Recommendation for no ground plane antenna

[Danny37]

Well I've gained some weight and now want to go back to an old hobby of mines of biking, I would like to install a no ground plane VHF/UHF antenna to my mountain bike. Would prefer it to be a high gainer antenna as height isn't an issue and the bike trail is very hilly. I will connect my HP-1 scanner and take a listen to it when I'm out.

Looking for some antenna recommendations. Thanks a bunch in advance! Oh yea and some ideas on how to mount it. Bike is in the shop but this is a pic of the exact model.

 

[jim202]

Have you considered using the antenna that came with the radio? As long as it isn't a short stubby, it will probably do a decent job. They do make gain antennas for portables, but the different RF connectors make some of them prone to damage.

I would be more concerned on where your going to have the radio. Using a vest pack to keep the radio close to your chest might be a selection. This way there are no cables to get tangled with. Plus if you take a spill, your not tied to the frame of the bike.

 

[Danny37]

Have you considered using the antenna that came with the radio? As long as it isn't a short stubby, it will probably do a decent job. They do make gain antennas for portables, but the different RF connectors make some of them prone to damage.

I would be more concerned on where your going to have the radio. Using a vest pack to keep the radio close to your chest might be a selection. This way there are no cables to get tangled with. Plus if you take a spill, your not tied to the frame of the bike.

Did a test ride on Monday when the weather was nice and the reception was spotty, I had it mounted on the bike with some heavy duty Velcro and straps between the handlebars but the antenna kept spinning out of place when I hit a bump or was going downhill. I was thinking about clipping this to the back end of the bike and securing it with zip ties Duckie Antenna Clip Mount with BNC. Also getting this case to help aid in protection if I take a fall https://www.scannermaster.com/Uniden_Hard_Leather_Case_HomePatrol_p/01-581596.htm

I thought about clipping it to myself on my backpack but if I take a fall, I have a high chance of damaging the scanner.

 

[Danny37]

Also adding a diamond SRH77CA antenna, I'm just worried about the antenna stabbing me in the back or taking someone's eye out lol

 

[Danny37]

Another Idea I had was buy a rear bike rack with a metal surface and putting a mag-mount antenna on it, https://www.google.com/search?q=bic...goDADg&start=20&sa=N#spd=13520217499009644084

 

[jim202]

Did a test ride on Monday when the weather was nice and the reception was spotty, I had it mounted on the bike with some heavy duty Velcro and straps between the handlebars but the antenna kept spinning out of place when I hit a bump or was going downhill. I was thinking about clipping this to the back end of the bike and securing it with zip ties Duckie Antenna Clip Mount with BNC. Also getting this case to help aid in protection if I take a fall https://www.scannermaster.com/Uniden_Hard_Leather_Case_HomePatrol_p/01-581596.htm

I thought about clipping it to myself on my backpack but if I take a fall, I have a high chance of damaging the scanner.

You probably have a better chance of doing damage to the scanner with it tied to the frame or handle bars of the bike in a crash.

at least in a chest pack, there is some padding for the radio. Normally when you take a nose dive off a bike, the tendency is to ball up and roll before and as you hit the ground. With the radio on your chest, it has a better chance. This is why the ski patrol people us the chest packs.

 

[popnokick]

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9303052.pdf
BicycleMobileAmateurRadio - Complete.Org Wiki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zWb-KnkGdY
... and lots more. Google is your friend.

 

[Danny37]

You probably have a better chance of doing damage to the scanner with it tied to the frame or handle bars of the bike in a crash.

at least in a chest pack, there is some padding for the radio. Normally when you take a nose dive off a bike, the tendency is to ball up and roll before and as you hit the ground. With the radio on your chest, it has a better chance. This is why the ski patrol people us the chest packs.

Yea, I definitely don't want to ruin my $500 uniden scanner, well it's $350 now but it was around $500 when I bought it. Will look into that, thanks.

 

[Danny37]

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9303052.pdf
BicycleMobileAmateurRadio - Complete.Org Wiki
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zWb-KnkGdY
... and lots more. Google is your friend.

Thank you