Oldie But Goodie

[N4GKS]

I recently came across a Bearcat 210 XLT in mint condition, just to listen to aircraft and amateur radio 2 meter. I had forgotten how well the scanner works, having had one in the 80s. It’s heavy, has good sound, and great receive. Does anyone still use one of these? Looking to get an outdoor antenna, but I don’t think I need something as extravagant as a discone. The one supplied works well, but I was really wanting one for outside. Comments or suggestions?

 

[ogppc]

Unfortunately - It seems these days antennas are not as prolific as they once were. I purchased a aircraft antenna off of Amazon made by Sirio. Its a decent performer at $60. My father has a couple of other antennas from back in the day when those considered and were top of the line receivers.

The discone may end up being your best option so you have something with wide band performance. They can still be had for under $100.

 

[xms3200]

I did not know Sirio could be bought for such a low price. Do you know what model number of Sirio antenna you purchased.

 

[ogppc]

Sirio Antenna GPA0836 108-136 MHz Ground Plane Air Band Base Antenna, 500W https://a.co/d/1DSSsTs

I also have a jungle site discone by Taurus.


Taurus D1000 Scanner/Ham/General... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019UMHNQ2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[Alain]

I recently came across a Bearcat 210 XLT in mint condition, just to listen to aircraft and amateur radio 2 meter. I had forgotten how well the scanner works, having had one in the 80s. It’s heavy, has good sound, and great receive. Does anyone still use one of these? Looking to get an outdoor antenna, but I don’t think I need something as extravagant as a discone. The one supplied works well, but I was really wanting one for outside. Comments or suggestions?

Hi Casey,

Yup, I still use mine, but it's the 210. I purchased it from the very old Speigel catalog in the late 1970's. Still works very well, as you can see.

 

[trimmerj]

Let me know if you find nos keyboard foam. I have a couple 210s in storage.

 

[N4GKS]

I just so happened to come across an OmniX I bought yesterday. Anyone think $40 was too much?

 

[N4GKS]

Here’s a picture of the scanner. It’s in really good shape.

 

[tvengr]

Yup, I still use mine, but it's the 210. I purchased it from the very old Speigel catalog in the late 1970's. Still works very well, as you can see.

The BC-210 does not cover the aircraft band. The BC-210XLT does.

 

[merlin]

I refurbed a bearcat BCT15X and performs as well as a BC210XLT I had, very sensitive. Only gripe is internal speaker not the best so us an old MaCom radio speaker. I made a 1/4 wave groundplane for air band, when switched in, I also get 2 meter reception wery well.

 

[JeffChells]

Perhaps a sleeve dipole or collinear type may work for you. Don't worry too much about the collinear pattern being like a squashed bagel: the gain on the horizon matters more than knocking a few dB off of strong signals overhead.

 

[UTE-GE]

I just so happened to come across an OmniX I bought yesterday. Anyone think $40 was too much?

A DPD OmniX!?! If so, you stole it. I think they were around $90 when the first came out. Now they are about $180. Very much worth the $$.

 

[bearcatrp]

Is it a Omni X or the mil Omni? Just a little different on the frequencies.

 

[Alain]

The BC-210 does not cover the aircraft band. The BC-210XLT does.

Yes that's a fact. You read that from the owners manual photo I posted, did ya?!

 

[tvengr]

No, I didn't see that in the manual. I have 2 BC-210's.

 

[N4GKS]

Is it a Omni X or the mil Omni? Just a little different on the frequencies.

OmniX.

 

[bearcatrp]

OmniX.

Dam good antenna. If I didn’t have a R8600 that went up to 3GHz, would have kept it. Now that I sold the R8600, may get another one.

 

[N4GKS]

I replaced the Motorola antenna plug with a BNC. Pretty easy as both were the same size.

 

[tvengr]

I replaced the Motorola antenna plug with a BNC

I hope you realize that you just voided the warranty! A lot of the old scanners in our news vehicles used the Motorola pin plugs. The BNC connector is a definite improvement.

 

[StoliRaz]

I did not know Sirio could be bought for such a low price. Do you know what model number of Sirio antenna you purchased.

I have the same one, bought off Walmart. Pretty good build quality for the price. It's a simple ground plane antenna

Sirio GPA 108-136Mhz ground plane base antenna - Walmart.com

Buy Sirio GPA 108-136Mhz ground plane base antenna at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com