Can you help me identify this portable antenna?

[DanLP456]

This was taken off an old burglar alarm that was installed in my house in the late 90’s. I’m wondering if anyone can tell what band it‘s for? I’m wondering if it can be useful for my scanner 😃

Thanks!
-Dan

 

[mmckenna]

A lot of those old burglar alarm and fire alarm systems had cellular modems that would connect them back to a central station for monitoring. It --might-- be tuned for the cellular bands, so it might work well on 800MHz.

But, just looking at that photo, it would be hard for anyone to know for sure, unless they specifically worked with that model. Trying it isn't going to hurt your scanner.

Only question would be what kind of connector that is on the end. A photo of that would be helpful.

 

[FedFyrGuy]

A lot of those old burglar alarm and fire alarm systems had cellular modems that would connect them back to a central station for monitoring. It --might-- be tuned for the cellular bands, so it might work well on 800MHz.

But, just looking at that photo, it would be hard for anyone to know for sure, unless they specifically worked with that model. Trying it isn't going to hurt your scanner.

Only question would be what kind of connector that is on the end. A photo of that would be helpful.

TNC maybe?

 

[prcguy]

Its a TNC but we need a picture of the connector face to see if its a regular or reverse polarity TNC. I think its a 2.4GHz antenna.

 

[DanLP456]

Its a TNC but we need a picture of the connector face to see if its a regular or reverse polarity TNC. I think its a 2.4GHz antenna.

I attached a picture of the connector. Now that I take a closer look at it, it looks like a BNC but it doesn’t have the slots that I would be able to attach to my scanner. That’s just the scanner nerd in me, can’t leave a good antenna to waste!

 

[merlin]

IoT. WiFi router etc.

 

[prcguy]

I attached a picture of the connector. Now that I take a closer look at it, it looks like a BNC but it doesn’t have the slots that I would be able to attach to my scanner. That’s just the scanner nerd in me, can’t leave a good antenna to waste!

Its a normal polarity TNC or "Threaded Neill-Concelman" where a BNC is a "Bayonet Neill-Concelman" connector. Same internal dimensions.

 

[mmckenna]

IoT. WiFi router etc.

Probably not in the Late 90's.

This was taken off an old burglar alarm that was installed in my house in the late 90’s.

May have been 2.4GHz for wireless sensors.
Back in the mid 1990's, I was working a job installing a fire alarm for a community college. We had UHF radio in it that would send alarm triggers to the local fire department.
Some burglar alarm systems used a radio to link into a central station.

 

[oldradioguy2010]

I agree with McKenna.
Likely 800/900 mhz. Don't believe it would be 2.4.


DW
So. Cal

 

[RCjim]

You may still find an adapter to convert it to BNC, I had one many years ago.

 

[mancow]

I agree with McKenna.
Likely 800/900 mhz. Don't believe it would be 2.4.


DW
So. Cal

 

[pandel]

If you are really that interested....and have a VNA with the correct adapters you can sweep the antenna and look for a dip which should give you a pretty close frequency.

 

[oldradioguy2010]

To answer your questions Dan, if the correct fitting [BNC] then it should work with maybe some signal loss.
Give it a shot.


DW
So. Cal

 

[prcguy]

To answer your questions Dan, if the correct fitting [BNC] then it should work with maybe some signal loss.
Give it a shot.


DW
So. Cal

Yup, an adapter will have loss. On the order of about .05dB through 500MHz and maybe up to .07dB at 1GHz!

 

[oldradioguy2010]

Ok, if I remember correctly [at 70 years old] with that connector, could it be a cell phone from maybe 1980s. Not so much a brick phone but the brief case type or land moble radio . Here again 800/900 mhz?

DW
So. Cal

 

[DanLP456]

I think I’ll stick to my current 800 MHz antenna 😁 Thank you everyone!