I'm using a 2.4ghz antenna on my scanner

[BonziBuddy]

and it works??? who would of known? I had a extra 7dbi 2.4ghz WiFi antenna sitting around and I got a free N connector to BNC from a friend. Hooked it up while bored and what do you know, I can pick up everything clearer than my other antennas. Wooow.

 

[BonziBuddy]

Is this expected? The reception is excellent and I can pick up a city 20 miles away. Anybody?

 

[digitalanalog]

We would need more information on the antenna your using.

The spec's you give(2.4GHz) are way out of touch for just about everything i am aware of as far as scanning is concerned.

Antenna Make,Model or a web URL of the antenna?

 

[iMONITOR]

Just about any metallic object will work as an antenna. A coat hanger, a paper clip, a nail, a bed spring, a window frame, rain gutters, coat rack, etc.

 

[Don_Burke]

Just about any metallic object will work as an antenna. A coat hanger, a paper clip, a nail, a bed spring, a window frame, rain gutters, coat rack, etc.

Yep, if it conducts electricity, it can be an antenna. The question is how well it works.

 

[scanaholic]

D'ohh!

Rats! I just spent money to get a Diamond Antenna for my Pro-433 when I could've asked my wife for a signal boosting coat hanger! Fooie!

 

[torontokris]

well 7db is a lot better then most antennas 1-5db (even some of the expensive ones are 2.5)

 

[torontokris]

dont forget 2.4ghz WIFI antennas are also made for 900mhz as well (backwards compatible)

im guessing its working great on 800mhz systems
but hows it doing with a VHF system?

 

[N_Jay]

well 7db is a lot better then most antennas 1-5db (even some of the expensive ones are 2.5)

Its 7 dB at its designed frequency.

It is (Insert random number, less than 7 db here) and (insert random frequency here).

Most likely it is a significant loss at anything significantly outside the 2.4 GHz band.

 

[N_Jay]

dont forget 2.4ghz WIFI antennas are also made for 900mhz as well (backwards compatible)

im guessing its working great on 800mhz systems
but hows it doing with a VHF system?

Backwards compatible with what?
WiFi has never been in the 900 MHz band.

 

[ridgescan]

I too enjoyed a nice discovery when I installed a glassmount 800 MHZ cellphone antenna for my mobile scanner to recieve SFPD digital trunking-and found this thing could recieve even the CHP way down on VHF low!! And UHF comes in crystal clear too.

 

[rafale01010]

Hmm how muc is one of those glassmount cell antennaes if ya recall?

 

[ridgescan]

Hmm how muc is one of those glassmount cell antennaes if ya recall?

I got it for free from my sis who never used it for her cellphone back in the 90s but I hear they are still selling at some places??
Mine is a nice one wih a centercoil and all black.

 

[rafale01010]

Looks like i might need to get one of 'em, the antennae i got frm the RatShack and doesn't do too well on the trunking sys(digital) around me and a majority of my county is on that system.

 

[ridgescan]

I like it-it is designed to boost cellphone signal-it has like 6db gain, hence the nice reception

 

[N_Jay]

If you don't now the strength of the signal or have a reference antenna for comparison, it is sort of like asking a deaf person how they like the music.

You might get an answer, but it is more a guess than usable information.

I now people get tired of me harping on this, but good tests build knowledge, and bad tests build myths.
AND often myths get in the way of later learning.

 

[ridgescan]

If you don't now the strength of the signal or have a reference antenna for comparison, it is sort of like asking a deaf person how they like the music.

You might get an answer, but it is more a guess than usable information.

I now people get tired of me harping on this, but good tests build knowledge, and bad tests build myths.
AND often myths get in the way of later learning.

I have to agree because what I got lucky with may NOT work on your vehicle-PLUS I purposely mounted mine on the shell glass at a considerable distance from the steel truck body (shell is fiberglass) so all variables considered, there you are.

 

[mancow]

:lol: I like that one.

...it is sort of like asking a deaf person how they like the music.

You might get an answer, but it is more a guess than usable information.

 

[OldDeadOne]

My deaf wife likes music and has danced to it(vibrations and gyrations )