mobile question

[monitorboy]

i'm lookin for the best all band, :?: :shock: weather proof,rugged,no fuss,put it up and forget it,under 50 bucks ,magnetic mount,mobile scanner antenna.if there is such an animal let me know....................thanx

 

[mgn_wp]

Pretty tall order, (best, all-band, mag-mount <$50).
:?: When you say all band, do you mean 50/150/450/800?

MGN

 

[monitorboy]

yes

 

[Al42]

There aren't too many choices in that price range, none of which I'd call "best". But the Radio Shack 20-032, at $35, is pretty decent.

 

[Scan-Denver]

I've had experience with this antenna and it doesn't work very well for 800 mhz. Not sure about other freqs - perhaps someone else will have more insight on this wonderful piece (Not) of Radio Shack equipment.

Magnet-Mount Mobile Scanner Antenna

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

I'm very pleased with my Antenex ABSCANC and GMB8 mini-magnetic mount. A bit more than $50 (the chrome models are a little cheaper), but it's a great antenna.

 

[Scan-Denver]

I use this one and it works very well... Antenex 806-866MHz Open Coil Antenna - Chrome
(ATXQW8063) $10.50

 

[flyingwolf]

806-866MHz

How well does it work on other bands?

Remember scannerboy you get what you paid for.

 

[garys]

I like the Hustler scanner antennas. I have one on my truck and I'm amazed at how well it works and how little it cost. The magnetic mount is the MRM. I think the retail cost is in the $25.00 range.

Gary

 

[mgn_wp]

I just replaced my RS 20-032 with a Larsen Tri-Band (NMO150/450/800). 800MHz got slightly better but 150Mhz got much worse .

 

[BigC801]

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanants/1190.html

This one works realy well, i have one in my house and on my truck for 11$ its worth it to me. The only thing it wont work well on is low band.

 

[unitcharlie]

monitorboy, I agree with wbigcount...

I love that antenna (Valor ProAm PMM3B).... I don't monitor much low band so that isn't a probem.... otherwise I swear by this thing... it is small and inconspicious if I have to go stealth (by taking the other antenna (a modified Rat Shack mag mount from the roof); the magnet, although very small, will hold this thing in place at better than posted speeds WITH buffeting from semis!

my only real complaint about this antenna is that the strain relief has come apart at the BNC.... too much heat I reckon (that end is on the floor of the car attached to a splitter to feed two of three scanners in the car--the Rat Shack feed the third radio).

 

[mgn_wp]

I just replaced my RS 20-032 with a Larsen Tri-Band (NMO150/450/800). 800MHz got slightly better but 150Mhz got much worse .

I have to admit the Larsen NMO150/450/800 problem mentioned earlier was my installation. I moved the antenna to a mag mount, and noticed improvements on all bands over the RS ant.

I discovered that the luggage rack that the NMO bracket was mounted to, was not connected to chassis ground which must be why the original reception was so poor. Apparently, the ground plane is more important for lower freqs. I guess the mag mount plate (5" dia) in this case is acting as a ground plane because a mag base is still isolated from the roof. Need to decide to ground the rack, cut a hole in the roof, or just leave it on the mag.

The Pro-Am 5" wide mag base and the Larsen antenna are both available from HRO for close to your $50 target.

 

[astrodanco]

I use this one and it works very well... Antenex 806-866MHz Open Coil Antenna - Chrome
(ATXQW8063) $10.50

I have the same one in black. I agree that it's a keeper. And because it looks like a cellular antenna, it's also quite discreet. I also have the ABSCANC. Not quite as discreet, but not too bad in that regard either. It works just as well on 800 and a little better on the low bands. But the antenna I like best is the CW37. Just can't beat that five foot whip for pulling in everything from 37MHZ to 900MHZ. Too bad it sticks out like a sore thumb and makes my car look like a total scanner dork owns it. Ha, ha, actually the crome whip is quite thin and isn't particularly visible unless you're looking right at it. And man 'o man does it ever pull in the CHP reception wise. I not only pick up San Diego County CHP clear as a bell, I also pick up Riverside CHP clearly. And none of the higher bands appear to suffer one bit in the process.