Most sensitive VHF/UHF non 800MHz scanner

[fredg]

Hi all, first post here. I have been into scanners since the late 1970's. Got my first Bearcat 4/6 crystal scanner from Glenn at Scanners Unlimited way back when. Back when I lived in the SF Bay Area just about any scanner would receive fine. But for the past 11 years I have been in the middle of nowhere in Kansas.

Everything around me is still VHF/UHF so a 29-512MHz scanner is all I need. I currently own:

Crystal: Pro-53, Pro-22, BC 5/6

Synth: Pro-75 (2), BC147XLT, BC855XLT, Pro-2052 (closeout for $99)

I have an 20+ year old Monitenna (much like the Scantenna).

Question: From everything I have read it does not make that much difference as most scanners have similar sensitivity and it is the antenna that really matters, So short of a high dollar ICOM my current radios are the best I can do. True?

Question: I have a little Pre-Amp that works pretty well when attached to the Pro-2052, BC147XLT or the Pro-75 but when hooked to the BC855XLT it goes deaf on some normally strong signals. Why is that?

Thanks!!

Fred in Kansas

 

[spooney]

Gain is to high for that radio probably. Try setting the ATT on a channel and see if it comes in better.

 

[fredg]

"Try setting the ATT on a channel..."

Not sure what you mean here....

 

[W4KRR]

"Try setting the ATT on a channel..."

Not sure what you mean here....

He means set the attenuation on a channel to cut down on strong signal overload. However, many low end scanners don't have an attenuator.

Even though you don't need 800MHz right now, you may in the future. The only scanners that exclude the 800MHz band are the very low end scanners. But by excluding the 800MHz band, you are also excluding other desirable features, like alpha tags.

My advice would be a scanner like the Uniden BC246T, or Radio Shack PRO-97. Both are good scanners, and yes, they have 800MHz coverage, but that's no reason to not consider them, IMO.

 

[fredg]

Thanks Ken, I had thought that and none of my scanners have an attenuator. I guess what I am looking for is an older unit that has good sensitivity, something that can be had off eBay for less than $100.

I searched for older reviews but could not nail down which older scanners were the most sensitive. The Relm-100 and 200 are susposed to be good but I can not find them for sale anywhere. And of course the Pro-2006 (which I had years ago) but the prices on these are to crazy to consider.

So I guess my real question is:

Of the older scanners, which ones are known for having the best sensitivity? And how do my current radios rank?

Fred

 

[N8IAA]

Have you looked into a used dual band amateur ht or mobile? If you want sensitivity, they are definitely the way to go. Most new scanners (ht's in particular) are very sensitive. If you are near a radio shack, their Pro-84 scanner is on sale for $60 with a headset(if alphatags are not important). It has 200 channels and works great on vhf/uhf. It does have 800mhz, but you don't have to program it in. Most times adding a pre-amp into a radio's receive works against it by making the signal too strong as has been mentioned in another post. Directional antennas will improve received signals by aiming at the source(old tv antennas turned vertical work great and are very inexpensive). Where are you in Kansas? If you like private message me on this site and I will try to answer your questions.
Larry

 

[fredg]

Yes I breifly looked at some dual band amateur radios. Do they actually scan? Can you recommend some? I actually have a No-Code Tech Ham lincense, KD6ZDJ. I got it back in 1993, keep it renewed but have never been on the air. Wanted it in case I ever ran into trouble for carrying my handheld scanner around (some areas are fussy about mobile scanners, but if you are a Ham you are ok).

I am about 60 miles south of Topeka...

 

[W4KRR]

fredg, I don't know too much about so-called "low end" scanners, because I don't own any! I need trunking and digital where I am.

Depending on what bands you are interested in, an amateur radio HT may be a consideration, like someone above just said. A ham radio HT, like the Yaesu VX-7R, or VX-5R will allow you to transmit on two meters and 440MHz, plus they have wide band frequency coverage for receive purposes. You can find them all over eBay. Either of these would be a pretty good scanner, but remember, no VHF low band coverage either! I think the VX-7R will go down to like 48MHz or so, but that's it. Of course if you don't need VHF low band either, then that wouldn't be an issue.

EDIT: I think the Kenwood TH-F6A may do VHF low band, so there's another option in the form of an amateur band HT. I used to own one myself, it's a great little radio.

 

[fredg]

How about this one: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/3003.html Looks like it will scan. The only thing I see that is a problem is it does not have a BNC connector. Can I hook up an external antenna?

 

[n2mdk]

Almost all newer HAM HTs do scan. The price range on them varies by manufacturer and of course features. I like my Yaeus FT-60 it's rather inexpensive, can be had for under $200. The only think I dislike about it is it's older NiMH battery and the fact that you need to get a rapid charger or it takes forever to charge. The good news is that there are 3rd party chargers that work well and cost 1/3 what the Yaesu one does.

 

[n2mdk]

How about this one: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/3003.html Looks like it will scan. The only thing I see that is a problem is it does not have a BNC connector. Can I hook up an external antenna?

You can get an SMA to BNC adapter, be advised that radio is quite small and small generally = sub par audio.

 

[fredg]

Any sugestions on a "full size" ht that is simmilar in features to the Yaesu VX-3R?

 

[fredg]

OK, I am thinking this scanner: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanners/2223.html

Sounds like it may be what I am looking for...

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70645

 

[n2mdk]

The VX-7 but it's expensive http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0777.html or the slightly less expensive VX-6 http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0666.html both have very wideband coverage.
If you don't really need to go below VHF Air 108MHz then the FT-60 I mentioned before
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0060.html

 

[W4KRR]

OK, I am thinking this scanner: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanners/2223.html

Sounds like it may be what I am looking for...

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70645

That would work for you, providing you don't want trunking or digital. I would go for this over the ham transceiver, assuming you don't want something you can use on the two meter or 440 MHz ham bands to transmit. Good luck!

 

[N8IAA]

Any sugestions on a "full size" ht that is simmilar in features to the Yaesu VX-3R?

FT-60 has ten linkable banks that you can scan through. It definitely has good audio and you can get free software to program it with the proper cables. It programs easily by hand and has alphanumerics. The VX-3 is small and does not have good audio. You can hook up an external spkr to it for easier listening. How many frequencies do you listen too? How many are in the 30-50nhz, 150mhz, 450mhz ranges? The FT-60 won't do VHF-Lo. The VX-6 mentioned above does go down to .5mhz for the AM SW bands. More expensive than the FT-60. I'm guessing that you live in the Coffey, Woodson, Lyon, Anderson area. Looks as if that area is mostly UHF.
Larry

 

[fredg]

Thanks all. After looking around it would appear that my GRE made Radio Shack Pro-75's (I have 2 of them) are basicly the same as the GRE PSR-100. The GRE PSR-100 has some additional features but it seems the basic radio is the same when comparing specs.

So maybe I already have all that I need. I still may consider the Ham HT as having the ability to transmit would be nice.

 

[zguy1243]

look for a PRO-2005 on ebay, same thing as the 2006 just cheaper. Best RF performance for the money

 

[n2pqq]

For your needs I would buy a Radioshack Realistic Pro 2006.

No trunking no digital and no alpha tags.

But a heck of a receiver.

Check ebay for one.