Antenna

[rheroff]

Wondering what is a better antenna to use on the homepatrol 1 A Spectrumforce Wideband Antenna with Mag Mount and SMA, or the original antenna that come with the homepatrol 1 ?

 

[popnokick]

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Most any antenna is better than the one that came with it. But isn't the SpectrumForce a mobile antenna? You're comparing apples to oranges.

 

[blue5011]

The height of any antenna you use is more important than the style/ make/ model. I use a cheap R/S generic scanner antenna (@35 feet above the ground) R/G-58 coax. I am happy w/ the results.

 

[searingxheretic]

Wondering what is a better antenna to use on the homepatrol 1 A Spectrumforce Wideband Antenna with Mag Mount and SMA, or the original antenna that come with the homepatrol 1 ?

I would think the mag mount antenna would perform better if it were grounded properly. Using it mounted on your car would be a natural ground, or if using it at home, place it on a metal file cabinet or a flat sheet of metal to achieve a ground plane.

As others have mentioned, neither option compares to an outdoor multiband antenna.

Sent from my cm_tenderloin

 

[MK]

I use an HP-1 with a RadioShack mag mount and SMA. It works far better than the small antenna that comes with the scanner.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

35 ft of rg 58 is a dummy load on 800 mhz.....

 

[JASII]

As already pointed out, low loss feed line is critical at 800 mHz. I use 9913, but there is better coaxial cable available. Unfortunately, I think some people just go to Radio Shack because there are a bunch of them around. So, they end up going t here and getting the best that Radio Shack has in store. That is often RG-8 or even RG-58!