What would be the best indoor antenna that works well for all bands. No attic space and could not put on the roof. Something better then the stock antenna. Any suggestions.
Indoor antenna
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Brillian
Member
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103641
Radio Shack has a nice discone antenna with good reviews. It's small and won't take up much space. You could mount it on a camera tri pod or rig something. Move it around your home until you find a place that gives you the best reception. I added one outside as a second antenna, and couldn't be more happy with the performance. Just make sure to use solid copper coax, and not copper clad. It makes a big differance.
I bought a radioshack magnet mount scanner antenna and put it on my desk and it is working pretty well for an indoor antenna. Better then stock antenna on my bcd996t
LordJ
Member
I made an 18 gauge speaker wire setup that I took from a scanner book for my first indoor antenna.. worked great for me..pm me and I can send you the details if you wish..
NYRHKY94
Member
Scanner99:
Your magnet mount antenna will work much better if you place it on a metal surface such as a cookie sheet or file cabinet etc.
Thanks - Mike
Your magnet mount antenna will work much better if you place it on a metal surface such as a cookie sheet or file cabinet etc.
Thanks - Mike
I do have a metal book end under it. Works pretty nice. thanks for all the advice.
you need a big flat piece of metal. Something equivalent to radials on a groundplane antenna. Such as around 18inches measuring from inside to outside for VHF-Hi. The size of groundplane changes with frequency. i was once told as a rule of thumb as a quick and dirty way to determine size of groundplane for a 1/4 mobile is to measure off the vertical element. the radials or size of groundplane should be at least the length of the whip all the way around the antenna evenly of course.
how thick does the ground plane need to be? Does thickness matter or just surface area?
Just surface area.
vagrant
ker-muhj-uhn
I'm with Brillian on the Radio Shack (Model: 20-176) antenna.
- Inexpensive
- Pulls in signals I did not get with duck, mag mount, and telescoping antennas.
- Will go into the attic once I move from apartment to house to use during storms/lightning, instead of external.
- Reasonably small (Mounted to a bookshelf that sits in the corner of my shack)
- Takes a few minutes to put together.
This antenna really rejuvenated my love for listening. I wish I had purchased it sooner. It's not directly in front of a window either, but does quite well.
*Side note: It also doubles as a backup ATSC TV antenna if my cable signal goes out, as I have no external antenna. Tested and works quite well.
evilzeg
Member
If I use the Radio Shack (Model: 20-176) in my attic would it improve the signal if i mounted to a cookie sheet ground plane?
specman
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No need.. it already has a ground plane built into the design.
evilzeg
Member
Thanks
I have my magnet mount antenna on a cookie sheet. Does it matter if the antenna is not in the center of the cookie sheet more towards the back
A proper groundplane would be about 19" in diameter with the antenna in the center. How big is the cookie sheet?
It is a rectangle that is 14x10in. Where would the best location be on the sheet. I now placed it in the middle.
That is the best you can do then. On vhf frequencies the pattern will be a little distorted. It will be OK on 450 and 800.
N
N_Jay
Guest
Thew best place is the middle.
Would you notice a difference off center? Probably not.
Would you notice a difference off center? Probably not.
So how do you think it will do on LAPD LAFD it also works pretty well on CHP.
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