Antenna without creating a hole

[bus1962]

Hi
I am looking to buy an antenna for my scanner bearcat BCD996XT. I would like to find one that I can
set up in the house near a window or if it's outside I CANNOT punch a hole around the window frame
nor run a cable inside it has to be either with suckers on the windows or something that works better in the house then the one that comes with the scanner. I'm looking to get the fire department that's 45 miles away from my house if possible. I do have double pan windows (with an argon gaz in between to keep the cold outside in the winter) what do you guys recommand
thanks so much

 

[russellmaher]

Look at this....

if you're looking for a suction cup mount antenna for your windows, click on the link below and check this out. I just saw this a few minutes ago. Not very expensive; but I have never used one, so I cannot tell you how good or bad it is. Give it a shot!


Russell :wink:


Uniden Window Mount Scanner Antenna BNC Scan 4 | eBay

 

[bus1962]

if you're looking for a suction cup mount antenna for your windows, click on the link below and check this out. I just saw this a few minutes ago. Not very expensive; but I have never used one, so I cannot tell you how good or bad it is. Give it a shot!


Russell :wink:


Uniden Window Mount Scanner Antenna BNC Scan 4 | eBay

Thanks

 

[russellmaher]

You're welcome!

 

[N2JDS]

Do you think you can work this around your dips in the frame? Cheap enough to give it a try.
Amazon.com : Flat Coaxial Coax Cable RG6 RG-6 Door Window RV - 2 Pack : Electronics

 

[mmckenna]

Antenna height and antenna gain is what you need. Even then, 45 miles might not be possible. Other than distance, things that will dictate if you can hear them or not are: frequency, topography, their system design, etc. What would help would be to know exactly what you have to work with. What type of structure are you in? Can you receive them at all now? What frequency? Telling us where you are and where they are would be a big help also.

Without drilling holes, you are very limited in what you can try. If you have a second (or higher) story that you can put the radio in, that will help. Make sure you can "see" in the direction of the system you are trying to receive. Get an antenna that is specifically designed to work on the frequencies they use. Keep the cable run as short as possible. You may need to use a directional antenna pointed directly at their system.

Even with all that, you may not be able to do it. Double pane windows often have a metallic film in them to reduce UV radiation. That metallic film will reduce signal strength quite a bit. The design of the building you are in can greatly reduce the chances of being able to hear them, also. Foil lined insulation, metal mesh used on plaster or stucco, aluminum siding, metal framing, etc. will also reduce the ability of RF to reach your radio.

Given all that, you may not be able to do what you are trying to do.

 

[Blackink]

I don't remember where I saw it, probably in a post on this Web site, but somebody had the same problem where they couldn't drill holes in the window frame so they made a wooden strip that was about 1-2 inches high, and the width of the window and roughly the same thickness-if possible. After opening the window, placed it at the bottom of the window and closed the window. Now what they had was a place to drill through wood to run the coax and they weren't drilling through any pre-existing wooden window parts/frames. They did have to put caulking around the hole they drilled where the coax went through and some foam/insulation at the bottom of the wood strip and where the window met the wood strip and something at the top of the window between that window and the upper window (now that the two didn't meet properly when fully closed).
Hope this was some help.....

 

[n5ims]

Do you think you can work this around your dips in the frame? Cheap enough to give it a try.
Amazon.com : Flat Coaxial Coax Cable RG6 RG-6 Door Window RV - 2 Pack : Electronics

In addition to the above RG-6 option, there's also this (--> http://www.cometantenna.com/pdfs/CTC-50M_info_and_instr.pdf <--) from Comet that's a 50 ohm (vs. the RG-6's 75 ohm) design. No drilling, just secure this around the window and through the window sill, then shut/lock your window as you normally would. Connect the coax from your antenna to the outside part (waterproofing it as you would any external connection) and your scanner coax to the inside part.

Your window will shut (and lock) as normal and there will be no holes needed. The wood block that was suggested will work, but your window won't lock as it normally would (external locks may resolve this issue as well as screwing/nailing the window in place, but those would probably violate your "no holes" requirement).

 

[Rt169Radio]

Would these work for you?

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-4601

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-4600

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-4601

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-4602

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-4603

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-4604

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-4605

 

[krokus]

Do you have access to the attic?