quick question after my searchs..indoor antenna

[jwile20vt]

So im a newb here but not to message boards and since this forum is sooo great ..hahaha... i was able to pull up alot of info on indoor antennas...prob too much that im now just not confused but im getting the idea that no matter what it is..its gona be better to get the antenna outside..

My problem is i can not add anything to the building so after reading about mag mounts and scantennas in attics ....i get the feeling that even if i put a good magmount antenna for just scanning police/fire in the area...(surrounding towns and cities ) and mount it say on my a/c it will show better results than putting a scantenna in my closet? at first i was going to go that route cause i do have a closet that is junk for storage in my bedroom where my radio(s) are located , but after reading some threads im starting to feel like i said, maybe a magmount on the a/c

all im looking for is to be able to pull signals from the area/surrounding cities furhter the better obviously.

thanks for ur time ...hope i didn't waste too too much , you guys have been great so far in my stupidity hahaha

also looking into adding another radio to the collection for the scanning of surrounding towns and state and keeping my pro-2037 for just local scan.

 

[DPD1]

The thing is... when you're talking about using an antenna indoors, everybody's situation is going to be different. So there's no real way anybody can give you the perfect advice, or have the perfect article to read. One guy might put an antenna in the attic and have it work great. Another person might try that and find that for whatever reason, the antenna actually works better in the closet. It's totally unpredictable. Chances are, as long as there's no RF blocking material in the attic, it will probably work best there. But you can never know for sure until you try it. There's unfortunately only so much you can do with an antenna indoors, no matter what kind it is. But if you're saying your AC is on the roof, than yes, that would probably be best. The more out in the open you can get it, usually the better off you will be.

Dave
http://www.dpdproductions.com
- Custom Scanner, Aviation, MURS, GMRS, Marine & Ham Antennas -

 

[jwile20vt]

I'v thought and studied my layout and read alot more info , my options are either

1 - Place a discone or scantenna like antenna in my closet in the radio room , the room is top floor of house so good high point but how does vinyl siding effect the reception ?

2 - the choice i'm guessing you guys will say is to get anything outside and my only option without any complaints is i can use a mag mount from radioshack and attack it to the side of the A/C ... the whip is pretty invisible from street should blend into house but if not i can talk my wauy outa that. Just can't add anything to roof or side of structure i guess


I'm going to run out to radioshack and grab there magmount scanner antenna and give it a try mounted to the ac... Now im wondering how the vinyl siding would effect if i got a nice discone or setup and install it in the closet...its just storage space too so no complaints

 

[N4JNW]

I think you'll be quite pleased with the mag mt. on your A/C unit.

Considering it will be outside, and it will have groundplane as well, which will aid reception somewhat.

Try a scantenna in the closet, and see how they both compare..

 

[jwile20vt]

Just finished up with radioshack and picked up there 20-032 i believe it was for the CAT number on the magmount but things doesn't seem bad for the 40bucks i spent..older antenna ..older wrapper too

i installed this ontop of my ac obviously on the ouside part ...so far im getting better reception on sourrounding towns but i always did get some that came in well...ill give it 24hours and lets see if i'm hearing mroe action overnight

would I be able to run a ramsey preamp and a variable rf adjuster combo with this antenna and my radio ? just read a few hearing it does do a great difference but had to use a adjustable RF for the regular rad shack radios

when i get a few more bucks i might buy a scantenna to try and compare...if not i'll keep it til i can figure out a better situation but for now ...i'v moved back home cause of a injury which suks already but am gona make it the best i can

this forum is great really.... Given me another project to keep my mind of some stuff , being layd up stinks but you guys got me pulling my radios back out .... cheers to all

Thanks again everyone

Kind of off subject but where could i find info on fixing a GrantXL? i got this from a buddy who when we were younger tried tweaking this with info we got from another dx'er and now the meter just sits when key'd ..hahah i wish we never tried to with that radio at a young age ... i even remember which POT was moved and all but i can't find any of the old how to's for that radio