Maldol AL-500HS

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oceans777

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I know there have been other posts about this incredible VHF/UHF airband antenna but
I just discovered there is an SMA version - AL-500HS - and finally have it for the BCD396T.
This antenna is amazing on the BCD396T - which can be very touchy with many antennas.

It would be hard to overstate how well this antenna picks up VHF air and also UHF - I have not used it as much for UHF air yet but can pick it up no problem.
In fact, when running the BCD396T and Icom IC-R20 at home, I leave the AL-500's on them for local 400 MHz police, fire, LAPD APCO-25, etc and they get great signal.

Also have to say that when my Maldol AHW100RX antenna broke a few weeks back I sent it to NGA and they replaced it with no hassle at all.

Just passing it along. Link to info from Universal Radio - HRO drop-shipped mine from NGA for $49.95
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanants/1687.html
 
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FrankJ

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Euclid, Ohio
I tried one awhile back and I wasn't that impressed. It seemed to work the same on VHF and UHF Air as my Diamond RH-77CA. Maybe I would have kept it if the price was $20 or $25. The fact that it was $50, I sold it and used the money toward a used scanner!

Frank
 

Uplink

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Los Angeles County
I was thinking about picking up one of these, just wondering...

The descricption on the Maldol AL-500HS antenna says "telescopic whip antenna is 20 inches".

Does anyone know, is this really a collapsing type "telescoping" antenna? Doesn't look like it in the pic. Or, is is flexible like a typical HT antenna?

:confused::confused::confused:

thanks!
 

iMONITOR

Silent Key
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FrankJ said:
I tried one awhile back and I wasn't that impressed. It seemed to work the same on VHF and UHF Air as my Diamond RH-77CA. Maybe I would have kept it if the price was $20 or $25. The fact that it was $50, I sold it and used the money toward a used scanner!

Frank


I agree with FrankJ. I tried the Maldol AL-500HS and although it did work well, I don't believe it worked any better than the Diamond RH-77CA either. So I guess it's a coin toss. The only other thing to note, the Maldol AL-500 series is extremely flexible, almost too much so. This might be a plus in protecting the small SMA connectors on some scanners like the BCD396T, or preventing you from poking your eye out. The RH-77CA is a little more rigid, like most other rubber duck antennas, which is my personal preference. There's no technical justification for the Maldol costing almost twice as much as the Diamond.
 
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