Larsen antenna

[KA9ETH]

I was digging through some of my old amateur radio antennas and found this Larsen multi-band mobile antenna, about 17" tall, stainless steel whip, loading coil about halfway up and has an NMO mount. The label on the top of the base has only these two words: "Larsen" and "System". I've been trying to find out what band(s) this antenna is tuned for but so far I'm batting zero. Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

[trentbob]

I assume it has no spring on it. Sounds like a Larson tri-band scanner antenna. Been around a long time, it covers VHF High, UHF and 800 MHz. That would be my guess.

There are newer versions with a spring and a more sturdy HMO mount. I don't believe the scanner antenna could handle transmissions but the newer versions certainly do.

 

[kf8yk]

Probally a NMO2/70SH: LARSEN ANTENNAS NMO2/70SH Larsen VHF/UHF Mobile Antennas | DX Engineering

 

[trentbob]

The Larson tri-band scanner antenna did not have a spring on it at the base.. compare your antenna to this photo.. I used one for years and years but now I have the more modern version with the spring and heavy duty HMO mount. Compare the photos between the two antennas and yours.

 

[prcguy]

I have never seen a Larsen tri-band in bare stainless, they are all black. Being about 17" tall with a coil in the middle I think he has an 800MHz colinear.

 

[KA9ETH]

Mine does have a stainless steel/chrome spring on it and looks identical to the one in the link that KF8YK just sent. Still not sure if it is a dual- or tri-band. Will do some more research and snooping. Thanks to all for the replies.

73

 

[mmckenna]

Mine does have a stainless steel/chrome spring on it and looks identical to the one in the link that KF8YK just sent. Still not sure if it is a dual- or tri-band. Will do some more research and snooping. Thanks to all for the replies.

73

It's dual band.

That is the NMO-2/70SH. I have one.

There's some Larsen 800 and 900MHz antennas that look similar, but they'd have the "800" or "900" printed on the tag on top of the coil.
And I've got the tri band Larsen antennas. They don't look the same. base spring is black on those and they have the 'pogo' pin on the bottom of the coil, not the flat tab.

 

[prcguy]

It's dual band.

That is the NMO-2/70SH. I have one.

There's some Larsen 800 and 900MHz antennas that look similar, but they'd have the "800" or "900" printed on the tag on top of the coil.
And I've got the tri band Larsen antennas. They don't look the same. base spring is black on those and they have the 'pogo' pin on the bottom of the coil, not the flat tab.

I looked up the 800 version, its only 12.75" tall and looks like this.

 

[mmckenna]

I looked up the 800 version, its only 12.75" tall and looks like this.

Yup, I've got that same antenna on top of my work truck. To the inexperienced, they see the coil and think it's dual band.

 

[prcguy]

Yup, I've got that same antenna on top of my work truck. To the inexperienced, they see the coil and think it's dual band.

I have no experience, but I did watch a YouTube video on it so I feel really checked out on the topic.

 

[mmckenna]

I have no experience, but I did watch a YouTube video on it so I feel really checked out on the topic.

You are now an expurt!

 

[cbehr91]

Wasn't there at one time an open coil version of the Larsen NMO2/70SH? I don't think I've ever seen one.

 

[mmckenna]

Wasn't there at one time an open coil version of the Larsen NMO2/70SH? I don't think I've ever seen one.

Yes. I have one. Worked just fine, but it made a loud whistling noise at highway speeds. I grew weary of it. I think mine is sitting at work connected to an old scanner.

 

[steve9570]

I also have a couple of those about 15 plus years old still working fine. ( along with a ton of others)