RS 20-176 Antenna ; cable?

[jskimrey]

I'm going to be purchasing the RS 20-176 Scanner Antenna and placing it in the attic (for right now; hopefully soon I can mount it on the roof). I'm looking at about a 50-foot run.

I'm going to be using my handheld PRO-95 scanner with the antenna.

Any suggestions on coax cable to use? I'd assume I wouldn't want the RG-58 (due to signal loss), but I'd also assume that I wouldn't want something too thick since it's going to be connected to the PRO-95.

Most of my current listening is in the 400 and lower range (although some 800).

Any suggestions on cabling/connectors? The antenna uses a PL connection I believe. Does RS carry anything that would be sufficient?

If not, there's a local shop that specializes in scanner/cb equipment, etc. that might have something.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[doctordave]

I have a few of the same antenna and am pleased w/ reception. As far as cable, if you have a hobby shop nearby, you might just get some low-loss 50 ohm cable. Otherwise, you could just get some good RG-6 from Radio Shack. I'd stay away from Radio Shack's 50 ohm cable - they don't carry good/low-loss variants and you mentioned a need to cover 800 mhz, as well, so cable will be important (unless you are very near the 800 towers).

Good luck!

Dave

 

[jskimrey]

Thanks for the info Dave.

RS seems to only sell the RG-6 with the 'F' type connector. The antenna takes a PL-259 connection. Does a 'F' to PL adaptor exist?

I went to a local Scanner/Ham/CB shop, hoping they could help. The guy told me that I couldn't use the RG-6 coax with a scanner antenna because it wasn't 50 ohm.

Not sure how difficult it would be to add a PL connector to the end of a RG-6 cable, but I have no experience doing this, so I'm wondering if I'd have a lot of signal loss if I tried it...

Also, do you have this antenna mounted outside on top of the house or in the attic?

Curious as to how much I'm going to lose by placing it in the attic. Attic is wood; roof is shingles.

Thanks!

I have a few of the same antenna and am pleased w/ reception. As far as cable, if you have a hobby shop nearby, you might just get some low-loss 50 ohm cable. Otherwise, you could just get some good RG-6 from Radio Shack. I'd stay away from Radio Shack's 50 ohm cable - they don't carry good/low-loss variants and you mentioned a need to cover 800 mhz, as well, so cable will be important (unless you are very near the 800 towers).

Good luck!

Dave

 

[Halfpint]

Thanks for the info Dave.

RS seems to only sell the RG-6 with the 'F' type connector. The antenna takes a PL-259 connection. Does a 'F' to PL adaptor exist?

I went to a local Scanner/Ham/CB shop, hoping they could help. The guy told me that I couldn't use the RG-6 coax with a scanner antenna because it wasn't 50 ohm.

Not sure how difficult it would be to add a PL connector to the end of a RG-6 cable, but I have no experience doing this, so I'm wondering if I'd have a lot of signal loss if I tried it...

Also, do you have this antenna mounted outside on top of the house or in the attic?

Curious as to how much I'm going to lose by placing it in the attic. Attic is wood; roof is shingles.

Thanks!

I have a few of the same antenna and am pleased w/ reception. As far as cable, if you have a hobby shop nearby, you might just get some low-loss 50 ohm cable. Otherwise, you could just get some good RG-6 from Radio Shack. I'd stay away from Radio Shack's 50 ohm cable - they don't carry good/low-loss variants and you mentioned a need to cover 800 mhz, as well, so cable will be important (unless you are very near the 800 towers).

Good luck!

Dave

While the guy at the `Radio?' Shop wasn't entirely `blowing smoke' he also wasn't being 100% right either. For a radio that is used to *transmit* having a proper match is important. But, in the case of a unit that's basically just a receiver the difference between using 50 Ohm VS 72/75 Ohm co-ax isn't really going to matter. (At least unless one is trying to get the last .001% of performance.) What *may* be more `critical' is making the number of adapters inline as small as possible. *If* you can install the right connector at both the antenna end and the scanner end it would be worthwhile. (At the antenna end it will also make weather sealing the connection easier along with eliminating the inherent loss that one gets with every adapter. At the scanner end there is only the adapter loss but *if* one has to also use an `elbow' or something else to get things to line up even *one* adapter eliminated is worthwhile.)

As for the difference between an antenna `hidden' in an attic VS one that is outside and maybe `up in the air' the old `saw' about not being able to `beat' `altitude' applies. (Sort of like the old racing `saw' about not being able to beat `cubic inches' or `cubic bucks'. {VB GRIN!} ) If it is the only way you can go and it helps reception then that is the way to go.

Just an `Olde Fart's' 2¢ worth. {GRIN!}

 

[jskimrey]

It would be nice to buy the coax somewhere where they could connect the correct connector at both ends (PL and BNC) so adaptors would not be required.

Are there any good online retails who offer this?

Thanks for the info Dave.

RS seems to only sell the RG-6 with the 'F' type connector. The antenna takes a PL-259 connection. Does a 'F' to PL adaptor exist?

I went to a local Scanner/Ham/CB shop, hoping they could help. The guy told me that I couldn't use the RG-6 coax with a scanner antenna because it wasn't 50 ohm.

Not sure how difficult it would be to add a PL connector to the end of a RG-6 cable, but I have no experience doing this, so I'm wondering if I'd have a lot of signal loss if I tried it...

Also, do you have this antenna mounted outside on top of the house or in the attic?

Curious as to how much I'm going to lose by placing it in the attic. Attic is wood; roof is shingles.

Thanks!

