Need Advice ASAP-800 Trunked/Cell Antenna

[hsdtech]

I have a chance to buy a 800mhz trunked/cell antenna for a good price. I'm looking for some gain. This is the type of antenna that is mounted on a cell tower, but its only about 2 feet or so high.
Have any of you ever tried one of these to monitor 800mhz trunked with? This antenna new would cost hundreds of dollars. Advice is appreciated.

 

[hsdtech]

By the way its an omni with 2.5dbi gain.

 

[K4DHR]

If its made for the 850 MHz cell band, then it should work quite well.

If you don't mind a slightly longer antenna, its possible to get some 5-6 dB omnis for less than $100.

 

[prcguy]

A simple dipole in free space has 2.15dBi gain, so the 2ft high antenna doesn't sound very impressive.
prcguy

By the way its an omni with 2.5dbi gain.

 

[hsdtech]

Yeah I started looking around and decided on a Wilson 8 element 15db 806-930MHz yagi.

 

[W4KRR]

Yeah I started looking around and decided on a Wilson 8 element 15db 806-930MHz yagi.

That should work real well for 800MHz monitoring, provided it's pointed at the station or stations you want to monitor. The best thing would be to have someone help you to turn and aim it while you listen for the direction that provides the best quality signal. Once it's properly aimed, tighten down the mounting bolts. Or better still, get a rotator so you can remotely turn it in the direction of interest; this is best if you want to listen to several stations that are in different directions from your location.

 

[trooperdude]

That should work real well for 800MHz monitoring, provided it's pointed at the station or stations you want to monitor. The best thing would be to have someone help you to turn and aim it while you listen for the direction that provides the best quality signal. Once it's properly aimed, tighten down the mounting bolts. Or better still, get a rotator so you can remotely turn it in the direction of interest; this is best if you want to listen to several stations that are in different directions from your location.

If it's only one transmitter location you are looking for, then look up the license on the FCC website.

It gives latitude and longitude of the transmitter.

Then it's just a matter of converting the path between you and it into a magnetic reading and pointing the antenna.

Some GPS' do this automagically by inputting the lat/long of the transmitter, then calculating the path from you to it.

This is how I point my yagi's for distant stations.

 

[hsdtech]

I'm a ham and have several antenna setups. I'm going to switch out a UHF yagi antenna that I barely use at about 35 feet on top of a rotator, and put the Wilson yagi in its place. There are a couple of systems I am monitoring where I need some gain, and definitely need a rotator. So its almost plug and play.