BCD396T Antenna Options

[wupatki]

Antenna Suggestion... Pryme RD-9

:idea:
Just and FYI,

I know everyone seems to have their idea of a perfect antenna and most will agree that the stock antenna is little more than a plastic q-tip without the fuzz but I gound something better.

I've been using the Pryme RD-9 BNC for several years with my Pro-96/250/296's and then with the sma-bnc adapter for the 396. I picked up a Pryme RD-9-SMA the other day for around $20 and it is a thin whip as opposed to the think whip of the BNC version but it works great on VHF/UHF/800. The SMA version fits snuggly to the radio and does away with the adapter ring. I've found in most of the HAM boards that this is one of the top rated all around antennas that you can buy. If your primary monitoring is VHF they also make a RD-98-SMA antenna that it is about 17" long and flimsy from the length but has great lo band coverage. The longer one looks similar to the wildland fire radio antennas. If you do go with the longer antenna you can put a couple layers of heat shrink tubing over it and it will stiffen it up. As and added benefit both these antennas will transmit so if you have a protable two-way rig they will work for those as well.

Just my two cents....

:idea:

 

[JGP]

wupatki,

Do you have a web site where I can buy this Pyrme RD-9 SMA antenna? My 396 should arrive today, and I think this antenna will work well with what I monitor. Thank you.

Joel

 

[wupatki]

wupatki,

Do you have a web site where I can buy this Pyrme RD-9 SMA antenna? My 396 should arrive today, and I think this antenna will work well with what I monitor. Thank you.

Joel

Joel, yeah I guess I should have mentioned where to get them. Fry's Electronics seem to have the best prices. Ham Radio Outlet (www.hro.com) carries them also but they are more expensive. Most places list them as Premier antennas but they say Pryme on the packaging. Below are two sources with obviously different pricing but you can find other by doing a google.com search for "RD-9-SMA" or whichever model your interested in, most carry the full line.

Fry's Electronics (www.outpost.com)
RD-9-BNC $16.95 (7" whip)
RD-9-SMA $18.95
RD-98-BNC $22.95 (7" whip)
RD-98-SMA $24.95

Ham Radio Outlet (www.hamradio.com)
RD-9-BNC $18.95 (7" whip)
RD-9-SMA $21.95
RD-98-BNC $24.95 (17" whip)
RD-98-SMA $27.95

You can find a very thorough review of many antennas including the ones I've listed at: http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/antenna.html
the actual review with performance is listed on the page as Handheld Reviews.

Good Luck, Enjoy...

 

[loumaag]

Split this antenna discussion away from the Programming Topic.

 

[brandonbv]

I found this article to be very interesting - many scanner antennas were tested and rated based on performance- Check it out!!

http://myweb.accessus.net/~090/antenna.html

 

[1080iAddict]

wupatki

I must thank you for your suggestions. I purchased a Pryme RD-98-SMA and the RD-9-SMA (from two different shops - these are getting hard to find - probably cause of your post!! The two places mentioned were sold out of the RD-9-SMA and I had to do a google search - the place I found had 1 left!!).

Anyway, the tone out feature on the 396, where I live, is toned out on vhf-lo, while the trunking is up in the 800s. I live in the hills on the edge of the county. I could barely get the vhf-lo signal with the stock antenna at my driveway and with the RD-98-SMA I get the signal uninterrupted in my basement! This was a great antenna purchase - and it was all your doing. It works perfectly - even picks up UHF pretty good but I will need to compare with the RD-9 to see if there really is a difference at UHF.

I expect delivery on the RD-9-SMA tomorrow so I'll check that out for UHF trunking. The RD-98-SMA is like 18" long - but really thin and flexible. It looks cool on the 396. More importatly, it works!! But it is long, and that is the nature of the beast (or, well, the signal) and it looks like I will be using 2 antenna - - the 98 when I am at home and the 9 when I travel.

