BCD325P2 Antenna?

[dkishton1486]

What would be the best antenna for the BCD325P2 for long range? Looking to possibly getting some channels for some areas around 40-45miles. Not sure if its even possible.

 

[doctordialtone]

best antenna for the BCD325P2 for long range

On Set Remtronix Scanner Antenna

On-set Remtronix police scanner antenna for all police scanner radios. 7" whip antenna for BNC or SMA inputs. View all police scanner antennas

www.zipscanners.com

 

[626hawkeye]

You'll need a roof or tower mounted antenna for that range or a perfect unobstructed line of sight. It also depends on how high (stations antenna) and what power what you're listen to is.

 

[jonwienke]

If you're talking about a whip on the scanner getting that kind of range, forget about it. Ain't gonna happen except in very specific and rare circumstances.

You'll need an antenna tuned to the specific bands you want to hear, up on a pole outside above your roof trees and terrain, with good coax like LMR400 to have any hope of getting 40+ miles consistently.

The Diamond RH77CA is one of the better whip antennas, It's not quite as good as the Remtronix at 800MHz, but significantly better on VHF and a little better on UHF.

 

[wtp]

if you are going to use the radio as a handheld and carry it around,
listen to the doc up there.
you want an antenna that has some give to it.
a metal one could do better but if you hit something, down goes the radio.

 

[Bob1955]

What would be the best antenna for the BCD325P2 for long range? Looking to possibly getting some channels for some areas around 40-45miles. Not sure if its even possible.

Diamond RH-77CA 25-1,200Mhz 15" rubber antenna-the BEST all band PERIOD!!!! Look for this item on Amazon.com or contact me as I had the analog version of this scanner-BC-125AT.

 

[ka3aaa]

trying to recieve signals 40 to 45 miles away is not going to happen on a hand held with a rubber duckie or any other antenna as your walking around unless your in the desert maybe..

 

[jonwienke]

Here's a plot of the Diamond RH77CA vs the Remtronix 800:



Lower indicates better performance.

The dark line is the Remtronix, and the light line is the Diamond. The Diamond is better for VHF and UHF, but the Remtronix is better for 300MHz milair and 800MHz. So the "best" antenna choice depends on what you want to listen to.

Here's a plot of a Tram 1410 discone for comparison:


It starts performing around 70MHz, and goes all the way through 900MHz.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

trying to recieve signals 40 to 45 miles away is not going to happen on a hand held with a rubber duckie or any other antenna as your walking around unless your in the desert maybe..

I wouldn't go as far as saying it isn't going to happen. This really depends on the power output of the repeater, terrain, environmental RF, closer stations TXing on the same frequency and a few other factors. When conditions are favorable, it may not be the clearest, most reliable signal if you're monitoring from the ground with a handheld. As others above me have mentioned, the best option for distance monitoring would be to get an antenna high above your roof line. Telescopic antennas are a nice improvement too, I've had good results with my Comet BNC-W100RX and Diamond RH789

 

[darkness975]

I know this is "frowned upon" but my 325p2 has a Comet BNCW100RX telescopic antenna. It has helped significantly at home where I am in a valley surrounded by trees and rock and reception in general is terrible on all types of radios.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Frowned upon why? Potential stress on the BNC connection?

 

[darkness975]

Frowned upon why? Potential stress on the BNC connection?

Because it's much easier to cause damage if it falls over when taking it Mobile versus a whip antenna that has flexibility.

but I understand that risk and I just collapse it when taking mobile, when home it stays in one spot like all of the rest of my radios.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

That's exactly what I do, I never had an issue

 

[darkness975]

That's exactly what I do, I never had an issue

The thing is, I'm extremely careful with it, although my girlfriend is pretty clumsy so lots of time she'll knock into the thing if it's in the cup holder of the car.

But anyway, the way I see it it's much better to just collapse the antenna and take it around then to keep unscrewing and screwing antennas off and on which definitely would wear out the connector.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I particularly like the "elbow joints" I guess you'd call them. Makes for easier collapsing if you want to put the radio in your pocket

 

[darkness975]

I particularly like the "elbow joints" I guess you'd call them. Makes for easier collapsing if you want to put the radio in your pocket
View attachment 79480

The one on my SDS200 is fully extended and I can pick up weak medical channels better. P25 digital reception isnt bad, but obviously not as good as the 100 that has the remtronix.

 

[jonwienke]

The only thing about the collapsible antennas is that you need to extend them to the right length for the frequency you're monitoring, or they won't perform well.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Both antennas I mentioned include guides on their sides suggesting which elements to expand/collapse based on the band you're monitoring