Furthering mobile range on BC 355N

[cbtdoc2002]

Hello all. I took my BC 355N and made it a mobile since I travel throughout a 100-mile radius from my home a lot. I would like to make the scanner reach a little further or at least have clearer reception. At times, depending upon the part of town I am in, I can receive pager tones for a fire department 15-20 miles from the location but has a lot of static. Is there a way to boost the power or use a longer external antenna to receive better reception in my vehicle?

 

[UPMan]

The single biggest factor affecting receive range is antenna height.

 

[cbtdoc2002]

Thank you

 

[W8RMH]

Being mobile antenna height is somewhat restricted. Not necessarily a longer antenna but an antenna tuned for the frequencies you are trying to receive. If your fire department uses 154.190 MHz. use a VHF antenna tuned to around 154 MHz.

 

[marksmith]

Note that antenna height is not equal to antenna length.

As was mentioned, the antenna needs to be the right length to maximize the frequencies that you are listening to.

One antenna will not maximize all bands.

Mark
536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others