Thumbs up if anyone is in a similar situation signal-wise.

 

[rfaricy]

Best antenna I've come across...

http://shop.waltel.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/183

Even better (and nicer looking) than the RS 800 duckie and performs just as well on VHF and UHF. And at $21.65 shipped, I can't complain.

 

[wupatki]

wupatki

I must thank you for your suggestions. I purchased a Pryme RD-98-SMA and the RD-9-SMA (from two different shops - these are getting hard to find - probably cause of your post!! The two places mentioned were sold out of the RD-9-SMA and I had to do a google search - the place I found had 1 left!!).

Anyway, the tone out feature on the 396, where I live, is toned out on vhf-lo, while the trunking is up in the 800s. I live in the hills on the edge of the county. I could barely get the vhf-lo signal with the stock antenna at my driveway and with the RD-98-SMA I get the signal uninterrupted in my basement! This was a great antenna purchase - and it was all your doing. It works perfectly - even picks up UHF pretty good but I will need to compare with the RD-9 to see if there really is a difference at UHF.

I expect delivery on the RD-9-SMA tomorrow so I'll check that out for UHF trunking. The RD-98-SMA is like 18" long - but really thin and flexible. It looks cool on the 396. More importatly, it works!! But it is long, and that is the nature of the beast (or, well, the signal) and it looks like I will be using 2 antenna - - the 98 when I am at home and the 9 when I travel.

Thumbs up if anyone is in a similar situation signal-wise.

Well thanks, I'm glad you like it. I purchase a 3 ft length of 1/8" black heat shrink tubing for mine and cut it just to the tip of the antenna and then used a hair dryer (to lazy to go borrow a heat gun from a friend) to shrink it down. After it was good and tight I then took a knife and cut the tubing just below the antenna tip and pulled off the excess and then applied another coating of shrink tubing leaving me with two layers. It seems to keep it from swaing but I'm wishing I'd waited a couple of days just to have a better comparison between with and without the tubing. They have (at Fry's Electronics) Red and Blue tuning, I almost went with Red to be different but I like the stealthy look of the black, not that I'd ever wear and almost two foot piece of wire on my belt. I agree with the poster after you that if all you listen to is 800 there are some great antennas out there just for the 800 band. I am going to try one from a Motorola XTS when I get a chance.

Wupatki

 

[JGP]

I received my Pryme RD-9-SMA antenna yesterday, and it really kicks to pull in the far our UHF LTR systems that the stock 396 antenna would not get, and it is better on the 800Mhz systems.

I found it at our local Amateur Electronic Supply in Milwaukee, WI, for $20.99. www.aesham.com

 

[philkoz]

Just another 2-cent testimonial to the RD-98-SMA. Bought 1 for my R-5 & works absolutely amazing on it AND my Yaesu VX-150 2-Mtr H/H !! Amazing what a difference it made.

Now I just can't wait for my 396 to use it on !!

 

[whsbuss]

I received my Pryme RD-9-SMA antenna yesterday, and it really kicks to pull in the far our UHF LTR systems that the stock 396 antenna would not get, and it is better on the 800Mhz systems.

I found it at our local Amateur Electronic Supply in Milwaukee, WI, for $20.99. www.aesham.com

Well I couldn't find it on their web site.

 

[everettes]

Well I couldn't find it on their web site.

Do a search for Premier

 

[robwilson]

AES Antenna Link

Here's a link for the RD-9 BNC & SMA antennas on AES's web site:

RD-9 Links

I just purchased the SMA version this morning from them.

Rob

 

[whsbuss]

Re: AES Antenna Link

Here's a link for the RD-9 BNC & SMA antennas on AES's web site:

RD-9 Links

I just purchased the SMA version this morning from them.

Rob

Thanks. I just ordered mine too.

 

[JGP]

You do a model or word searc. Type in the model number RD9SMA without hypens or periods and it comes up in the AES web site.

Joel