Antenna id help

[dave3825]

I ran across this today cleaning out my garage. The 3 radials on the bottom are about 19 or 20 inches. the long one in the center is about the same. The 2 shorter might be about 5 inches.

Anyone know what it might be?

Thanks

 

[digitalanalog]

possibly an old radio shack discone antenna, but looks like it's maybe missing a radial or two

 

[digitalanalog]

Amazon.com: New RadioShack Outdoor VHF-Hi/UHF Scanner Antenna 20-176: Home Audio & Theater

Amazon.com: New RadioShack Outdoor VHF-Hi/UHF Scanner Antenna 20-176: Home Audio & Theater

www.amazon.com

 

[doctordialtone]

possibly an old radio shack discone antenna

I have one - definitely a Discone - missing about 3 radials.

You should be able to disassemble it to fit in the trash.

 

[KevinC]

Pretty sure it's R/S "Sputnik", 20-176.

 

[prcguy]

Not a Discone in any way shape or form. Its an old Radio Shack "Sputnik". It should be tuned to about 155, 465 and 850Mhz.

 

[doctordialtone]

Good pickup!

How to build a 20-176 "sputnik' antenna?

I used to have the little sputnik from radio shack & always was impressed by its performance However now in Ontario Canada there are no longer any radio shacks,.... I would assume it follows basic groundplane design rules , but Im not sure what the 2 radials coming up in a v from the base are...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[PaMonitor]

Pretty sure it's R/S "Sputnik", 20-176

I have two of these. One is in use and one is for parts. The one I use is connected to my Radio Shack Pro-197 and works pretty well. And it only has six radials.

 

[Arkmood]

Great performer - RS20-176 AKA RS vhf/uhf Ground Plane. Vhf whip 19" two uhf whips 4 1/2" 3 ground plane radials all 19".

 

[2IR473]

Yep, I still have one of mine up in the attic. I think I paid around $9.95 for mine back in the early 80’s, and watched it rise in price every year or so. I guess that was a lesson in economics and the buying power (or lack of it) of the dollar.
You can see the antenna in the online Radio Shack catalogs, which I love to browse through.

 

[dave3825]

Vhf whip 19" two uhf whips 4 1/2" 3 ground plane radials all 19"

Thanks for the replies guys.

I was going to build a tri-band scanner antenna but now ran across the 20 176. So the vhf comes off the 19 inch radial and the uhf comes from the 4 1/2 radials. So the 4 1/2 does both 450 ish thru 800 or to the 1300mhz its advertised for?

I have read that 800 is not that great with this rs antenna. I need to get a chimney mount and get the 20 176 up there outside and see how it does. In the event that 800 is not that great, can a 3 1/2 radial be added to the 20-176 like in the ant plans here?

 

[nd5y]

The RS antenna will probably work better on 800 MHz if you cut the two 5-6" elements to ~3".
The 19" main vertical will still be 3/4 wave on UHF and work there.

 

[RRR]

- definitely a Discone -

That is obviously not a Discone antenna

 

[Arkmood]

RS20-176 was manufactured just before/right at the time of Radio Shack 800mhz scanners. Don't think the it was ever advertised as 800mhz. Only coverage 108-1300.... and cut for 150-460... Will it cover 800 - yes, It it cut for 800 - not really.
Could always use a pair of bolt cutters to snip off the uhf whips which would detune what ever it detunes. The Max 800 is very similar in design to 20-176 and a really good performer at 800mhz radials/whip all 3".

 

[dave3825]

Thanks for all the replies. I found some clamps and think I will venture out on the roof and get this hooked up. Right now its getting clamped to a pvc pipe sticking out of the roof until i get a chimney kit.

Whats everyone using for lightning protection these days?

 

[dave3825]

Has anyone ever used this for a scanner antenna?

Amazon.com: Lightning Surge Protector F Female to F Female DC-3 GHz 75 ohm with 90 V Gas Tube Surge Arrester (Lightning Arrester F Female to Female): Home Audio & Theater

Buy Lightning Surge Protector F Female to F Female DC-3 GHz 75 ohm with 90 V Gas Tube Surge Arrester (Lightning Arrester F Female to Female): Surge Protectors - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

or this?

Siemens FirstSurge Coaxial Cable Protection Device FSCATV - The Home Depot

Siemens believes today's residential surge protectors come up short when protecting today's modern home filled with smart appliances and electronics. This is why we developed our FirstSurge commercial

www.homedepot.com

 

[dave3825]

I am guessing nobody has tried either one?