Indoor scanner recommendation

[Danny37]

Hello,

I was hoping someone can steer me in the right direction. First off, I recently moved to an apartment that has very strict restrictions and I can't mount any antenna outside the window or on the roof, I can't even have an ac unit in the window because it looks "bad" and ruins the "image" of the bldg and tracks in dirt anyway we have central air though. But my question is I want to purchase an antenna that will be used majority of the time on 450-490Mhz but with some VHF and 800MHZ. It'll be used on my Uniden Homepatrol-1. I'd like to have this antenna tuck away like behind some cabinets or in a corner. Budget is about $100. Oh yea it doesn't have to be a scanner antenna can be one an ham/commercial antenna. Also I need some ideas on how and where to mount it.

Looking forward to hear your recommendation, thanks!

 

[teufler]

a mag mount with a triband antenna, I believe larsen makes on, though I use a dual band and 800 trunking comes in fine. Range about 30 miles.. There are many dual band ham antennas for a mobile that would work. Your range will also be affected by how high up you are and to some degree, which side of the building you are on in relation to the transmit stations. Budget wouild be $55.00 give or take. Now I'm not familiar with the external port on an HP-1 so I don't know what connector you would need. If you don't have any metal that the antenna mag mount would stick to, there are some survival like antennas, a j-pole made from 300 ohm tv twin lead. It could stick to a wall with a thumb tack and be hidden behind drapes at a window.

 

[teufler]

INDOOR ANTENNA

THIS IS ONE THAT fits the budget fine. Amazon has it for $14.95.
FM DX Antenna Co: Indoor or Portable Dipole Scanner Antenna 25-1300 MHz, Scanner Antennas

 

[ka3jjz]

You gotta be kidding me. You can build one of those for a heckuva lot less, if you have some coax and a jack or two

Buyer beware...Mike

 

[popnokick]

Not exactly the same antenna.... but possibly better, and performance is certainly well documented here on RR. The wire version (scroll down when you get to the Wiki page) can be built for the same $ or less:
Homebrewed Off-Center Fed Dipole - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[Danny37]

THIS IS ONE THAT fits the budget fine. Amazon has it for $14.95.
FM DX Antenna Co: Indoor or Portable Dipole Scanner Antenna 25-1300 MHz, Scanner Antennas

Good find, after doing some research on the antenna the reviews are somewhat mixed on the performance. I've been actually looking into a mag mount to mount on top of a cabinet on a 1 foot metal plate. Been doing a little research on apartment/condo living for ham/scanner enthusiast.

 

[Danny37]

Not exactly the same antenna.... but possibly better, and performance is certainly well documented here on RR. The wire version (scroll down when you get to the Wiki page) can be built for the same $ or less:
Homebrewed Off-Center Fed Dipole - The RadioReference Wiki

Nice, I've been thinking about making my own antenna, something to take into consideration I guess.

 

[Danny37]

Call me crazy, but I've been looking into this antenna [ Comet CA-2X4SR - Broadband VHF/UHF Dual Band Ham Radio HT Antenna ] as I've read great reviews on it. Plus read works great on the UHF t-band and VHF and 800MHZ. Was thinking on mounting it on the side of my bedroom window, found a hotspot walking around with an HT and stock ducky antenna on weak channel and found 3-4 bars at this location of the room. I like the idea that I could mount it between the window curtain and the blinds so it won't really be visible from the inside or outside. I'm really stumped on how I would go about mounting it and if it's possible. Otherwise I probably will go with a mag mount.

 

[popnokick]

The Comet CA-2X4SR is not going to be much help on 800 mHz. If you found a hotspot near a window, here is an antenna you can try for very few $$$... and if it isn't helping, you still can get the Comet. But this antenna is nearly undetectable, and also directional (unlike the Comet) so it will maximize the signals entering through the window:
Solid Signal HD-BLADE Amplified Flat Clear Indoor TV Antenna (HDBLADE) from Solid Signal
The "HD Blade" will cover VHF/UHF and 800 mHz. Yes, I know it's a TV antenna but for receiving with a scanner there is plenty of overlap and frequency proximity to the VHF/UHF and 800 mHz scanning bands. You should rotate it 90 degrees from the "normal" TV installation position so that it is vertically polarized... same as the signals you are receiving. You'll also need and adapter (F to BNC or F to SMA... or whatever is on your scanner) to adapt the coax F connector to your scanner.

 

[Danny37]

The Comet CA-2X4SR is not going to be much help on 800 mHz. If you found a hotspot near a window, here is an antenna you can try for very few $$$... and if it isn't helping, you still can get the Comet. But this antenna is nearly undetectable, and also directional (unlike the Comet) so it will maximize the signals entering through the window:
Solid Signal HD-BLADE Amplified Flat Clear Indoor TV Antenna (HDBLADE) from Solid Signal
The "HD Blade" will cover VHF/UHF and 800 mHz. Yes, I know it's a TV antenna but for receiving with a scanner there is plenty of overlap and frequency proximity to the VHF/UHF and 800 mHz scanning bands. You should rotate it 90 degrees from the "normal" TV installation position so that it is vertically polarized... same as the signals you are receiving. You'll also need and adapter (F to BNC or F to SMA... or whatever is on your scanner) to adapt the coax F connector to your scanner.

This is pretty killer, I like that it looks like a sheet of paper, I might just get this!

 

[chekoz77]

I have the same restrictions. I use a radio shack discone sitting on top of a pvc pipe stuck in the corner. I can pull in signals over 50 miles away. But I am on the third floor so I am sure that helps signal. Before the discone I just used a dual band mag mount on top of a cabinet. Mag mount worked almost as well as the discone.