I'm trying to use a paperclip antenna on my 536 to reduce simulcast distortion. But I can't really find any images of how it is supposed to be bent. Should it just be a straight wire pointing up, or should it be bent into a certain shape?
Paperclip Antenna?
- Thread starter scnrfrq
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Just use the attenuator function. but if you must use the paperclip then it must be PERFECTLY shaped like a Z.
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I thought it was shaped like a "Q"
The broadcast tower I am sure is vertically pillorized , so you will want the paper clip as vertical as possible .
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But horizontal would drop the signal more and may drop the other sites enough to help even more.
wtp
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or just straight.
and the idea is to cut down on the signal matching it may not help.
try and do the "TV rabbit ears dance" so it works for you.
bend it, shape it, anyway you want to. (old tune)
you might even try a regular antenna and lay it flat. that will make it directional.
or a race antenna.
at least it won't look like a paper clip.
and the idea is to cut down on the signal matching it may not help.
try and do the "TV rabbit ears dance" so it works for you.
bend it, shape it, anyway you want to. (old tune)
you might even try a regular antenna and lay it flat. that will make it directional.
or a race antenna.
Race-tenna Portable BNC Antenna | Scanner Master
Race-tenna Portable BNC Antenna
www.scannermaster.com
jonwienke
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It's all voodoo and random. The only way a paperclip, or any other oddball antenna will work to resolve simulcast reception problems is when ALL of the following conditions are true:
1. Two or more simulcast transmitter signal strengths are close enough to cause reception problems, but not completely equal.
2. Attenuating the weaker of the signals just below the noise floor of the receiver does not weaken the strongest signal to the point where it decodes with a high percentage of errors.
3. The borked antenna has to attenuate the signal just enough to make condition 2 valid, but no more.
Happy Simulcast Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
1. Two or more simulcast transmitter signal strengths are close enough to cause reception problems, but not completely equal.
2. Attenuating the weaker of the signals just below the noise floor of the receiver does not weaken the strongest signal to the point where it decodes with a high percentage of errors.
3. The borked antenna has to attenuate the signal just enough to make condition 2 valid, but no more.
Happy Simulcast Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
RadioSc
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My Suggestion is bend it like a Coil Type. Like what OTR Truckers use. The Coiled Antenna is Superior. It amplifies power by going in circles. Also police cars that hear Traffic from site towers that are 60+ miles out. They use a mini coiled antenna. Which is what I'm currently using
wtp
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i have heard that they do the circles to cut down on whistling sound.
and to have a little give wo it does not just bend when struck.
and to have a little give wo it does not just bend when struck.
jonwienke
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Coiling an antenna doesn't amplify anything. When you hear traffic from 60 mile away, in most cases, you aren't hearing a site 60 miles away, you're hearing a nearby site that has a data link to a more distant site, and the transmission is being forwarded through the data link for most of the distance. VHF and lower frequencies can skip, but that's a phenomenon based on atmospheric conditions, not antenna coiling.
The purpose for coiling an antenna is to make it physically shorter, when a full-length antenna resonant at the transmit frequency would be too bulky or awkward. But a coiled antenna always performs worse than a full-length uncoiled resonant antenna.
The purpose for coiling an antenna is to make it physically shorter, when a full-length antenna resonant at the transmit frequency would be too bulky or awkward. But a coiled antenna always performs worse than a full-length uncoiled resonant antenna.
budevans
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Here's a link to a post about a $10 directional desktop TV antenna (basically a Yagi) that solved my simulcast problem. It can swivel in any direction and can be positioned horizontal or vertical.
forums.radioreference.com
has anyone tried this antenna
https://www.scannermaster.com/SpectrumForce_Yagi_Base_400_960Mhz_7dBi_p/01-541955.htm
This Thread is reminiscent of when my County went P2 simulcast with a single site called simulcast and 24 Towers close together. The x36 was just introduced.
There were some gimmicks that were used like drilling a hole in a paint can and sticking the rubber duck in the hole, using paper clips just sticking it in the center hole, using a comet CH 32 miracle baby, or mounting a yagi on a broom handle and manipulating it to try to just receive from one Tower. That is not the purpose of a yagi antenna and sometimes that backfired because you had a Tower behind you and in front of you at equal distances.
It wasn't real successful, sometimes it worked for some people and not others because it's all about location location location and where you are personally located and situated between those Towers. Using a less efficient antenna was the goal but it depended where those Towers were in relation to where you were. That was the key to success and there was very little of it... LOL
They certainly didn't work in a mobile application as you passed in between different Towers.
Unication pagers and very expensive Motorola radios was the only way we could pick up the system.
Now you buy an SDSXXX, they keep right up with the alternatives.
As far as how you bend the paperclip, you can try vertical, horizontal, the shape of a z or even make a pigtail. The shape you should use is the one that... Works best.
Good luck to you.
There were some gimmicks that were used like drilling a hole in a paint can and sticking the rubber duck in the hole, using paper clips just sticking it in the center hole, using a comet CH 32 miracle baby, or mounting a yagi on a broom handle and manipulating it to try to just receive from one Tower. That is not the purpose of a yagi antenna and sometimes that backfired because you had a Tower behind you and in front of you at equal distances.
It wasn't real successful, sometimes it worked for some people and not others because it's all about location location location and where you are personally located and situated between those Towers. Using a less efficient antenna was the goal but it depended where those Towers were in relation to where you were. That was the key to success and there was very little of it... LOL
They certainly didn't work in a mobile application as you passed in between different Towers.
Unication pagers and very expensive Motorola radios was the only way we could pick up the system.
Now you buy an SDSXXX, they keep right up with the alternatives.
As far as how you bend the paperclip, you can try vertical, horizontal, the shape of a z or even make a pigtail. The shape you should use is the one that... Works best.
Good luck to you.
If you're intent on using a paperclip, I'd recommend the use of a right-angle BNC adapter between the scanner and paperclip. That way, you're not potentially damaging the antenna input on the scanner.
I agree with bob550 about using a sacrificial adaptor between the radio and paperclip. Paperclips can spring the contact cup on a panel mounted BNC connector. Having worked R&D/Production support I have replaced many contacts that were probed with objects to big for the tasks.
budevans
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trentbob, I agree with most of what you posted. With the slight exception above regarding the Yagi. Your example misrepresents how you would use (position) a Yagi in that front to back situation.
The two closest towers to where I live are as follows. Tower 1, north at the one o'clock position and roughly 4-1/2 miles. Tower 2, south at the seven o'clock position at 3-1/2 miles. Pointing the Yagi at either of those towers did not resolve the simulcast issues, just as you described. But, with a little trial and error. I found a direction that works. It happens to be in the eleven o'clock position. Simulcast distortion, gone.
To scnrfrq, with regards to all of the other unique options posted. I believe the best option is to try a small (inexpensive) Yagi. Scanner Masters has one that might meet your needs. The $29.95 SpectrumForce Yagi Base, 400-960Mhz 7dBi, the coax is listed on the same page. Here's a link:
SpectrumForce Yagi Base, 400-960Mhz 7dBi | Scanner Master
The SpectrumForce Yagi receive-only antenna is intended for use on UHF (400-520 MHz.) and the 700/800/900 MHz scanner bands. With five forward elements and a rear corner reflector it provides superior directionality combined with great affordability.
www.scannermaster.com
Hopefully you will find something that works for you.
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