Recommendations: Antennas for 406mhz Mil & 160-220mhz Federal/Milair

[ScubaJungle]

Recommendations: Antennas for 406mhz Mil & 160-220mhz Federal/Milair - What do you use/recommend?

I would like to expand my scanner interests and get into fed/mil/milair monitoring, and am looking for a 400-410mhz antenna for military, that will outperform the stock rubber duck on BCD436HP, which performs well for 800mhz and decent all around, but I'd like to extend my range on 400mhz and get this system/have a dedicated antenna. I also have a signal stick: Super-Elastic Signal Stick
which is good, but:

I am just out of reach of a nearby 406mhz system that is ~20miles away. I can unreliably pick it up with my SDR (sdr blog v3 with kit antenna) in good conditions & get 60-75% of transmissions, but cannot get it on the BCD436HP at all, even with the blog v3 kit antenna. (it isn't simulcast)

I'd also like to improve my range for the federal frequencies/mil air (160mhz-190mhz federal & milair), some of which I also can unreliably get in good conditions.

I have been looking at these, below, since I can extend the antenna for 160mhz and shorten for 400mhz, but I'd like tips and recommendations regarding what the best plan would be, even if that means two separate dedicated antennas.

https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/diamond-srh789-4979

https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/diamond-rh789-4972

Does anyone have antennas they use for these particular purposes that they can recommend? I am not opposed to having two separate - 406mhz / 130-230mhz antennas if it will increase my reception a decent amount. If one will do the job for both, then obviously that would be good, but I'm looking for reception efficiency #1 over convenience.

I'd prefer something handheld/mobile, as I just got an 800mhz yagi and a discone, but if a base antenna is the only thing you think would do what I need, please feel free to recommend them.

Tl:dr
-What antenna do you guys use/would you recommend for 400-410mhz?
-What antennas do you guys use/would you recommend for 160-220mhz (VHF - federal & milair)?

Thank you!

 

[prcguy]

I have no idea what to recommend for a hand held antenna, I don't think you will find one that will work across the specific bands. I think a typical scanner type Discone outdoors would be the best overall.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

Indoors I haven't found the antenna makes much difference, maybe some but not much.

A discone outside would probably do everything you want and then some.

 

[scanmanmi]

deleted

 

[ScubaJungle]

I have a discone but unfortunately it's not really extending my range in the specific areas I need, and part of the reason is I don't yet have a great place to put it until I move.
I'm looking more to buy two dedicated antennas, one for the 406mhz and one for 160mhz.

Do you think that the ones I posted would help in doing that, or it wouldn't do much?

 

[nd5y]

-What antenna do you guys use/would you recommend for 400-410mhz?
-What antennas do you guys use/would you recommend for 160-220mhz (VHF - federal & milair)?

Why only those frequencies?
The federal and military aircraft bands are more extensive than that and 174-220 MHz is mostly TV channels.

 

[ScubaJungle]

Why only those frequencies?
The federal and military aircraft bands are more extensive than that and 174-220 MHz is mostly TV channels.

I didn't mean to put the "-", rather, starting at 220.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

I have a discone but unfortunately it's not really extending my range in the specific areas I need, and part of the reason is I don't yet have a great place to put it until I move.
I'm looking more to buy two dedicated antennas, one for the 406mhz and one for 160mhz.

Do you think that the ones I posted would help in doing that, or it wouldn't do much?

If they are going to all be indoors than you probably would see little to no improvement.

If you are moving soon and can mount an antenna outdoors at your new place I'd save your money and see what your discone can do outside at your new place first, then work from there.

 

[ScubaJungle]

If they are going to all be indoors than you probably would see little to no improvement.

If you are moving soon and can mount an antenna outdoors at your new place I'd save your money and see what your discone can do outside at your new place first, then work from there.

I am inside, but if it makes any difference, I'm on the top (5th) floor.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

I am inside, but if it makes any difference, I'm on the top (5th) floor.

Have you tried putting an antenna next to a window?

Are the signals you want to receive all coming from the same direction?

 

[ScubaJungle]

I have a balcony, and I have put them out there, but they actually work best inside, I suppose because the more inside I go, the closer I am to the system. The reason and biggest hurdle is, my apartment is facing east/N. east. The systems that I have trouble getting are west/S. west, directly behind, so there is all brick building and apartments directly in the direction those systems are. I think if I can get a pole with a stable base that can reach above the roof (about 10 feet above my balcony), I could get them.

I was more so wondering if a dedicated 406mhz antenna could help me. I do get the signals, and I can listen to them with my SDR on Unitrunker, but for whatever reason, the BCD436HP will not pick them up, even using the same antenna. It's just too weak for the BCD I suppose, while Unitrunker can decode at 30-60% health.

I made a simple little reference to visualize, my apartment is the blue dot, it is 18mi as the crow flies to the system, and there is city and large building in between. My building is an A shape, and as you can see, I am on the other side facing away from the system

 

[Ubbe]

You can read nanZors extensive test of the Diamond 789 and you then might be able to judge if that antenna will help you.

Diamond S/RH-789 Telescopic

Really? A review for a telescopic? Yes - mainly because of the 5/8 wave adjustment.. The Diamond RH789 (bnc) and SRH789 (sma) is a lightweight, good looking telescopic that can be folded at the base if necessary. It is 8 inches collapsed and 31.5 inches fully extended. For 95-300 mhz, you...

forums.radioreference.com

/Ubbe

 

[MisterLongwire]

Also it would help if you are near a military installation. If not you are SOOL

 

[ScubaJungle]

You can read nanZors extensive test of the Diamond 789 and you then might be able to judge if that antenna will help you.

Diamond S/RH-789 Telescopic

Really? A review for a telescopic? Yes - mainly because of the 5/8 wave adjustment.. The Diamond RH789 (bnc) and SRH789 (sma) is a lightweight, good looking telescopic that can be folded at the base if necessary. It is 8 inches collapsed and 31.5 inches fully extended. For 95-300 mhz, you...

forums.radioreference.com

/Ubbe

Thank you, I went ahead and bought it after reading that and some other good reviews online. Its only $25, so even if it helps me in the car or in any way, itll be a win.

 

[eorange]

The 789 is a good antenna, but the set screw at the bottom no longer works, so it doesn't hold its position and flops around.

 

[ScubaJungle]

You can read nanZors extensive test of the Diamond 789 and you then might be able to judge if that antenna will help you.

Diamond S/RH-789 Telescopic

Really? A review for a telescopic? Yes - mainly because of the 5/8 wave adjustment.. The Diamond RH789 (bnc) and SRH789 (sma) is a lightweight, good looking telescopic that can be folded at the base if necessary. It is 8 inches collapsed and 31.5 inches fully extended. For 95-300 mhz, you...

forums.radioreference.com

/Ubbe

I ended up getting the 789 and I am super happy with it. A huge improvement over the stock rubber duck on all bands. Definitely a good purchase.

 

[JoshuaHufford]

Glad that it worked for you.