Ok, in a few of my threads some of you have responded about using an antenna tuner, or variable attenuater on my home made dipole and 325p2 scanner. I am going to be perfectly honest here. I do not have a CLUE what these things are, how they work, what they do or how I would go about using one. Ok I have a basic idea of what they do, they make scanner "think" it is seeing a 50 ohm load if I don't actually have a 50 ohm antenna, right?
But I don't know what that means in terms of how it would effect performance and how I would go about using and adjusting it. I tried to do some searches and what little info I did find just confused me more. I did quick search for antenna tuners on yahoo and was seeing these complicated looking devices that are twice the size of my scanner and cost between 130 and 600 dollars! Someone mentioned a variable attenuater for 10 bucks. Is that the same thing as a tuner? And I honestly wouldn't know what one looked like if I saw it.
So realistically how would one of these effect the performance of my scanner? Minor difference, big difference or "holy crap, why don't you have one of these yet !". And if they do make a perceivable difference can someone recommend a brand/model for me to look for since I really don't what I am looking for. I am pretty sure I probably don't need a 200 dollar antenna tuner for a simple scanner and dipole antenna ( I hope). Maybe something a little more budget oriented like 25-50 bucks. And if it would make large difference I would consider one of the 100 some dollar models.
And please link me to some easy to understand information on how to use it if I were get one. Or explain it if you want to take the time. I am sure it has probably already been explained before though, I just can't seem to find it in a search. And anything I find on the internet is geared more toward ham radio and tuning them to transmit. They are saying to key up your radio and tune the device. Well that kind of isn't an option with a scanner lol.
Please help me see the light on these magical devices.
But I don't know what that means in terms of how it would effect performance and how I would go about using and adjusting it. I tried to do some searches and what little info I did find just confused me more. I did quick search for antenna tuners on yahoo and was seeing these complicated looking devices that are twice the size of my scanner and cost between 130 and 600 dollars! Someone mentioned a variable attenuater for 10 bucks. Is that the same thing as a tuner? And I honestly wouldn't know what one looked like if I saw it.
So realistically how would one of these effect the performance of my scanner? Minor difference, big difference or "holy crap, why don't you have one of these yet !". And if they do make a perceivable difference can someone recommend a brand/model for me to look for since I really don't what I am looking for. I am pretty sure I probably don't need a 200 dollar antenna tuner for a simple scanner and dipole antenna ( I hope). Maybe something a little more budget oriented like 25-50 bucks. And if it would make large difference I would consider one of the 100 some dollar models.
And please link me to some easy to understand information on how to use it if I were get one. Or explain it if you want to take the time. I am sure it has probably already been explained before though, I just can't seem to find it in a search. And anything I find on the internet is geared more toward ham radio and tuning them to transmit. They are saying to key up your radio and tune the device. Well that kind of isn't an option with a scanner lol.
Please help me see the light on these magical devices.