Base antenna

[KOK5CY]

Ok I know there 100s of different types of antennas on the market . But I'm looking at putting 1 in my attic some time this year . Since I listen to mostly the 800 trunked system . I'm looking at something that doesn't require a ground plane and something that I could just hang with fishing line . I've thought about building a 1/4 wave ground plane out of hanger wire on to a so-239 connector .

Looking for ideas ?

 

[doctordialtone]

Looking for ideas ?

A Discone would work great. The radials hang down from the center.

See here

 

[prcguy]

Your receiving needs may change in the future so I like to recommend an antenna that will work for most scanner needs. If your 800 reception is ok then a Discone in the attic should work much better than anything you have used on the scanner itself. A typical scanner Discone like a Diamond D130 size works great from VHF air through about 500Mhz and is down some on 800 but they still work ok there.

Here is a Discone for under $40 including shipping that you can hang in the attic from your fishing string. Just make sure your attic is not lined with metallic backed insulation or something else that would attenuate signals. TRAM(R) 1410 Tram(R) Scanner 25MHz-1,300MHz VHF/UHF Super Discone Base Antenna 727932014577 | eBay

Ok I know there 100s of different types of antennas on the market . But I'm looking at putting 1 in my attic some time this year . Since I listen to mostly the 800 trunked system . I'm looking at something that doesn't require a ground plane and something that I could just hang with fishing line . I've thought about building a 1/4 wave ground plane out of hanger wire on to a so-239 connector .

Looking for ideas ?

 

[KOK5CY]

Finally got a new antenna on order . Tram 1410 and bought new coax cable RG8X . As of now I'm using a old jpole up to 20ft and all radio traffic is coming in clear . Next week the 1410 will be up and running . Sure beats the behind set antenna .

I sure do appreciate the suggestion on the tram .

Now I can monitor the wild card ID's and figure out what agencies they belong to . .

Thanks again for the help .

Happy Scanning .

 

[prcguy]

How long is your coax run? If its 50ft or so I would not recommend using RG-8X and LMR400 would be a much better choice since you are targeting 800MHz.

Finally got a new antenna on order . Tram 1410 and bought new coax cable RG8X . As of now I'm using a old jpole up to 20ft and all radio traffic is coming in clear . Next week the 1410 will be up and running . Sure beats the behind set antenna .

I sure do appreciate the suggestion on the tram .

Now I can monitor the wild card ID's and figure out what agencies they belong to . .

Thanks again for the help .

Happy Scanning .

 

[JoshuaHufford]

How long is your coax run? If its 50ft or so I would not recommend using RG-8X and LMR400 would be a much better choice since you are targeting 800MHz.

For sure. If you can return the RG8X I'd do that and get LMR-400. Heck even if you can't return it I would still run LMR-400.

 

[captainmax1]

I have always had a discone antenna as part of my antenna arsenal for the last 40 years. I currently use a Diamond D130J discone on a 30' mast with 50' of LMR 400 going to my shack and get great results on all frequencies. I use a Stridsberg 8-port multicoupler in my shack with one port daisy-chained to a Stridsberg 4-port in my bedroom.

 

[KOK5CY]

The RG8X coax is working great and it's only 50' . So far the 800 trunked system I'm listening to is receiving crisp and clear . This coax cable is not the junk China crap it's Steren and mfg for amateur radio . I appreciate the help and input but for now I'm happy with the results and if this coax goes bad I'll buy the other .

 

[KOK5CY]

Update : The Tram 1410 super discone is up to 15' and the RG8X is ran and everything is working perfectly . The 800 trunked system is receiving crisp and clear . I did take a added precaution and drove in a ground rod next to the mast for additional electrical protection .

I'll continue to monitor for new additional TG's in the area .

Happy Scanning

 

[prcguy]

If you add any ground rods that connect to anything the National Electrical Code requires you bond that new rod to your existing electrical entry point ground with specific size wire, etc. If its not bonded properly, with a lightning strike that lone ground rod will usually cause more damage to home electronics than not having it.

Update : The Tram 1410 super discone is up to 15' and the RG8X is ran and everything is working perfectly . The 800 trunked system is receiving crisp and clear . I did take a added precaution and drove in a ground rod next to the mast for additional electrical protection .

I'll continue to monitor for new additional TG's in the area .

Happy Scanning