Dipole or Discone, What's the difference?

[safetyobc]

On this website they call this a dipole antenna. I have heard it performs well on VHF-High. http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Scantenna.htm

Then there is the discone similar to the link below.
http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Superdiscone.htm

or

http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Discone.htm


What is the difference, in reception, between the dipole and the discone? Is one made for a more specific band than the other? Is one better? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[SCPD]

A dipole in it's basic form is a half-wave antenna cut for a specific frequency or narrow range of frequencies.


A discone is a broad-band multi-frequency antenna.

 

[safetyobc]

but the "dipole" antenna above says 25 to 1300 coverage?

Is it not a true dipole. I am looking for something that is very good in the VHF-High range and not very expensive.

 

[N_Jay]

On this website they call this a dipole antenna. I have heard it performs well on VHF-High. http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Scantenna.htm

Then there is the discone similar to the link below.
http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Superdiscone.htm



http://www.antennawarehouse.com/Scanner/Discone.htm


. .

Dipole #1 is a bunch of dipoles cut for multible frequencies in teh hope to cover a wide bandwidth.

Discone #2 is a poor discone with e whip on top.

This might act like a discone on some frequencies and like a ground plane on others.

Discone #3 is a true discone.

Discones are good for a bandwith of 3 to 6 time the lowest frequency.
Cut for 100 MHZ, will do OK up to 300 to 600 MHz.

The multi-elemnet dipols are hard to tell unless you test them.

The Dioscones with teh whips start with a higher frequency discone and then try to widen out the lower end with teh whip.

In reality the 25-1300MHz nunbers that companies put on these thigs are pure bull.

 

[safetyobc]

so which is better in the VHF-High range, or should I go with an antenna specifically for VHF-High. And if so, where do I get one?

I do listen to 800 trunked system but the tower is only 1 mile from my home. I can take the antenna off of my 246t and 250d and still track the trs. so reception there isn't a problem. I am basically looking to hear freqs from about 40 to 60 miles from my home. The terrain here is fairly flat with lots of trees and such in my entire region, South Arkansas. I know height has a lot to do with reception but like I told another guy in another thread, I am clearly picking up VHF-High at 35 miles with a rabbit ear antenna from a TV. I prop it up in the gutter on my house which is about 8' high, and run the coax through the window. Works fairly well it is about 26" long and has about 10' of TV coax on it with a BNC adapter at the end. I am hearing freqs at about 55 miles but it is staticy and usually better at night.

 

[N_Jay]

so which is better in the VHF-High range, or should I go with an antenna specifically for VHF-High. And if so, where do I get one?

I do listen to 800 trunked system but the tower is only 1 mile from my home. I can take the antenna off of my 246t and 250d and still track the trs. so reception there isn't a problem. I am basically looking to hear freqs from about 40 to 60 miles from my home. The terrain here is fairly flat with lots of trees and such in my entire region, South Arkansas. I know height has a lot to do with reception but like I told another guy in another thread, I am clearly picking up VHF-High at 35 miles with a rabbit ear antenna from a TV. I prop it up in the gutter on my house which is about 8' high, and run the coax through the window. Works fairly well it is about 26" long and has about 10' of TV coax on it with a BNC adapter at the end. I am hearing freqs at about 55 miles but it is staticy and usually better at night.

If you want the best at VHF high then get a VHF High antenna.

The other bands will suffer, but they may still be usable.

 

[safetyobc]

can you suggest a good vhf high antenna NJay?

 

[N_Jay]

can you suggest a good vhf high antenna NJay?

Thats a bit tough. I deal with commercial systems and the equipment is out of teh price range for scanners.

I would start with a simple ground plane or a GOOD ham VHF antanna.

Another choice is to pick up a good book on antennas.
First it will tell you want you are lookimng at and for when shopping, and second you may find it is just as easy to build your own.

 

[loumaag]

...In reality the 25-1300MHz nunbers that companies put on these thigs are pure bull.

It isn't often, but sometimes you and I agree 100%. :lol:

TO: safetyobc
I agree with N_Jay on another of his points. Based on what you have said a simple ground plane for VHF might just serve your purpose. If you are not into building one and you are able to mount it up and away from other objects, this Radio Shack (RS 20-176) VHF-Hi/UHF Outdoor Scanner Antenna has served me well both in the past and presently for VHF/UHF operations and it is quite reasonable in price.

 

[Grog]

I saw go with the VHF base antenna from RS for $25 if you don't want to build one.

On a related note..............

I've been playing at work with a RS 5/8 2mtr (closeout special/backup antenna) on my metal building at work and as would be expected, it does very well on VHF Hi. I picked up dispatch units from over 60 miles away while still pulling in a major 800 system about 20 miles away. I always figured the hi-gain antenna would really cut the effectiveness at a different freq, but it seems to work OK.

YOu could always use a mobile NMO mount 5/8 wave VHF antenna on a base converter to start. If you decide you want more you can use the antenna on your mobile and get a higher gain base antenna later.

One MOBILE TO BASE CONVERTER is....

http://antenex.com/c_search.asp?txt...ly=MTB&selMarket=.&selApplication=...