BNC antenna as a mobile?

[questnz]

I can't get any Larsen, Smiley, Spectrum Force or Austin Spectra in NZ and shipping from Scannermaster is rather high. Can I use one of my good BNC handheld wide band antennas eg Diamond RH77CA as a vehicle antenna mounted on PL-259 (to BNC converter) trunk lip connector or magnetic base. Will this work and what sort of reception i can expect. Anyone tried this combination?
Chris

 

[W8RMH]

Scannermaster's shipping is high even here in the states. Have you tried any antenna suppliers?

Antennas : The Antenna Farm, Your two way radio source

Or maybe someone closer, in Asia perhaps.

 

[Rt169Radio]

Yes you could use a BNC antenna as a mobile mount. You could the Larsen BNC-MM-BNC mag-mount or the MFJ-310 window mount.

MFJ Enterprises Inc.

LARSEN BNCMMBNC | MAG MOUNT FOR RUBBER DUCK ANT

 

[jhooten]

Yes it will work as you describe. However, you need watch the adapter fingers in the BNC end. The antenna moves around much more by being in the airflow. It can cause the fingers to spread and eventually not make contact with the center pin. While it is not the best location for antenna pattern if you put it center front of the trunk it will be buffeted less than any other place on the car. We've been using BNC Hand Held antennas on race cars for years. Normally we use a BNC F-F bulkhead connector through a metal body panel.

 

[LtDoc]

BNC connectors are just not very suitable, not as strong as other type mounts, but they can be used on a mobile. So can the antenna you already have. There are a few 'but's' in that though, they deal with suitability for the mobile environment, tough enough, all that mechanical stuff. Then there's the electrical characteristics of that antenna. That can certainly be a limiting factor too.
- 'Doc

(If it ain't big and ugly, it probably won't be very good. How's that for an odd way of looking at it?)

 

[kayn1n32008]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9900; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.746 Mobile Safari/534.11+)

Also beaware of the power limitation of using a handheld antenna if you plan to transmit with it. I would suggest no higher than about 10 Watts absolute maximum. Any more and you risk damaging the antenna.

 

[KD2DLL]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9900; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.746 Mobile Safari/534.11+)

Also beaware of the power limitation of using a handheld antenna if you plan to transmit with it. I would suggest no higher than about 10 Watts absolute maximum. Any more and you risk damaging the antenna.

Actually if he has the antenna he says, then from what I see in the description, it can handle 50 watts
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1340

 

[R8000]

BNC connectors are not meant to be used in a outdoor environment unless sealed up to prevent water from getting in. Not to mention their mechanical abilities are not sufficient for highway driving speeds to properly support an antenna.

Do it right. Get the right antenna with a NMO or UHF connector and the proper mount. Just pay the shipping and do it right. You will be happier in the long run.

 

[majoco]

COM-CENTRE : Scanners/Receivers : Antennas

 

[questnz]

Thank you all for advice, Sorry I forgot to add, RX only required, to be used with my scanners. Looks like it have to be mobile. I will be in Europe next month and just found Magnum Scanstick antenna Magnum Scanstick 2000 Mag Mount - Truckerswereld it would suit NZ Band Plan perfectly, it could be my ticket. Anyone have any experience with this brand. Also I found brands like Sunker, Sirio (Italy), Lemm, President, anyone using comment on one of these?

Martin, our friends R web site is very outdated, prices and stock current as 2010! I say no more

Regards Chris

 

[majoco]

Yeah, I noticed that they still advertise the Yaesu VR5000 which has been obsolete for years...... :roll:

 

[questnz]

Yep, as well as VR500 and host of old stuff. About 2 month ago I emailed to R and pointed to him that his web site need updating/refreshing badly, NO REPLY ! I get better service from Andrewscomm in Sydney.
Regards Chris