Going to Buy a new Base Antenna-looking for suggestions

[KB8UYC]

Hi all,

Well the time as come to start using the radio shack discone for vhf/uhf rather than 800mhz. I will be buying a new base antenna soon. Couple of things to keep in mind if you will be offering a suggestion:

1) I live in a mobile home park
2) The antenna should not be much bigger than a discone(verticals are fine)
3) The antenna must be for 800MHz only
4) The antenna MUST have gain, and be at least 3dbi


So, if you have any suggestions or have an antenna that you are currently using and want to recomend it to me then that would be great.

thanks!

Eric-KB8UYC

 

[N_Jay]

Hi all,

Well the time as come to start using the radio shack discone for vhf/uhf rather than 800mhz. I will be buying a new base antenna soon. Couple of things to keep in mind if you will be offering a suggestion:

1) I live in a mobile home park
2) The antenna should not be much bigger than a discone(verticals are fine)
3) The antenna must be for 800MHz only
4) The antenna MUST have gain, and be at least 3dbi


So, if you have any suggestions or have an antenna that you are currently using and want to recomend it to me then that would be great.

thanks!

Eric-KB8UYC

If you only want 800, I wopuld use an 800 Gain mobile whip mounted on a pie plate or on a mount with ground radials.

 

[TXFirefighter112]

Dont use a TV antenna

 

[KB8UYC]

Dont use a TV antenna

I cannot believe that anyone would even want to!!!

I have a 3 element yagi that I am bidding on also, but still looking for a good gain 800mhz antenna. Not looking just to throw something up there that is "rigged"
know what I mean?

Thanks

Eric

 

[TXFirefighter112]

Go take a look at the topic called "New Antenna" 1 or 2 down from this one on the topic list.

 

[N_Jay]

Dont use a TV antenna

I cannot believe that anyone would even want to!!!

I have a 3 element yagi that I am bidding on also, but still looking for a good gain 800mhz antenna. Not looking just to throw something up there that is "rigged"
know what I mean?

Thanks

Eric

If you want something "better" than a good mobile antenna on a ground plane (pie plate, or radials), you can spend a bit more and get a good 800 MHz antenna designed for marine use.

Probably cheaper than a real base antenna and just as good for RX.

 

[Voyager]

Hi all,

Well the time as come to start using the radio shack discone for vhf/uhf rather than 800mhz. I will be buying a new base antenna soon. Couple of things to keep in mind if you will be offering a suggestion:

1) I live in a mobile home park
2) The antenna should not be much bigger than a discone(verticals are fine)
3) The antenna must be for 800MHz only
4) The antenna MUST have gain, and be at least 3dbi


So, if you have any suggestions or have an antenna that you are currently using and want to recomend it to me then that would be great.

thanks!

Eric-KB8UYC

If you want the best performance, put up a Yagi. Nothing else can compare to them, but they are directional. You would need a rotor (very small/cheap) or multiple yagis, or settle for it pointing one direction. I have several myself - one for each 800 MHz system in my area. Whatever you get, feed it with the best feedline you can afford (preferably Heliax).

For omni, get a commercial vertical and again follow the feedline advice.

Keep your runs as short as possible. Sacrifice height for length if you have to - as long as it is avoiding obstructions in the direction(s) you wish to receive.

Joe M.

 

[KB8UYC]

Ok guys....I probably should have said this in my first post. I know about antenna's and I know about feedline....what I really would like from everyone here since most of us are scanner hobbiest and have base antennas....I would like to know what every one else is using and or what they would recomend!!!

Lets just keep it simple......


Thanks everyone

Eric

 

[Voyager]

Ok guys....I probably should have said this in my first post. I know about antenna's and I know about feedline....what I really would like from everyone here since most of us are scanner hobbiest and have base antennas....I would like to know what every one else is using and or what they would recomend!!!

Lets just keep it simple......


Thanks everyone

Eric

Like I said above, yagis for every system within range is what I use.

Mobile, I use a typical Motorola trunked antenna, but you specified base.

Joe M.

 

[bnglbill]

Best antenna I've ever used and a pretty reasonably priced omni-directional antenna.

http://users.cis.net/kingpop/Scanner/Scantenna.htm

 

[JohnWayne]

The best bang for your buck is going to be a mobile antenna mounted on a magmount on your roof. You can check out various 800MHz mobile antennas here, and some mounts here. You could also go with an 800MHz base antenna like a fiberglass or a Yagi. You can check those out here.

Let me know if you have any questions about anything.

Thanks,
Jeff