Antenna question

[ordnance1]

I am using a BCD536 and looking for some advice on a roof mount antenna.

My primary frequency ranges are 153/155mhz, 453mhz and 800mhz.

Any thoughts?

 

[dmg1969]

I assume you mean the roof of your house and not of your car? In that case, many will recommend the Antennacraft ST-2. It is pretty much the go to wide band roof mount scanner antenna for your home. This is just a link to show you the antenna. Shop around for your best price. http://www.scannermaster.com/ST2_Antennacraft_Base_Antenna_with_Kit_p/34-541241.htm



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[stingray327]

I assume you mean the roof of your house and not of your car? In that case, many will recommend the Antennacraft ST-2. It is pretty much the go to wide band roof mount scanner antenna for your home. This is just a link to show you the antenna. Shop around for your best price. ST2 Antennacraft Base Antenna with Kit



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I agree the ST-2 antenna works great however it doesn't resist wind easily.
I have never tried those discone antennas

 

[ranger821]

I have used many antennas for my scanners. At present, I am using a 2 meter/440 j-pole that I have. works good in my area as the is little or no 800 mhz in my area. The other that i have used is a small antenna from radio shack. 26 bucks and it works great if you can get it about 30 feet in the air. My present 2 meter/440 ant is a Diamond X-200. If I want to listen to the far off ones. I attach and adapter to it's coax and that brings them in from WAY out there. The higher the base antenna is the better it will work. Terrain plays a big part. It is flat as all get out here on the gulf coast of Florida.

 

[stingray327]

I have used many antennas for my scanners. At present, I am using a 2 meter/440 j-pole that I have. works good in my area as the is little or no 800 mhz in my area. The other that i have used is a small antenna from radio shack. 26 bucks and it works great if you can get it about 30 feet in the air. My present 2 meter/440 ant is a Diamond X-200. If I want to listen to the far off ones. I attach and adapter to it's coax and that brings them in from WAY out there. The higher the base antenna is the better it will work. Terrain plays a big part. It is flat as all get out here on the gulf coast of Florida.

What is so special about those discone antennas and why do they cost more?

 

[ranger821]

When the storms were going thru here a few days ago, i used a mini magnet dual band 2 meter/440 set on the window sill. works great. The radio shack one is a discone. It is a wide band antenna so a lot of folks that i know use it because of that. I have one them in my shed that will replace the j-pole one soon as it gets a little warmer here on the coast.

 

[stingray327]

When the storms were going thru here a few days ago, i used a mini magnet dual band 2 meter/440 set on the window sill. works great. The radio shack one is a discone. It is a wide band antenna so a lot of folks that i know use it because of that. I have one them in my shed that will replace the j-pole one soon as it gets a little warmer here on the coast.

Is the discone antenna difficult to assemble as I notice there are alot pieces involved.
The ST-2 antenna covers all bands too (has poor wind resistence) . that's why I am wondering what will be the difference between these to base station antennas.

 

[rhombus_000]

I am using a BCD536 and looking for some advice on a roof mount antenna.

My primary frequency ranges are 153/155mhz, 453mhz and 800mhz.

Any thoughts?

A discone will work great especially if it's tuned for the 150mhz band as the lowest frequency, but it won't have much gain so it will only work good for more local signals.

I've found that dual band 150/450 mhz antennas perform poorly at 800mhz... my best luck running similar bands is a homemade 1/4 ground plane tuned to 450mhz.

I used a uhf connector and 3/8 copper tubing for the elements, it's awesome for the 450/800 but at 150 it doen't reach out as far as a tuned antenna but it picks up more local stuff fine.

Edit: as a reference to local and distant signals... my 1/4 gp will pick up 450mhz out to 35 miles, 800mhz 20-25 miles, and 150mhz to 15 miles. This is on a 40 foot mast with LMR-400 coax.