz duck.

The stock 996 antenna may be fine. I know my 996XT antenna has a build in swivel, so no need for a 90 degree adapter, but there may have been different antennas shipped?

 

[MisterLongwire]

Actually the stock RS antenna worked rather well on the 800 meg frequencies...listened to Imperial County Sheriff from here in north county of San Diego. Local listening (0-20 miles) was never a problem with the stock ducky. Only reason I replaced it with the Diamond was that the Diamond received better on the airband.

 

[JamesO]

Airband is different, but the 800 MHz Radio Shack duck will blow the stock antennas on most of these radios away on most bands.

I run the Radio Shack antenna as my daily antenna on my handhelds.

My 996 has the stock whip feeding a pre-amp in the center of the house.

I have to still sort out my attic antenna soon and split the feed to the bedroom and family room.

 

[W8RMH]

The benefit to the stock antenna is the telescopic ability, adjustable depending on what frequencies you are trying to tune.