i think i need a better antenna for a digital 800mhz scanner

[JRSpero]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9550/5.0.0.320 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I have a handheld bearcat 396t and have never had a problem with it but the fire department that I work for has just switched over to 800mhz digital and is about 30 miles away and I can only pick it up now on a good day standing outside. Is there an antenna that I can put on my house that will help me get that extra couple miles. Or even better is there something I can make that is cheaper to make it work. I have already bought the portable antenna for digital 800 but it isn't helping.

 

[DaveIN]

Welcome to Radioreference JR.

At 30 miles your most likely going to need a base antenna installed on the roof or in an attic to get a line of sight reception. RadioShack carries some omidirectional antennas such as a discone that will work or you could try your hand at a making home brew "J" pole hanging on a wall with mixed, but sometime good results when cut to the correct band.

Take a look at the Scanner Antenna Wiki: Scanner Antennas - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[RoninJoliet]

I use the RShack small 25-1.3ghz groundplane outside and in the attic with 9913 lowloss coax and i am able to receive the ILL-Starcom Digital 700/800 towers that are about 25 miles away fine....Ron in Joliet...PS: Sells for about $25.00