Home antenna help

[SousaTowing]

I want to setup a uniden 996p2 at home to listen to Ontario, Canada LMRN MTO maintenance simplex but my current antenna that I’m using is missing the beginning of a lot of the transmissions. I’m currently using a Larsen NMO150BK 144-174MHz mag mount mounted on my fence. I can’t really mount a massive MAST on my roof.

I was thinking of getting the Moonraker 11‑533 SkyScan VHF/UHF Receive Antenna but before I buy anything I was wondering if you guys would have any other recommendations.

Here’s a link of what I’m trying to listen to
Peel
Burlington
Niagara

Land Mobile Radio Network TG Category: MTO Maintenance - Central Patrols

Land Mobile Radio Network TG Category: MTO Maintenance - Central Patrols Details

www.radioreference.com

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I want to setup a uniden 996p2 at home to listen to Ontario, Canada LMRN MTO maintenance simplex but my current antenna that I’m using is missing the beginning of a lot of the transmissions.

The antenna might not be the issue. Be sure all of your priorities are turned off & that you're only scanning one site at a time: Holding

 

[FKimble]

W3JMC has your problem nailed!

Frank

 

[SousaTowing]

The antenna might not be the issue. Be sure all of your priorities are turned off & that you're only scanning one site at a time: Holding

It worked fine at my old house because I had the antenna mounted on the balcony now that I’m living in an actual house I only have it on the fence in the backyard. I could maybe drill a piece of metal into my windowsill and then stick the antenna too it so it’s up higher

 

[dkcorlfla]

It worked fine at my old house because I had the antenna mounted on the balcony now that I’m living in an actual house I only have it on the fence in the backyard. I could maybe drill a piece of metal into my windowsill and then stick the antenna too it so it’s up higher

There might be a vent on the roof you could stick the mag mount to provided it's made of steel and not aluminium.

Another possibility for a mast mount antenna would be a section of PVC pipe stuck down a vent pipe on the roof. Good for a small antenna and it would be a lot better then a fence mount.

 

[SousaTowing]

can I use this kit on the fence? Larsen Antennas BSAKIT Base Conversion Kit - Radioworld
Not sure if the wire is long enough to mount on the roof. Would an extension wire weaken the signal ?

 

[Solidjake]

For my ADSB antennas I clamp them onto PVC pipes and fit that onto the house.

 

[dlwtrunked]

I want to setup a uniden 996p2 at home to listen to Ontario, Canada LMRN MTO maintenance simplex but my current antenna that I’m using is missing the beginning of a lot of the transmissions. I’m currently using a Larsen NMO150BK 144-174MHz mag mount mounted on my fence. I can’t really mount a massive MAST on my roof.

I was thinking of getting the Moonraker 11‑533 SkyScan VHF/UHF Receive Antenna but before I buy anything I was wondering if you guys would have any other recommendations.

Here’s a link of what I’m trying to listen to
Peel
Burlington
Niagara

Land Mobile Radio Network TG Category: MTO Maintenance - Central Patrols

Land Mobile Radio Network TG Category: MTO Maintenance - Central Patrols Details

www.radioreference.com

If your antenna is not high enough, a better antenna will likely not be high enough. But as others note, missing the beginning of a transmission is probably cause by too slow scanning of a large number of frequencies.

 

[SousaTowing]

What if I use a omni-direction base station ground plane antenna about 6ft off the ground ?

 

[mmckenna]

can I use this kit on the fence? Larsen Antennas BSAKIT Base Conversion Kit - Radioworld
Not sure if the wire is long enough to mount on the roof. Would an extension wire weaken the signal ?

Yes, you can use that, but before you spend money, listen to what the others are telling you.

If you are hearing traffic, then it's likely not an antenna issue. Sounds like it's scanning slow and it's missing the first part of the transmission. Spending more money on an antenna is NOT going to fix that.

Usually public safety systems are designed for hand held/portable radio use at street level, or better. If you live within the jurisdiction of the agencies you are listening to on this system, then you are probably doing fine with the antenna you have.

 

[SousaTowing]

I 100% understand. But I’m not picking up the other farther jurisdictions like I did when I lived in the apartment up the street