I’m getting a sds100 and I am wondering if I need a external antenna on my vehicle. I have good recommendations for external antennas but I don’t really know if it is completely necessary to have one in the first place. I live in Jefferson County, AL and the stock antenna on the sds100 works well enough in my home county but, for when I’m travelling should I get an external antenna or not? What are some very low profile antennas that would do this (I like the shotgun shell design) and cheap stico recommendations would be good too.
Is a external antenna really necessary?
- Thread starter lcat06
- Start date
That one was regarding ham antenna this is just for scanning
Based on what you wrote in your original post quoted above, you want long range receive. A handheld inside your vehicle using the stock antenna is not going to deliver that performance. So, yes, it appears you should get an external antenna
Read through this thread - plenty of good recommendations for mobile antennas
Looking for the right vehicle-mounted antenna
Hello everyone, I have a BCD436HP (I got it in November of last year); I'm going to be using at least 2 of these in my vehicle (likely the 436 and 536), I'm trying to find an antenna for my vehicle. I have a pickup truck, so I'm ideally looking for one that I could bolt/screw into my backrack...
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Your vehicle will act like a Faraday cage and block RF pretty well. All that metal and tinted glass do a pretty good job.
If the traffic you want to listen to is very close by, there may be enough RF leaking in through the windows for the scanner to hear the traffic.
But if you get on the fringes of coverage, it's going to suffer.
If you want the most range from your scanner, getting the antenna outside the vehicle will make a big difference. That's why police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and public works vehicles will usually have a mobile radio with an antenna on the roof.
No one can tell you what is going to work for your exact situation. You have to decide if the function of your scanner sitting inside the car with no external antenna is 'good enough' for you, or if you need more.
After 30+ years, I -always- install an external antenna on my vehicles for my mobile radios. I won't do anything less.
If the traffic you want to listen to is very close by, there may be enough RF leaking in through the windows for the scanner to hear the traffic.
But if you get on the fringes of coverage, it's going to suffer.
If you want the most range from your scanner, getting the antenna outside the vehicle will make a big difference. That's why police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and public works vehicles will usually have a mobile radio with an antenna on the roof.
No one can tell you what is going to work for your exact situation. You have to decide if the function of your scanner sitting inside the car with no external antenna is 'good enough' for you, or if you need more.
After 30+ years, I -always- install an external antenna on my vehicles for my mobile radios. I won't do anything less.
Don't use a "transit-style" antenna for a scanner unless you're only listening for a frequency that antenna is tuned for. They don't even work that well for two-way communication I would say just less than a 1/4 wave cut for a specific band
Larsen, Em-Wave, and Laird make excellent mobile scanner antennas. All of which are available at the Antenna Farm (or Amazon).
I have all Em-Wave antennas on my SUV for Ham Radio and scanning.
What mmckenna says is 100% on the mark. He's a career communications professional and has great advice to share on these forums.
Larsen, Em-Wave, and Laird make excellent mobile scanner antennas. All of which are available at the Antenna Farm (or Amazon).
I have all Em-Wave antennas on my SUV for Ham Radio and scanning.
What mmckenna says is 100% on the mark. He's a career communications professional and has great advice to share on these forums.
Not to be a funny guy, BUT... Asking if you should use an external antenna on Radio-Reference will almost always get you an answer of "of course you should have a bigger more capable antenna".
If you want an answer that is different than a bigger antenna is better, that's where the spouse comes in.
What I need is an article or thread on how to convince a spouse that an external antenna is a good idea. (There was an article in a kit plane building magazine about different techniques to use to convince a spouse that a kit plane is a good idea)
If you want an answer that is different than a bigger antenna is better, that's where the spouse comes in.
