More Questions on the D130J(N)

[NDRADIONUT]

Do you have the freq of the control channel of the site closest to you ? Is it a state system ?

 

[Nutes]

Okay I see where you are going. The Ohio Highway Patrol and allot of the neighboring counties have all gone to the MARCS System. My county (Pike) is still mostly analog, except that sherrif deputies and local police are using MARCS system hand held units. Their patrol cars are all still analog, which I can usually all hear pretty well. Even better than the dispatcher some times. I want to work on a US 23 from Portsmouth to Chillicothe program, where I can hear all Highway Patrol and local police and sherrif traffic on that MARCS digital system. I ASSUME this is mostly on the 700 to 800 MHZ range.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

My point is that maybe you dont need a new antenna if you are getting a good signal on the closest 800 site...

 

[NDRADIONUT]

ALL YOU WOULD NEED FOR 800 WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE THIS 3.25"IN THE CENTER AND 3.5" ON THE 4 RADIALS...

http://www.mds975.co.uk/Images/amateur_radio/Quarter_Wave_Ground_Plane_detail_M0MTJ.png

 

[Nutes]

Yes I see your point. However, I still have patrol cars fade out on my only a few miles away. I still do not hear everything close by in the 150 MHZ range the way I should. Thus, why I want to maximize my signal reception with a new antenna. I don;t have allot of faith in my construction nor the site where it is located.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

These 2 together would give you what you are looking for without a killer price....

http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/larsen-nmo150-450-800-1050.html

http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-technologies-mbc-1649.html

http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/pctel-maxrad-bmaxscan1000-1051.html < Another antenna choice...

 

[Darkstar350]

I run a D130NJ with LMR400 and its a decent all around antenna
I would definitely reccomend that LMR400 with the N connectors is used for the coax

It does however leave a bit to be desired in regards to 8/900mhz - One of my indoor base antennas seems to out perform it at times on 800mhz
This could be due to a thing where when it comes to multi site trunked systems a large outdoor antenna could actually be pulling in too much signal or receiving one of the more distant sites - in other words "cancelling out" the other more local sites...
the D130NJ seems to have a "sweet spot" in the 150/450mhz range

The best option for a 8/900mhz trunked outdoor antenna would probobly be a cellular-type "beam" antenna aimed at the closest tower...

 

[popnokick]

Nutes- In the first few replies in this thread, prcguy suggested getting two antennas and combining them with a diplexer. You could combine either a directional or non-directional 800 mHz antenna with another antenna for the rest of what you want to receive. I just wanted to check that you read / understood the suggestions (from both prcguy and now Darkstar350) that will nearly guarantee improvement. And of course, increase your cost and complexity vs. a single antenna.

 

[Nutes]

Nutes- In the first few replies in this thread, prcguy suggested getting two antennas and combining them with a diplexer. You could combine either a directional or non-directional 800 mHz antenna with another antenna for the rest of what you want to receive. I just wanted to check that you read / understood the suggestions (from both prcguy and now Darkstar350) that will nearly guarantee improvement. And of course, increase your cost and complexity vs. a single antenna.

Absolutely. I have read everything at least twice For now, I am saving my money and doing allot of trips to the attic with a tape measure!

 

[KMG54]

These 2 together would give you what you are looking for without a killer price....

http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/larsen-nmo150-450-800-1050.html

http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/laird-technologies-mbc-1649.html

http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/pctel-maxrad-bmaxscan1000-1051.html < Another antenna choice...

That is what I use on the house rig for my 1095 and it works great. Larsen tri bander and ground plane mount.