Base Antenna Set-up

[LukeB]

After browsing the forum, I have not found anything that truely answered my question. If I overlooked a thread, I apologize.

Im looking to replace my current set-up and get some new antenna's and cable.

I am interested in listening to all bands. I would like (2) antenna's but would like for one of them to be able to transmit on UHF. I would be fastening it to a wood deck most likely with a telescoping mast. I know height matters but I can only go so high as I don't have much to fasten it to. My area is very low and flat so the more height I can get, the better but I am concerned with how high I can go without creating instability. I want the transmitting antenna to work as a receive antenna as well. I don't want to compromise the receive on the transmitting antenna if I can help it. I would like to plug it into a scanner and into a 2-way when I want to transmit. I am also looking for a good coax to go with for an approx. run of 25-40 foot run.

I would like to stay as cheap as possible, but I am open for suggestions.

 

[LukeB]

Thanks for the abundance of replies :? Regarding coax, i know my concern is for loss in the 800mhz area. For a 50+ foot run, what would be my best bet to for least amount of loss?

 

[astrodanco]

Thanks for the abundance of replies :? Regarding coax, i know my concern is for loss in the 800mhz area. For a 50+ foot run, what would be my best bet to for least amount of loss?

If you are receiving only, RG-6 quad shield is inexpensive, easy to get and easy to crimp if needed. LMR series coax is more expensive and the connectors are more difficult to deal with, but it's better in the long run. If you are transmitting or if you just want the best possible signal, run LMR-400 or LMR-600 with a short jumper of RG-58A/U at the scanner end.

 

[safetyobc]

I have a scantenna from www.antennawarehouse.com For $48 you get 50' of RG6 and free shipping. Great deal and the antenna works great for me. I have a telescoping mast antenna as well and only have the antenna at about 22' I am not sure about transmitting on that anteanna but I thought I read that it could be done or maybe the instructions said it was resonant, what ever that means, on certain bands. Anyway, you can ask them at antenna warehouse and they'll be able to answer you.

Here is the scantenna

http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Scantenna.htm

They also make a two discones that will transmit and receive.

http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Superdiscone.htm

http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Discone.htm

I think that they are fairly priced. You have to buy the coax separate on the discones. Good luck.

 

[JnglMassiv]

For cable loss, refer to a chart like this one. You will need to decide what is an acceptable loss to cost ratio.

 

[KC4ZEX]

My suggestion would be to purchase one of the discones available as the receive only antenna. Purchase a Dual band ground plane for vhf and uhf as the transmit antenna with 30 or 40 ft of 9913 coax. Check www.hamstick.com
they have a dual band ground plane for about $37.00, the coax is available from several sources for about $.60 a ft. This antenna will be very easy to mount on your mast and shouldn't be any weight or wind load problem. add a SO-239 to Bnc adapter for about $3.75 for the scanner.

 

[cnmsales]

http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Superdiscone.htm


Would you recomend this one to use for Scanner reciving and Send/rcieve on CB radio both at same time.

 

[n4voxgill]

How did you get from transmitting on UHF to transmitting on CB?

 

[cnmsales]

n4 im sorry i guess i dont understand your question.

 

[fivestarr]

base antenna setup

After wasting a lot of money on cheap coax and cheap antennas, I only buy the best quality. For coax, that would be hardline. Here is an item on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...p;item=5761329093&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
That is 50 ft of top quality Andrew FSJ-1-50A hardline that is extremely low loss at 800mhz. It has BNC's on both ends professionally installed.
Thats a hell of a deal for 39.95. If you dont buy it I may because it will last for 20 years. As for antennas, I will address that in another post.
Fivestarr