Good outdoor 800mhz antenna for p25 reception.

[bobruzzo]

Does anyone have a recommendation for outdoor 800 mhz vertical antenna for receiving P25 transmissions? I live relatively close to 2 of the systems I will be listening to. I searched online but get too many redundant results. I don't think I want to spend big bucks on a commercial antenna. Not sure where to look.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

What system(s) are you looking to hear? If the word "Simulcast" appears anywhere on the sites' names, then the antenna may not be the issue. With that said if you're looking to monitor 700/800 and nothing else, perhaps consider a yagi

 

[bobruzzo]

What system(s) are you looking to hear? If the word "Simulcast" appears anywhere on the sites' names, then the antenna may not be the issue. With that said if you're looking to monitor 700/800 and nothing else, perhaps consider a yagi

OK here is link to the Radio Reference page for the system I want to listen to. There are 3 systems, North , South and Providence. I live very close to Providence and I am in the north zone coverage area. I see the freqs they use are all 800mhz so I assume I would use an 800 mhz antenna. But being close to the sites maybe I could get away with a different antenna?

 

[bobruzzo]

Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network (RISCON) Trunking System, Statewide, Rhode Island

Rhode Island Statewide Communications Network (RISCON) Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

What scanner are you using to monitor? It does indeed appear that simulcast sites are in use on that system. Reason I ask is that not every scanner can handle simulcast distortion optimally, regardless of the antenna used or how close you are to the nearest tower

 

[prcguy]

If you are looking for an omni antenna with some gain it would be hard to beat this one for the price. Shipping might be a little slow. 8dBi 868/915MHz Fiberglass Antenna N-K WiFi Router Waterproof Outdoor Female | eBay

 

[devicelab]

Shameless plug, but Dave @ DPD makes really good antennas. Prices are very reasonable for the quality you get and they will last years.

800 MHz UHF Vertical Outdoor Base Antenna (851-869 MHz)

Specs Gain: 7 dBi SWR: 1.5:1 or Less on Center Pattern: Omni-directional Wavelength: Multiple 1/2 Tuned: 851-869 MHz Band: 800 MHz Safety Connector: N Female Cable: RG8X Cable Length: 24 Inches Height: 57" Width: 1 1/4" Weight: 2 lb Wind Area: 0.50 Sq Feet Features Ready Made...

dpdproductions.com

If you want a broad coverage antenna (but less gain than the DPD) then I'd suggest the Diamond D130J discone: Diamond D130J Diamond D-130NJ Discone Antenna

Just be sure to use quality coax cable (LMR400 would be ideal) to get maximum performance.

 

[ecps92]

If you are that close to one of the Sites, you may not need an outdoor antenna, and it may actual cause you more issues in reception, due to the multi-path on a simulcasted P25 Zone, as is RISCON. How is your reception of RISCON with the stock antenna ?

Does anyone have a recommendation for outdoor 800 mhz vertical antenna for receiving P25 transmissions? I live relatively close to 2 of the systems I will be listening to. I searched online but get too many redundant results. I don't think I want to spend big bucks on a commercial antenna. Not sure where to look.

 

[prcguy]

A typical scanner Discone is not just less gain than the DPD, its a whole lot less gain. A Discone like the Diamond D-130 is probably close to -10dB over a simple dipole at the horizon because at 800MHz its radiation pattern shifts way up above the horizon. If the DPD actually has 7dBi gain, that would be 4.86dBd gain or close to 15dB better than a Diamond Discone at 800MHz.

I recently compared a Discone similar to the Diamond D130 to a tiny Discone rated around 400MHz to several GHz, where its radiation pattern was still ok at the horizon. The tiny Discone had between 9 and 10db gain over the larger Discone at 800MHz, and at best it might be a little less gain than a dipole, so that's not saying much about the larger Discones at 800MHz.

Shameless plug, but Dave @ DPD makes really good antennas. Prices are very reasonable for the quality you get and they will last years.

800 MHz UHF Vertical Outdoor Base Antenna (851-869 MHz)

Specs Gain: 7 dBi SWR: 1.5:1 or Less on Center Pattern: Omni-directional Wavelength: Multiple 1/2 Tuned: 851-869 MHz Band: 800 MHz Safety Connector: N Female Cable: RG8X Cable Length: 24 Inches Height: 57" Width: 1 1/4" Weight: 2 lb Wind Area: 0.50 Sq Feet Features Ready Made...

dpdproductions.com

If you want a broad coverage antenna (but less gain than the DPD) then I'd suggest the Diamond D130J discone: Diamond D130J Diamond D-130NJ Discone Antenna

Just be sure to use quality coax cable (LMR400 would be ideal) to get maximum performance.

 

[bobruzzo]

Maybe I could build a 1/4 vertical dipole for 800mhz

 

[bobruzzo]

If you are that close to one of the Sites, you may not need an outdoor antenna, and it may actual cause you more issues in reception, due to the multi-path on a simulcasted P25 Zone, as is RISCON. How is your reception of RISCON with the stock antenna ?

Hmmmmthats a good idea!

 

[bobruzzo]

I will try indoor whip. Here are the coverage maps for my area. I am in all 3 (Cranston). RISCON has 3 systems and I may be able to hear at least North & Providence since I am closer up thattaway.