Mobile Antenna Suggestions

[rkillins]

Turning to the pros here ...
I purchased a Uniden SDS100 and looking for proven well performing multi band mobile antenna. With my knowledge, it's unrealistic to expect exceptional performance on all bands, so in my application, performance in the 400Mhz and 800Mhz band would be best, then perhaps the air band. Prefer something discrete (if anything as such exists), and ideally nothing permanent.

Thanks in advance

 

[KO4IPV]

Turning to the pros here ...
I purchased a Uniden SDS100 and looking for proven well performing multi band mobile antenna. With my knowledge, it's unrealistic to expect exceptional performance on all bands, so in my application, performance in the 400Mhz and 800Mhz band would be best, then perhaps the air band. Prefer something discrete (if anything as such exists), and ideally nothing permanent.

Thanks in advance

There is a Tri- band antenna 19 or so inches high very discrete as a mobile antennas go it is made by Larson. This antenna worked well for me in my scanner days . Look it up ( google) Larson antenna.com or Larson mobile antenna.com Good luck KO4IPV , Angelo

 

[vagrant]

The Larsen NMO 150/450/800 antenna is what you're looking for. For non-permanent, just use it with an NMO magnet mount base on the top middle of your vehicle roof. The antenna should be under $50 and an NMO magnet mount base can be had for $20. There is a newer version of that Larsen with a spring on it as well.

At twice the price there is the COMPACtenna Scan 3 which also has an NMO base and covers the frequencies you are interested in. It is perhaps not as discrete though.

 

[rkillins]

Thank you Vagrant. Open to opinion also on NMO trunk mounts. I'm not really familiar with how they work. I assume they need to be permently affixed to the trunk lid. If my understanding is correct, mounting the antenna in the centre of a high plane of metal will provide optimal reception, but do trunk mounts somehow compensate for that?

 

[vagrant]

You could use either the magnet mount on the trunk lid, or a lip mount which would put it near the edge of the trunk. Vehicles, antennas and mounts are different. The best place is the highest point of your vehicle with plenty of metal around the antenna to serve as a ground plane. Less than that will result is less optimal performance. A lip mount can be undone, but you would probably just leave it in place. You would use an Allen wrench to secure it to the trunk lip.

Here's an image someone posted to give you an idea of placement locations. While the performance is reduced on the trunk, if the signals you want to monitor are close by or strong, that may not be an issue. With aircraft, their elevation will help you on receive.

 

[trentbob]

The Larsen NMO 150/450/800 antenna is what you're looking for. For non-permanent, just use it with an NMO magnet mount base on the top middle of your vehicle roof. The antenna should be under $50 and an NMO magnet mount base can be had for $20. There is a newer version of that Larsen with a spring on it as well.

At twice the price there is the COMPACtenna Scan 3 which also has an NMO base and covers the frequencies you are interested in. It is perhaps not as discrete though.

I've been using this antenna for decades either with a drilled hole or a lip mount. Last year I upgraded to the newer model which has a heavy duty nmo mount and a spring but it is the same exact antenna. A very good all-around performer.

 

[vagrant]

I have used the Larsen for over a decade as well. I too use a lip mount on the corner of the hood area.

 

[mmckenna]

I purchased a Uniden SDS100 and looking for proven well performing multi band mobile antenna.

Go with the Larsen. Skip the Hammy/Hobby grade crap. I have Larsen antennas that I've been running for 30 odd years now. It's pretty much all I'll use at work. Never let me down.

NMO drilled in the centre of the roof top is the ideal situation. If that is not an option, then a good mag mount in the same place.
Anything else is a compromise.

 

[FFPM571]

Honestly.. a Black 18" VHF NMO antenna is about as discrete and works the best I have found just for all band scanning.

 

[emsflyer84]

I’m curious about the COMPACTenna myself. I use a standard Larsen tri-band as my base antenna at home with a ground plane kit for my scanner. I’m scanning basically all VHF high and some air band. I like the form factor of the COMPACTenna and some have said it can out-perform other NMO antennas in situations where there is no like of sight with the transmitters. That is my situation living in a mountainous area. I would consider switching out my Larsen tri band for this if the performance might be better.

 

[rkillins]

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

 

[WB9YBM]

Turning to the pros here ...
I purchased a Uniden SDS100 and looking for proven well performing multi band mobile antenna. With my knowledge, it's unrealistic to expect exceptional performance on all bands, so in my application, performance in the 400Mhz and 800Mhz band would be best, then perhaps the air band. Prefer something discrete (if anything as such exists), and ideally nothing permanent.

Thanks in advance

According to a few engineers I talked with in the past who happen to design antennas professionally, the consensus is that single-band antennas are the best way to go for performance. As for being discrete, especially at 800MHz even a "large" (i.e. gain) antenna's going to be small, so that might not even be an issue.

As a side-note, since 800MHz is the first harmonic of 400 MHz, you might be able to use a 400MHz antenna for both (for example a 1/4 wavelength antenna on 400 is a 1/2 wavelength on 800).