What I need is an article or thread on how to convince a spouse that an external antenna is a good idea. (There was an article in a kit plane building magazine about different techniques to use to convince a spouse that a kit plane is a good idea)
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
What I need is an article or thread on how to convince a spouse that an external antenna is a good idea. (There was an article in a kit plane building magazine about different techniques to use to convince a spouse that a kit plane is a good idea)
I helped my wife get her Technician ticket and I put a VHF mobile in her truck. She doesn't mind the antenna. But I made damn sure it was a basic 1/4 wave, not one of those butt ugly, goofy a$$'d looking hamtacular monstrosities.
Some of those antennas remind me of BCG's.
Start with the basics. An antenna up high outside will receive than one better inside 4 walls that could contain foil backed insulation or any other housing material that blocks or reduces rf.
Also know that any antenna that resides outside and has a feed line going into your home needs to be grounded.
Also know that any antenna that resides outside and has a feed line going into your home needs to be grounded.
Bob1955
Member
When your Bearcat SDS100 is in a vehicle, you are surrounded by metal so you will lose a lot of the signals.
What frequency(frequencies) do you want to monitor and what type of vehicle do you own? This will help me out plus the group too.
Have a good week and stay cool.
Bob
Usually an antenna tuned for area of interest should perform the best. A tri band is tuned for three bands. Is what your calling a Motorola can antenna tuned for the range of 800 your looking for?
I use a simple nmo mount with a 18 or 19 inch whip and it’s perfect for my needs. Also run a nmo tuned for 800 and receive 7/800, 450/470 and 118/160 without issue.
Just buy and try. That’s what scamazon free returns is for. They even offer “don’t need it any more” as one of the choices when doing a return.
I use a simple nmo mount with a 18 or 19 inch whip and it’s perfect for my needs. Also run a nmo tuned for 800 and receive 7/800, 450/470 and 118/160 without issue.
Just buy and try. That’s what scamazon free returns is for. They even offer “don’t need it any more” as one of the choices when doing a return.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Motorola doesn't make antennas, they resell someone else's with a substantial markup.
As Dave said, band specific antennas usually work best, so if all you need is 800MHz, then a single band 800MHz antenna might be your best option.
Remember that most of these systems are designed for on-street portable radio use, so anything better than that will give you good results in the intended coverage area. If you are outside the intended coverage area, then you might want something with a bit more gain.
Best bang for you buck on the 800MHz Mobile antenna side is:
theantennafarm.com
I just installed a bunch of those on transit buses.
If you want something with some more gain:
theantennafarm.com
-or-
theantennafarm.com
As Dave said, band specific antennas usually work best, so if all you need is 800MHz, then a single band 800MHz antenna might be your best option.
Remember that most of these systems are designed for on-street portable radio use, so anything better than that will give you good results in the intended coverage area. If you are outside the intended coverage area, then you might want something with a bit more gain.
Best bang for you buck on the 800MHz Mobile antenna side is:
EM Wave EM-MX0746 746-894 MHz 1/4 Wave Mobile Antenna - Stylish High-Impact Dual Shot Xenoy™/TPV Base - NMO
EM Wave EM-MX0746 746-894 MHz 1/4 Wave Mobile Antenna - Stylish High-Impact Dual Shot Xenoy™/TPV Base - NMO
theantennafarm.com
If you want something with some more gain:
EM Wave EM-M11008 806-894 MHz Mobile Antenna - 3 db Gain - NMO - 14 in
EM Wave EM-M11008 806-894 MHz Mobile Antenna - 3 db Gain - NMO - 14 in
theantennafarm.com
-or-
Larsen NMO3E825B 825-896MHz 3.2db Gain Mobile Antenna NMO Mount 14"
Larsen NMO3E825B 825-896MHz 3.2db Gain Mobile Antenna NMO Mount
theantennafarm.com
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
It will work for 800MHz. But if you don't already own it, I'd still recommend the basic 1/4 wave antenna linked to above.
Okay tell me this… compare the performance of a Motorola haf4013 near the sharkfin in the Toyota 4Runner compared to that 1/4 wave in the dead center, and then compare that to the stock antenna. I see police vehicles with these Pctel and Motorola can antennas in my city
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