Making a scantenna smaller?

[bootsfirst]

Hey all, had a quick (probably retarded) question regarding the infamous "Scantenna"

I'd like to do an attic install with the Scantenna (stealth is a must...) but my roof...just isn't quite the 102" tall. I was curious if I bought one, could I take off part of the antenna to make it fit? How is this going to affect reception, etc? What element could I remove?

Thanks!

 

[k9rzz]

My guess is that you would want to cut/remove the longest one which probably affects the lowest frequencies that antenna covers. If that's cool, then let us know how it turns out!

 

[iMONITOR]

How much would you need to cut? Would it fit at a slight angle?

 

[bootsfirst]

Just went up and remeasured... I'd have to trim 20 inches for the antenna to be straight....that's not good.

If I put it at an angle, I'd probably be pushing 30-40 degrees from perpendicular. How would that affect signal and such?

 

[iMONITOR]

Just went up and remeasured... I'd have to trim 20 inches for the antenna to be straight....that's not good.

If I put it at an angle, I'd probably be pushing 30-40 degrees from perpendicular. How would that affect signal and such?

It would probably work fine. Do you monitor VHF/Lo band? If not, a smaller antenna would be a better choice.

 

[bootsfirst]

Pretty much everything around here (sans KSICS P25 and some UHF thrown in the mix) is VHF...

Being in Kansas, stuff is pretty flat here. I was trying to reach out in little bigger radius to some other towns (is 50 miles asking way too much?). Suggestions for an antenna to do such?

Edit: I'm already reaching VHF 30 miles away with my BC350A and the simple wire/suction-cup antenna. It just makes me think that with something...bigger...and elevated...and legitimate, I could hear all kinds of good stuff.

 

[iMONITOR]

Pretty much everything around here (sans KSICS P25 and some UHF thrown in the mix) is VHF...

Being in Kansas, stuff is pretty flat here. I was trying to reach out in little bigger radius to some other towns (is 50 miles asking way too much?). Suggestions for an antenna to do such?

When you say VHF, are you talking about the 150MHz band, or down around 40~50MHz?

 

[bootsfirst]

150MHz band...sorry.

 

[iMONITOR]

You might be surprised at how well Radio Shack's little outdoor VHF-Hi/UHF Scanner Antenna works. Cat No 20-176, $25.99.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...052.2032075.2032078.2032098&parentPage=family

Or go for their discone, Cat No 20-043, $72.99.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...052.2032075.2032078.2032098&parentPage=family

 

[k9rzz]

If you decide on cutting ... try just bending the top 20 inches to fit your space, keeping it intact. Sort of a 'inverted L' antenna.

 

[bootsfirst]

I think I'll put it at an angle first...then bend if I need to...and hopefully not have to cut.

Sounds good! Thanks again guys.

 

[blueangel-eric]

I think I'll put it at an angle first...then bend if I need to...and hopefully not have to cut.

Sounds good! Thanks again guys.

why ruin a good antenna?

why not this one from DPD?

http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_scanner.html#omnix

It is sturdier construction and a bit shorter. that is another I'm interested if ever had the money and needed one.

Eric Burris

 

[bootsfirst]

That indeed is sexy...

But like I stated, the antenna is going to be in my attic, so I could really give a crap less about aesthetics. Same goes for the sturdiness, it's not going to be exposed to the elements. And considering the price difference, I'd rather try my ST-2 at an angle and go from there.

Thanks for the input though. I'll keep it in mind.

 

[kb2vxa]

Just put it at an angle, nowhere to go from there. Cutting the elements raises the resonant frequencies or in other words detunes the antenna, don't mess with it.

 

[stevolene]

one word - yagi

 

[iMONITOR]

one word - yagi

A yagi is very directional. It might not work well for gcombs at all.

 

[blueangel-eric]

one word - yagi

what the heck does a yagi have to do with this thread?

 

[digitalanalog]

It may work fine at an angle, but i have tested the st2 in a horizontal position and it fails
big time on all bands.

So go with an angle mount but don't get it totally horizontal.

 

[zz0468]

It may work fine at an angle, but i have tested the st2 in a horizontal position and it fails
big time on all bands.

So go with an angle mount but don't get it totally horizontal.

In an attic, with air ducts and wires all around, polarization of incoming signals is likely to be pretty random. I wouldn't be at all surprised if there was no noticeable drop in performance installing it at an angle.

 

[bagmouse7]

I have a scantenna mounted at a 30 degree angle in my attic and it works great. I think mouting it at an angle is better than trying to cut it down.