Pro-197 outside antenna

[Flatshovel]

Hello,
I have a very simple question, can a Pro-197 be hooked to a outside antenna without having to turn on the global attenuator? I have one hooked to a outside antenna and on most of my VHF conventional frequencys all I hear is the NOAA weather channel coming through 162.525. I don't want to buy a notch filter for the radio as I paid enought for it and it should have come with one. I am very disappointed with Pro-197 and I should have taken it back to the store shortly after buying it. I know next time to stick to the Uniden models. Any one got any Ideas, as this thing is about to drive me nuts?

If it keeps up you might just see it listed!!

Joey

 

[torontokris]

this is a common problem
welcome the world of a sensitive receiver / hot front end
great for weak signals but bad for urban areas / overloading

if you dont like it return it or sell it on ebay, i think they get pretty decent $$

a notch filter or try to use a smaller less powerfull indoor antenna (maybe a mobile mount stuck on a magnetic surface)

 

[iMONITOR]

Hello,
I have a very simple question, can a Pro-197 be hooked to a outside antenna without having to turn on the global attenuator? I have one hooked to a outside antenna and on most of my VHF conventional frequencys all I hear is the NOAA weather channel coming through 162.525. I don't want to buy a notch filter for the radio as I paid enought for it and it should have come with one. I am very disappointed with Pro-197 and I should have taken it back to the store shortly after buying it. I know next time to stick to the Uniden models. Any one got any Ideas, as this thing is about to drive me nuts?

If it keeps up you might just see it listed!!

Joey

How long ago did you buy it? Radio Shack has a 30-day return policy.

 

[dick122]

I had a BC780XLT hooked to a scantenna on my roof and never had a problem. Sold that and got the PRO-197 when they were on sale for 299. I hooked my antenna up and VHF high went deaf. The Global ATT worked but I could not hear any distance stations any more. I bit for a notch filter and it did NOTHING for me. I have a RS telescoping antenna attached to the back now. I still have to use the ATT on local stations but at least most of the distance stations come in with just that antenna. P25 audio is outstanding and beats my BCD396T hands down!! Just my .02 worth.

 

[Tac-1]

Anyone tried using an outdoor antenna for UHF & 800 only so there no gain on VHF
got my pro-197 for 299.00 is great ready for the price

had to use a preamp with indoor mag mount ant on 8500xlt to get the same coverage i get with stock ant on the pro-197

Tac-1
PRO-197
Uniden 8500xlt

 

[Flatshovel]

Thanks to all the replys. I am in need of replacing my coax since it properly 5 year old and I need some new connectors as well. Where is the best place to order a new scantenna with coax?

 

[Sinister]

I ordered mine from solid signal but looks like the price went up a bit. http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=AC-ST2

 

[zzdiesel]

Hello, I have a very simple question, can a Pro-197 be hooked to a outside antenna without having to turn on the global attenuator?
Joey

I have my Pro-197 on an outside antenna without using the attenuator at all. I live in a town with 11,000. There are several VHF systems in town, but only 2 low powered FM stations. Some distant VHF stations do better at times with the ATT on as it knocks out some white noise, but it's hit or miss if I hear them everytime they talk with it on.

 

[crippledchicken]

A few years ago, I had I think it was a pro-2032 base that gave all kinds of problems on my discone. The bad thing was I had, to use an outside antenna as I lived in a mobile home so, the back of set antenna was useless. I picked up one of the cheap RS. atteanators spelled wrong I know lol! for $10.00 which was variable from 0 to I think, 20db. and I was able to get some pretty good use since, it was adjustable. I don't know if they even sell them any more or not. but for the price, I took the gamble on it and was money well spent.

 

[SOFA_KING]

A few years ago, I had I think it was a pro-2032 base that gave all kinds of problems on my discone. The bad thing was I had, to use an outside antenna as I lived in a mobile home so, the back of set antenna was useless. I picked up one of the cheap RS. atteanators spelled wrong I know lol! for $10.00 which was variable from 0 to I think, 20db. and I was able to get some pretty good use since, it was adjustable. I don't know if they even sell them any more or not. but for the price, I took the gamble on it and was money well spent.

I have a FM station two miles from my house that renders my PRO-197 deaf on VHF if I use my outdoor Discone. I'm waiting for the filters I want to be back in stock, but I had an old Radio Shack FM Trap up in my attic doing nothing. So I hooked it in-line and knocked 5 bars of noise down to 1 or 2 bars. It made a huge difference that allowed me to get distant stations I could not get with the indoor antenna. I tried to get a second filter to improve the situation even more, but guess what? Radio Shack doesn't sell them any more. What a joke! That might have gotten me 100% cleaned up. And NO LOSS like an attenuator...that is not a good solution. I can't believe they don't sell them. Radio Shack sucks!

I'll just wait for the better filter options to come back into stock.

Phil

 

[hoser147]

Anyone tried using an outdoor antenna for UHF & 800 only so there no gain on VHF
got my pro-197 for 299.00 is great ready for the price

had to use a preamp with indoor mag mount ant on 8500xlt to get the same coverage i get with stock ant on the pro-197

Tac-1
PRO-197
Uniden 8500xlt

I did one with a RS 800mhz antenna, on a wild hare moment, I put a chasis BNC on a piece of good coax and put it up and out about 17ft in the air. Works great for me, I only have to Attn every once in a while when conditions warrant it.

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

If you want to get serious in this hobby you will want more than one base scanner. Take a look at the setup used by the hardcore guys and they have many base units.

There is no "one size fits all" scanner. Sorry. I find that at least two base scanners are needed to do a good job. My 197 can't be touched on P25 simulcast or standard P25 trunking, and it rules the roost in that position. My BCT15 beats ALL other scanners, digital or analog when it comes to analog scanning of VHF frequencies, and it can't be topped for what it does either, especially when it comes to the VHF air band.

Just bite the bullet and admit it, you are hooked on this hobby, and it won't be cheap. You need a digital and an analog base scanner, as well as probably wanting a portable unit as well.

You wouldn't go through life expecting to own only one motor vehicle that would serve off-road purposes as well as being a sports car would you? No, you would have a truck and a sports car. Same thing here.

Oh, and by the way, even my beloved BCT15 has bleed-over from one VHF frequency to another occasionally, but it does better than anything else. That dreaded weather station SUCKS. My main fire dispatch bleeds onto my local fireground frequency as well, which BITES. That is all without ever using attenuation on the BCT15. WITH attenuation, it goes DEAF on VHF HI. You will not find perfection in the world of scanners. You just put together the best toolbox possible, and do the best you can, and live with the rest.