Not many options for me...

[whooey]

Ok, I would like to upgrade my antenna on my Pro-2096. The scanner is in my office at my 1st story apartment.

I need ideas/suggestions on upgrading my antenna.

Running one outside is not an option, I have neighbors that live above me.

Although it is possible to run one to my back porch...

What all do I need for your suggestions??

Any input appreciated,

Brandon G.

 

[JnglMassiv]

What are you trying to listen to?
And, then, what band would you like to hear the most improvement?
Try to pick one or two bands and it gets much easier for armchair antenna recommendations.

I've had very good luck with an indoor tripod mounted discone. It's a little large (as my roommates will tell ya..'Massive hinderance' were the exact words) but gets the antenna up as high as realistically possible indoors without drilling. Discones are famously widebanded and I've been pleased with performance up through 500MHz. My 800MHz systems of interest have all been in duckie range so I can't speak to the performance improvement in that band but I'd think there might be better alternatives.

 

[whooey]

Thanks for your speedy reply,

Iam most interested in 150mhz, 460mhz, and 860mhz transmissions.

Brandon G.

 

[JnglMassiv]

You might try a discone. Here's my setup:

That, ahem, is a frying rack from a wok on the top of the disc*.

The bands you've selected are likely to make for a difficult antenna choice. In the end, it's likely to be a matter of compromise. There's no shortage of varied opinions and, frankly, misinformation out there about scanner antennas. In my opinion and despite what others might tell you, sometimes, it seems antenna design and selection have a healthy dollop of magic to them. As proof, I offer that there is no clear favorite antenna for ANY single band. The matter get ever murkier when multiple bands and costs are discussed. It comes down to some experimentation, some experience, and some compromise.

*No, it didn't make a noticeable difference.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi again,

My years of experience as a ham say go with the discone. Indoors you'll have to contend with signal absorption by building materials and pattern distortion from electrical wiring, plumbing and possibly aluminium wall studs. On the porch it will have an unobstructed view and will favor that direction but then you have added transmission line loss if the receiver isn't located nearby so you may have to go for better coax. There you have the bare facts, just do what suits your needs and remember everything is a compromise.

BTW, take that grill off the antenna and put it back in the wok, it works better there. Ah so, funny way to cook sweet and sour pork. (;->)