AntennaCoax Length

[thomasnc41]

I'm new to scanning and I'm interested in putting a good anntenna in my attic or possibly outside. I have been reading, as much as time permits, on this forum looking for anntenna and coax suggestions. It seems that when running the coax...SHORTER IS BETTER. If I have to run a length of 150 feet, is there something I should be adding to help maintain/boost the signal?

I'm have a BC246T handheld scanner..........

Thanks for your help.

Tom

 

[N_Jay]

I'm new to scanning and I'm interested in putting a good anntenna in my attic or possibly outside. I have been reading, as much as time permits, on this forum looking for anntenna and coax suggestions. It seems that when running the coax...SHORTER IS BETTER. If I have to run a length of 150 feet, is there something I should be adding to help maintain/boost the signal?

I'm have a BC246T handheld scanner..........

Thanks for your help.

Tom

for 150 feet you are going to have to run VERY good cable which is VERY expensive.

If you are in an are that is fairly quiet (Radio wise) you couyld try a pre-amp at the antenna end.

My guess is that you will not be happy with the results vs. the cost.

Why 150 feet????


I would suggest you do some more reading and pick a cable that is less than 6dB loss at the highest frequency you care about.

 

[LarrySC]

You must live in an awful place to need that much of a coax run. Better off putting telescopic antenna on scanner. Some gain for sure over rubber duck and NO signal loss. Telescopic at: www.bncantenna.com

 

[thomasnc41]

You must live in an awful place to need that much of a coax run. Better off putting telescopic antenna on scanner. Some gain for sure over rubber duck and NO signal loss. Telescopic at: www.bncantenna.com

I am wanting to place the antenna behind my detached garage/workshop and run coax to the house. Would the signal loss be that great? Surely not all antenna's are 50 ft or less runs. Is there any type of booster to put in-line to help signal? What is the maximum line that should be run? If these seem like novice questions, thats because I'm a novice.

Thanks again for any help

Tom

 

[nd5y]

Yes the loss is that great especially at 800 MHz or higher.
If you look at a real tower you will see coax like this:
http://www.andrew.com/products/trans_line/heliax/
which has very low loss and also very expensive.
It can cost over $10 per foot depending on the size
and the connectors can cost well over $100.

Tom

 

[N_Jay]

You must live in an awful place to need that much of a coax run. Better off putting telescopic antenna on scanner. Some gain for sure over rubber duck and NO signal loss. Telescopic at: www.bncantenna.com

I am wanting to place the antenna behind my detached garage/workshop and run coax to the house. Would the signal loss be that great? Surely not all antenna's are 50 ft or less runs. Is there any type of booster to put in-line to help signal? What is the maximum line that should be run? If these seem like novice questions, thats because I'm a novice.

Thanks again for any help

Tom

for 150 feet you are going to have to run VERY good cable which is VERY expensive.

If you are in an are that is fairly quiet (Radio wise) you could try a pre-amp at the antenna end.

My guess is that you will not be happy with the results vs. the cost.

Why 150 feet????


I would suggest you do some more reading and pick a cable that is less than 6dB loss at the highest frequency you care about.