Multiband BNC Portable Antenna

[vdsteelman]

Hi,

I have a Uniden bc246t and would like to buy a shorter antenna than the stock one that came with it. I monitor vhf, uhf, and 800mhz with a large interest in railroad frequencies. If anyone knows where I can find a good quality, short, multiband bnc antenna that can pick up all these frequencies, please let me know. I will take any suggestions.

Thanks,

Ben

 

[K2KOH]

This is going to sound strange, but try the Radio Shack 800 MHz antenna. Believe it or not, it works quite well on VHF/UHF

 

[epfdtracktrunker]

This is going to sound strange, but try the Radio Shack 800 MHz antenna. Believe it or not, it works quite well on VHF/UHF

Believe him, Thats the antenna that I have on all my GRE Scanners, and it really does do a good job on VHF/UHF/800.

 

[DaveH]

For the benefit of Ben (and some of the rest of us), what would be the part number for this antenna?

Dave

 

[KE5BCP]

It is 20-283 at:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=20-283

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

How does the RS 800 compare to the Diamond RH77A?

 

[KE5BCP]

How does the RS 800 compare to the Diamond RH77A?

I personally prefer the Diamond rh771 (aka Ccrane SuperGainer, cousin to the rh77a) to the RS 800, but in this case, the size of it would not be what the original poster was wanting. It can be found at:
http://www.ccrane.com/ccsuper-gainer.aspx

 

[Dave13]

R/S 800MHZ is good, BUT...

I have the R/S 800MHZ antenna too BUT it's been beaten out, hands down by the PRYME RD-9! I have now even installed one on my Yaseu VX-2R with the same recieve increases. "White Noise" is reduced dramatically and signal strength really cleared!
The overall size (around 7"), is not cumbersome for carry nor does it make your H/H prone to easy tip-overs. Yes, longer wire works better, but it's a very rewarding comprimise over "stock".
Straight-up, the RD-9 works!
Thank goodness BNC connectors are so wear resistant, cause I keep swapping the R/S-800MHZ and the RD-9 between my 3 handhelds!

Dave 13

 

[Dave13]

R/S 800MHZ is good, BUT...

I have the R/S 800MHZ antenna too BUT it's been beaten out, hands down by the PRYME RD-9! I have now even installed one on my Yaseu VX-2R with the same recieve increases. "White Noise" is reduced dramatically and signal strength really cleared!
The overall size (around 7"), is not cumbersome for carry nor does it make your H/H prone to easy tip-overs. Yes, longer wire works better, but it's a very rewarding comprimise over "stock".
Straight-up, the RD-9 works!
Thank goodness BNC connectors are so wear resistant, cause I keep swapping the R/S-800MHZ and the RD-9 between my 3 handhelds!

Dave 13

 

[MacombMonitor]

They don't get much shorter than Comet's CH-32 Miracle Baby!

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamantht/3938.html

These work great on all bands, if it's local stuff.

 

[imcleish]

Diamond also makes a stubby RH3 antenna, but unless the signal source is strong shortening your antenna will weaken your signal strength.

Another idea if your concern size is a Diamond RH519 (7 3/4 inches), or a watson W-801 (8 1/2 inches). Both of these antennas are similar length to the stock, but the whips are thinner (the diamond is thinnest)

I have not used the pryme RD-9, but will consider it in the future.

My experience tells me that a VHF/UHF tuned antenna will bring in 800mhz systems easily, as most local 800mhz systems are recievable with no antenna.

As for railroad use, remember that the tower networks are set up at the extreme limits of coverage as the route is fixed and non variable. If you are near a repeater tower, you may be fine with a stubby antenna.

 

[Dave13]

A Stubby "Wonder" is...

I'm TOTALLY impressed with this one!
The most suprising of the Mini-Stubbies I have yet tried is the inexpensive, (approx 1 1/16" tall), MFJ 1719 144/440MHZ/1.2GHZ!
This little baby picks up local 2m/440 repeaters (local meaning the S.A.R.A. and Turlock Mountaintops 20-30 lineiar miles away, and Stanaslaus Co. Sherrif's Patrol cars up to 45 miles away! AIr, Militayr, Even Buisness band and GMRS repeaters with crystal clarity!
Used it on 3 H-H Sacnners and am very impressed! I have yet to try transmitting on a 2M/440 H-H with any of these I have mentioned, but my brother in Law has a tester to give the antennas most "pratical and usable" transmitting frequencys. One day we'll test em all both in "theroy" , "Field Strength", and "Pratice", on several of his many H-H's. My only H-H 2M/440, is the Yaesu VX-2R, with is a SMA connector,( BTW, Also equipped with a PRYME RD-9!) On the VX-2R, the across-the-Bands recieve increase was astounding!
Sometimes, you DO honestlly get your moneys worth with aftermarket antennas, sometimes ya get BURNED!
The main thing is, Hand Held Radio preformance is like my "other" hobby Airgunning,. There each pistol/rifle/ barrel/ prefers it's OWN particular pellet for optimum preformance! Rario is no different, any given two rarios, exactlly alike, preform differentlly and have their own antenna preferences...
Makes it all very intresting, wouldn't you all agree?

Dave13

 

[LEH]

I've played with the Comet stubby, both the BNC and SMA version (i've got a 396). I also have the Diamond RH-3 and I think I prefer the Comet. VHF reception, especially with the 396 is poor, but other bands work very well.

My antenna of choice is the Diamond RH 519. Does a decent job on VHF-HI and very good on everything higher. It is very similar to the Pryme RD9 (if the illustration in the HRO catalog are right). I have tried both and will take the Diamond hands down. Two identical scanners one with the Pryme and one with the Diamond, the Diamond pulled in signals the Pryme didn't know were there. But that is my opinion.

The comments that the shorter the antenna, the stronger the signal has to be, especially for the longer frequencies, is very true. Unless you are practially on top of the transmitters for VHF, the stubby antennae really aren't that good.

My second choice for an all around good scanner antenna is the RS800. Length between the RH 519 and the RS 800 are about the same. I like the thin whip. Reception wise, the RS may be a bit better, but most of what I listen to is local so bringing in that weak signal isn't all that critical to me.

I posted a photo in the 396 board showing the Comet, Diamond and RS antennae next to each other. I need to learn how to link in this forum, but the photo is on page 18 of the thread.