Living At Home, Need Antenna Advice

[supernoma]

Hello all,

I'm pretty new and just getting into using scanners. My first scanner was a PRO-508 that I dug out of a scrap steel pile at work (I work at a scrap yard) and stuffed a piece of wire into the antenna jack (original was broken).

Now I've just ordered a new unit (Uniden Bearcat BCT 396T) and would like better reception, but I have some obsticals.

Being as I'm still living at home, I live in a basement, so stock antennas preform poorly at best. But my parents would defiantly not be thrilled with the thought of me putting an antenna on the roof or setting up a tower. They do not have a TV antenna on the roof, so that leaves me with nothing to mount to.

So my options confine me maybe a very small antenna that I could mount on a fence outside, or something I could mount up in an attack maybe?

My neighbour down the street has a HAM radio tower set up, is there a way I could bounce signals off his antenna for me?

Also, I have my PRO-508 set up to stream on the internet (hooked the speaker out to a headphone plug), so is there a way to split an antenna signal to work for both scanners at the same time?

Like I've said, I'm just getting into this, so my knowledge is basically zero and I have many, many questions, so is there a good FAQ or something for people just starting off?

Thanks guys.

 

[N4JNW]

Well, first and foremost, welcome to Radio Reference.

Regarding your antenna dilemma, there's not much you can do here. If you DO have an attic, an antenna installation there would be your best bet.

RadioShack has a nice little scanner antenna, that runs about $25 that can be hung from a string, or sat on top of a rafter. Get you some coax, and run it down to your basement scanner shack, and you're set to go.

If you want to put an antenna outside, another simple idea would be to drive a steel fence T-post into the ground somewhere close to where you want your coax to run in, and then simply strap your antenna to the top of the fence post. If your folks say anything about it, you can remove it easily and start over. Make some kind of deal with them, if they let you do that, promise you'll weed-eat around it and keep it looking nice and neat.

Antenna's don't have to be complicated either. You can take a simple peice of coax, and strip about 15" of the insulation and braided shield off of it, hook it to your scanner, and recieve off of it. Maybe do that, and run it outside behind a gutter, and no one will be the wiser it's even there.

Granted, performance with these ideas won't yield the best results, but hey, it's a definate improvement over an antenna INSIDE the basement.

Welcome to the scanning community, and ask any questions you may have. Be sure to check out the database for up to date frequency listings for your area!

 

[nighthawks]

RS Antenna

Check this thread out.

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58448

 

[mkewman]

welcome to rr! good luck! feel free to contact me if you have any questions too!

 

[k9rzz]

My scanner antenna right now is in the attic.

Works fine ... no complaints.

John K9RZZ

 

[amen]

try a ventenna

Have a look at these, very low profile.
http://www.ventenna.com/ventsec.htm