Laird EXE 806 VS. Radio Shack 800 Mhz

[pdxrealtor]

Did some searching last night on what 800 MHz antenna to go with. I have a RS 800 MHz currently, but I just got another scanner and at the same time am trying to pull in a system about 30 miles away.

The Radio Shack antenna is doing about as good, if not equal to, the wire telescoping antenna that came with my new scanner. This got me wondering if the RS 800 was a good choice.

After reading for a couple hours I came to the conclusion that the closest competitor and possible winner of best 800 MHz antenna was the Laird EXE 806.

Scanner Master sells them under another name (I'm not sure why) and they are more expensive than a couple other options. Amazon has the SMA EXE 806 for a cheaper, but doesn't have the BNC version.

I found both, and the right angle BNC connector I needed, at Antenna Farm. 21.95 a piece with the same shipping fees as Scanner Master.

Thought I'd pass along the find and information. I'll update when I get the antennas and can compare them side by side.

Oh yes..... I have a Uniden 346xt and two BC15x. So, the comparison should be pretty good in the sense I'm using the same model scanners. Of course not scientific, but none the less fun and a bit informative.

 

[marksmith]

I'll wait to hear what you say when you get it. There's no way to evaluate an antenna by reading about them. I've found some cheap simple antennas that outperform expensive ones. It's all in what they will do in a circumstance. Your 30 mile example is a good test.

Mark
BCD536HP/HP1/HP2/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800 +

 

[pdxrealtor]

What finally, after hours of reading, sold me is a guy who posted actual test results of the RS 800 vs. the Laird. You can view it here....

http://forums.radioreference.com/wa...forum/239227-800-mhz-antenna.html#post2227608

 

[marksmith]

Lower SWR should be better. I've just tried lots of antennas and still think it depends on your situation.

I have a bunch of them lying around and the cost seems to be the least indicator as to how good it is. Its probably also possible that if you had 5 of the same antenna you might get 5 results.

Having said all that, I threw in an order to try it out.

Mark
BCD536HP/HP1/HP2/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800 +

 

[pdxrealtor]

Lower SWR should be better. I've just tried lots of antennas and still think it depends on your situation.

I have a bunch of them lying around and the cost seems to be the least indicator as to how good it is. Its probably also possible that if you had 5 of the same antenna you might get 5 results.

Having said all that, I threw in an order to try it out.

Mark
BCD536HP/HP1/HP2/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800 +

You got one too..... nice! It'll be fun to compare UN-scientific notes!

 

[marksmith]

Whats one more antenna? If I like it its gonna cost me to get another 3-4.

Mark
BCD536HP/HP1/HP2/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800 +

 

[marksmith]

Got both BNC and SMA versions of this antenna (Laird 806) today. It is a good antenna. Picking a weak control channel I swapped back and forth between this and the RS 800 antenna I have always considered the gold standard for 800mz. I am showing a slightly stronger signal reception from this antenna.

I only did this in the simple RF analyzer in HP-2.

I am not seeing it necessarily translate to hearing better traffic yet. While seeing more bars, seeing the radio stop but not put out sound on some weak trunk systems.

Need to try the other analysis tools in extreme yet.

Mark
BCD536HP/HP-1E/HP-2E/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800/PRO-96 +

 

[pdxrealtor]

Good to hear! Hopefully mine will be in the box when I get home.

 

[marksmith]

I am very satisfied with this antenna. Used the SMA version on a bcd396xt with good results. Nothing scientific.

Used the BNC version on an HP-1e and HP-2e. Using the trunked system analyzer on srveral weaker systems where I get a signal of 2-3 to 8 on a scale of 10, the Laird would pull the signal up about another notch on the weaker (2 to 3) system. No change on the one coming in 8 on both antennas.

In the signal quality, the RS800 would tend to be about a bar higher than the Laird on both the weaker and stronger (though still distant) system. The system coming in 8 most people around me and even closer have trouble receiving.

In both cases the readings were 90-100% on these same systems coming in with 2-3 or 8 signal.

I got one of those little tuf ducks when I ordered one of the others. I was also surprised at how much better that antenna was than a stock all-band antenna. The 806 and rs800 were both well beyond the stock and better than the tuf duck but the tuf duck was also high in signal quality.

Systems used for testing were both in the 852mz range.

Mark
BCD536HP/HP-1E/HP-2E/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800/PRO-96 +

 

[marksmith]

I've been using thr BNC and SMA versions of the Laird 806 now for about 24 hours. The "scientific" testing using the RF and trunking analysis options of the HP-2 extreme told me the antenna provided a slightly stronger signal but with slightly less signal quality than the RS800. Initially it seemed to be receiving stronget but the radio wasn't decoding the signal as well.

After now having the antenna on a couple different radios and moving them around the house where I normally set them down, etc. I can say that I think this antenna is pulling in some signals that I previously would not have received on that radio in that location.

It seems to be pulling in fringe signals better than the RS 800. Looks like I'm going to be buying a few more antennas.

Mark
BCD536HP/HP-1E/HP-2E/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800/PRO-96 +

 

[marksmith]

Another antenna that seems pretty good (almost as good as the two above and way better than the stock antennas) is the SpectrumForce 700-800 antenna. The one tried on the bcd3966xt with good resuts is the SMA version.

Also in this case trying to maximize signal at this frequency range regardless of effects in other bands.

Mark
BCD536HP/HP-1E/HP-2E/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800/PRO96 +