Pryme RD-98-SMA

[robocop80]

All,

I have found a forum in Radio Reference which is a little dated so i wanted to see if anyone can give me some feedback. I am think about purchasing the Pryme RD-98-SMA for my BCD396T. Will this provide me a noticable difference from the stock antenna. I really want something that will increase the range on my scanner and improve the reception on the systems that I pick up now.

Thanks

 

[iMONITOR]

It's primarily designed for the 144MHz/440MHz bands, and performs well. You didn't say what bands/frequencies you monitor. It would not be a great choice for the 800MHz band.

 

[robocop80]

I listen to Public Safety all the time. 400mhz-500mhz and some 800mhz. I was looking for an antenna to set up at the house but with all the restrictions and the fact that I do not understand most of these antenna's I decided to stick with something that I can attach directly to the scanner. I had another post where I was asking for something to mount but I know I cant do this by myself nor do I know what I am doing so I just want something I can hook directly to the scanner to pick up some signals that I can't reach now. I had purchased the 800mhz from Radio Shack and it improved the state police signal for me but I lost alot of my local police that operate in the 400mhz range. I am not sure what to do, I feel so lost in this area and I am sure I can get something that will fit my purpose and bring in some of the freq that I really want to hear.

 

[donc13]

I listen to Public Safety all the time. 400mhz-500mhz and some 800mhz. I was looking for an antenna to set up at the house but with all the restrictions and the fact that I do not understand most of these antenna's I decided to stick with something that I can attach directly to the scanner. I had another post where I was asking for something to mount but I know I cant do this by myself nor do I know what I am doing so I just want something I can hook directly to the scanner to pick up some signals that I can't reach now. I had purchased the 800mhz from Radio Shack and it improved the state police signal for me but I lost alot of my local police that operate in the 400mhz range. I am not sure what to do, I feel so lost in this area and I am sure I can get something that will fit my purpose and bring in some of the freq that I really want to hear.

Depends on how 'unsightly' you want the antenna to be. For example, you could mount a yagi or discone on a pole that sits in a tripod. You could put that on a porch or some such.

You could get a good mobile antenna (such as the Larson NMO150450800 ) with magnet mount and put the combo on a large cookie sheet (to act as a ground plane) in a convenient spot near your radio

http://www.rlham.com/cgi-bin/shop/modellookup.dbw?MODEL=NMO150450800

But to be honest...nothing is going to be "great" in that for the best reception, you need an antenna designed for the specific frequency, with high quality feed line mounted as high as possible away from anything that will interfere with reception. Certainly not an "inside" antenna.