I have a few of the same antenna and am pleased w/ reception. As far as cable, if you have a hobby shop nearby, you might just get some low-loss 50 ohm cable. Otherwise, you could just get some good RG-6 from Radio Shack. I'd stay away from Radio Shack's 50 ohm cable - they don't carry good/low-loss variants and you mentioned a need to cover 800 mhz, as well, so cable will be important (unless you are very near the 800 towers).

Good luck!

Dave

While the guy at the `Radio?' Shop wasn't entirely `blowing smoke' he also wasn't being 100% right either. For a radio that is used to *transmit* having a proper match is important. But, in the case of a unit that's basically just a receiver the difference between using 50 Ohm VS 72/75 Ohm co-ax isn't really going to matter. (At least unless one is trying to get the last .001% of performance.) What *may* be more `critical' is making the number of adapters inline as small as possible. *If* you can install the right connector at both the antenna end and the scanner end it would be worthwhile. (At the antenna end it will also make weather sealing the connection easier along with eliminating the inherent loss that one gets with every adapter. At the scanner end there is only the adapter loss but *if* one has to also use an `elbow' or something else to get things to line up even *one* adapter eliminated is worthwhile.)

As for the difference between an antenna `hidden' in an attic VS one that is outside and maybe `up in the air' the old `saw' about not being able to `beat' `altitude' applies. (Sort of like the old racing `saw' about not being able to beat `cubic inches' or `cubic bucks'. {VB GRIN!} ) If it is the only way you can go and it helps reception then that is the way to go.

Just an `Olde Fart's' 2¢ worth. {GRIN!}

 

[jastx]

It would be nice to buy the coax somewhere where they could connect the correct connector at both ends (PL and BNC) so adaptors would not be required.

Are there any good online retails who offer this?

I recently bought a custom jumper from http://www.radioworks.com/cjumper.html and everything was just as they promised. I would use them again.

 

[wwhitby]

I used the same RS antenna in my attic with about a 25 foot run of RG-6 and it worked fine on VHF/UHF and 800.

RS does (or did) make F to PL259 adaptors. You may also be able to "customize" one of their PL259 connectors (the type for "RG-8") and the adaptor for smaller cables.

Warren

 

[doctordave]

Probably not a bad idea to get a wire stripper (inexpensive) and learn to put on the connectors....not difficult at all. If you really want to avoid that.....another company which will sell you wire w/ your choice of connectors is rfwiz.com. I agree w/ the above posters that you should avoid adaptor combinations - they simply increase signal loss. Whatever cable you select - make sure the loss figures at relatively high frequencies are acceptable....you really want to aim for something with about 9'ish db loss at 900 MHZ per 100 ft, just to give you a reference.....this is in contrast to lossy cable like rg-58, which typically loses 20-22 db at the same freq/length. Of course, you'll minimize the length of cable as much as is possible w/the installation. You should be able to get the cable/custom connectors @ 50 ft for around $30-40.....if you do it yourself via RS parts/cable, then more like $25.

Good luck. I actually have both of my 20-076 models in the attic and they do fine (albeit not as great as above the roofline would be).

Dave

 

[jskimrey]

Does RS sell connectors that can be screwed on, or will some type of soldering be required if one does it themselves?

Thanks!

Probably not a bad idea to get a wire stripper (inexpensive) and learn to put on the connectors....not difficult at all. If you really want to avoid that.....another company which will sell you wire w/ your choice of connectors is rfwiz.com. I agree w/ the above posters that you should avoid adaptor combinations - they simply increase signal loss. Whatever cable you select - make sure the loss figures at relatively high frequencies are acceptable....you really want to aim for something with about 9'ish db loss at 900 MHZ per 100 ft, just to give you a reference.....this is in contrast to lossy cable like rg-58, which typically loses 20-22 db at the same freq/length. Of course, you'll minimize the length of cable as much as is possible w/the installation. You should be able to get the cable/custom connectors @ 50 ft for around $30-40.....if you do it yourself via RS parts/cable, then more like $25.

Good luck. I actually have both of my 20-076 models in the attic and they do fine (albeit not as great as above the roofline would be).

Dave

 

[doctordave]

They sure do....piece of cake to attach them....and as long as they are secure, you'll be in great shape.

 

[jskimrey]

Thanks Dave.

One more quick question for ya:

It looks like the PL connectors RS sells says they connect to RG-59, RG-62 or RG-8/M coax cables.

I'm looking to get the RG-6 QS cable, as it appears to have the db loss I'm looking for with 50 feet. They sell a Solderless Right-Angle Male BNC I can use to connect to the PRO-95 (seems like that would work better than a regular straight BNC?), but will the PL connector mentioned above work with the RG-6 QS cable or will this cable be too thick for the connector?

Any ideas on whether a right angle BNC would work better than a straight BNC connector with a handheld (PRO-95)?

THANKS!

They sure do....piece of cake to attach them....and as long as they are secure, you'll be in great shape.

 

[remedy44]

Forget RS connectors there made cheap a good source for connectors and good pricing http://www.rfparts.com/

 

[doctordave]

If you get the right angle solderless BNC from RS, you'll be set....I have quite a few and they work nicely w/ RG-6.

 

[wwhitby]

If you get the right angle solderless BNC from RS, you'll be set....I have quite a few and they work nicely w/ RG-6.

I forgot all about the solderless right angle BNC (Hey its been a while ). I used one with the system mentioned above and it worked fine.

 

[brwkem]

Apply connectors myself

Is there a website which shows how to connect the connectors?

Hoping to use LMR400 cable with an antenna.

Trying to decide on what antenna best for UHF/VHF and 800.
RS20-176 or Diamond discone?

Can you have a two antenna setup which both feed into x number of scanners at the same time? How setup?

thx.

brw

 

[brwkem]

Found Answers

Read the entire forum found the post on "How to" with connectors.

AND

The co-phasing of two antennas pros and cons.

thx.

brw