Hand-Held Antenna Commentary

[mark40]

After reading/studying user comments here on the RR, decided on the WS1080 for my new hand-held.
Picked up new for 375.00 on Amazon.

Question regarding antennas: What hand-held antenna have you used/experimented with?

On my previous hand-held, I used a Watson W-801 Regular Gainer (8" long). Only issue is it will not fasten to the WS1080 bnc connection point without taking the external speaker plug/ring off. The skirt on the W-801 makes it a shade longer than a typical antenna.

Failing that, I've played around with two antennas on-hand: the stock WS1080 antenna (4.5"), and a Uniden generic (6.5"). So far the Uniden is superior. I don't quite know how to read this without input from other users. After all most users here appear to seek alternatives to stock antennas. We are by nature curious bunch and forever experimenting, tweaking, etc...

I'm a big fan of the RH77CA but likewise it has a skirt, and I need something smaller and discreet when I'm at work and out and about. I'm focused on Vhf-hi and UHF in my area. The only 800 Mhz I listen to is at work (I'd pick that up with no antenna)

While the 7" RS 800 antenna is the right size, I'm assuming I'll suffer badly on Vhf-hi and UHF.
So have you had any success with alternate antennas on the WS1080 keeping in mind the skirt issue emphasis on Vhf-hi and UHF? Thanks in advance..Mark

 

[joncleve]

I am using the Nagoya NA-701 on mine. I know it get's mixed reviews but so far I can't complain. It seems to do a good job on 800, and because it's a dual band 2M/440, it does really well on UHF and VHF, in my area.

 

[Blackswan73]

I also have the 701 on one of my 668 radios, and the RS 800 on the other one. I feel the 701 is equal or possibly a tad better than the 800. I was hesitant to purchase the 701, because it said it was designed for ham VHF and UHF. But since antennas cut for one frequency often work well on harmonics of that frequency, and since the 800/900 band is the first harmonic of the 440 UHF band, I decided to try it. At approximately $8 shipped, compared to $25 for the 800, it is a real sleeper. Equal, or better performance at a third of the price.

 

[fnnm400]

I'm using a miracle baby ch32 on my 800. It works absolutely awesome.

 

[AtlasFBG2]

The Remtronix vu-100b will fit with the headphone plug in place. Same performance as the rh77ca. Longer than your looking for but if you want something that will fit with the plug in place its a good antenna.
Remtronix Scanner Antenna

 

[W8RMH]

I strongly agree with fnnm400. I have used a Comet CH-32 for 20 years, on all my handheld scanners. It is only 1.75 inches tall with an extended receive range of 118-160MHz, 250-290MHz, 360-390MHz, 420-470MHz, 820-960MHz, 1260-1300MHz. I like the ability to put my BCD396XT in my pocket unexposed and listen with earphones. I also wear it on my belt and don't like an antenna sticking me in the armpit and getting caught on stuff.

 

[Halfpint]

While the 7" RS 800 antenna is the right size, I'm assuming I'll suffer badly on Vhf-hi and UHF.

I've been using the RS 800 antenna with my PSR 800s, and other HH `Trunking' scanners, since I bought it without any really noticable reception problems on VHF-hi or UHF here in CO. Of course I don't really have to deal with DX type reception as the majority of that type of scanning reception as all of the systems in those ranges are basically `local' to me and are `power houses'. {VB GRIN!} (Also, the few mobiles that are in those ranges are ones that I am more interested in listening to are ones that are only interesting to be listening to *are* those that *are* near to me rather than those that aren't.) At home, if I really want to use one of my 800s to listen I've got a mobile `mag mount' setup on a bracket on one of my antenna masts outside and on the roof of an old housetrailer I use as a `workshop' that I can hookup as needed. (Just one of the `perks' of living on a farm out in the country... No annoying HOA annoyances to deal with. {Chortle!})

 

[ratboy]

So far, on my Pro-668, the RS "800" antenna is the best all around antenna I have. I have a lot of ducks and dual band antennas and the RS antenna is one of the best, on any radio that doesn't transmit. The best all around one is a huge 15" duck that equals the RS antenna on 800, but is a killer on VHF. It's old, probably over 20 at this point, and is badly bent. I've tried and tried to find a duplicate with no luck I have it on my PRO-106 at home.

 

[marksmith]

The only ones I can offer are for 700-800 mz. I also have had ok reception in vhf/uhf with the RS 800.
Another for when using on belt is the tuf duck by Laird for its 4 inch size. Great on 800. Not so below that.

Mark
536/996P2/HP1e/HP2e/996XT/
396XT/PSR800/PRO668/PRO652

 

[mark40]

Thanks for the input, It will be interesting to experiment....

One thing I noticed on the Whistler web-site is they have two separate antennas for their hand-held models, any guess as to why? Obviously with the BNC connection they are interchangeable, but curious as to why they are different. I beleive Uniden has one basic original/replacement 6" ant. across all models (excluding HP)

https://www.whistlergroup.com/usa/shop-online/scanner-accessories.html

6" Rubber Antenna for the Whistler WS1010 and WS1040 Scanner Radio models ( Part # S-ANT1010 )

4" Rubber Antenna for a Whistler WS1080 Scanner Radio ( Part# S-RA1080 )

 

[AtlasFBG2]

My guess is they went with the 4" antenna to make it easier to carry.Also with most agencies moving to 700-800mhz you would not need as long of a antenna to receive as you did with the 155-450mhz.

 

[marksmith]

I strongly agree with fnnm400. I have used a Comet CH-32 for 20 years, on all my handheld scanners. It is only 1.75 inches tall with an extended receive range of 118-160MHz, 250-290MHz, 360-390MHz, 420-470MHz, 820-960MHz, 1260-1300MHz. I like the ability to put my BCD396XT in my pocket unexposed and listen with earphones. I also wear it on my belt and don't like an antenna sticking me in the armpit and getting caught on stuff.

Saw this and ordered one. It just came a half hour ago.
Put it on a 396xt that I use with earbuds when I ride a bike.
Local trunked system is so strong hardly need an antenna. Works fine for that and heading out to give it a real world test on less strong local systems. Seems to be adequate but not as good as a bonafide 800 mz antenna like the Laird Tuf Duck 4" so far but definitely as good as stock for 800mz.

Mark
536/HP1e/HP2e/996P2/996XT/396XT/PSR800/PRO668/PRO652

 

[trentbob]

... I have had the CH-32 for years... I wish it worked as advertised... it actually works ok on 800mhz, (not as good as RS 800, made by GRE)... I found it useless for VHF- HI and UHF unless I'm standing next to the tower... also I use the RS 800 for UHF and T-band as it does as good as any other, not so much on VHF- HI...

 

[questnz]

Over the years I used few of the "stubby" antennas with different scanners, All stubbies eg Watson, Diamond and Optoelectronics only any good in close proximity eg shopping mall or simillar location. From about 8-10 handheld antennas I have, my favorite all round handheld scanner antenna is Watson 801 due to short lenght. Watson 881, Diamond SRH77 very good but too long for indoor use.