RS 20-176 or Diamond Discone

[brwkem]

Putting an antenna in the attic.
Using LMR 400 coax.
Thinking of ordering N connectors but then that means adapters on either end unless go with Diamond Discone which does use N in one version
Now for the antenna.
Read so many posts concerning which antenna(s).
Primarily listening to public safety bands and some 800.
As a general multiband would the RS 20-176 be better than the Discone for public safety?
Read that discone get poorer reception 800 and above.
True?

thx.

brwkem

 

[BiGtRuNk]

The posts are correct about the discone having poor reception in 800.
I own two diamond discones and 1 is used for 144-174 at my shop.
The other is used for 144-512 mhz at home, i also have other types for
various other freqs.
The reception on the discone for 800mhz is worse than on my handheld
portable!! using the factory rubber ducky
But if you live in close range of the system it will work just fine.
Overall the discone in my opinion is the best all-in-one sollution.

 

[TeRayCodA]

The reception on the discone for 800mhz is worse than on my handheld
portable!! using the factory rubber ducky
But if you live in close range of the system it will work just fine.
Overall the discone in my opinion is the best all-in-one sollution.

What type of feedline are you using?

 

[LarrySC]

The secret to an antenna is: 1-capture area. 2-being cut for the freqs you need. The 176 works almost as good as a wet kite string. Measure length of all [+] elements. Compare that with Scantenna. If you could stand up a discone in your attic, you could stand up a Scantenna. A factory cut for a specific freq range using a base load coil or center coil can give the antenna GAIN. Consider commerical two-way radio antennas with GAIN Mfg by MAXRAD or Antenex. The commerical units use a NMO [new motorola] mount. Industry standard. By installing an NMO base adp you can select maybe 100 antennas that would fit this mount. Lots of ways to go with antennas. The better the grade, the better the signal to scanner. Good Luck, Larry

 

[BiGtRuNk]

Feedline used on my systems is LMR400 EXACTLY 25FT in length on both sites. Both are D130J's and are directly connected to the receivers i listen to. Yes, recievers not scanners.
I only use scanners for mobile use only.

 

[BiGtRuNk]

LarrySC is correct the 176 IS JUNK, the 176 is made up of thin hollow aluminum elements and the Diamond's are made up of solid stainless steel.

 

[brwkem]

What receivers are you using?
thx

 

[BiGtRuNk]

At home i have a Icom IC-R8500.
At work i use a Yaesu VR-5000.
I also have others. :wink:

 

[brwkem]

Thought I read several posts in other threads which said if your hobby is scanning then stick with scanners not receivers.
?

brwkem

 

[scanbc780]

LarrySC is correct the 176 IS JUNK, the 176 is made up of thin hollow aluminum elements and the Diamond's are made up of solid stainless steel.

:?:
FYI the 20-176 is made of SOLID stainless. The 20-043 ihas hollow elements but is also made of stainless. There is no RS outdoor antennas that are current that are made up of aluminum.

I currently use the 20-043 and it works great.

 

[BiGtRuNk]

Sorry but, i use scanners and receivers.
Not just recievers only.

 

[LordJ]

I have to disagree with the post that the 20-176 is junk. I have been using it for years and it is a great 'kite string' for my PS bands. I get great reception with it. It is now mounted on a 30' tower and I easily get PS comms from 75-90km away. I am using a combo of beldin 9913 (50') and RG6 - (12') into my 780XLT. While this review doesn't deal with all the antennas available it is a pretty good indication of the results you should see with a proper setup. My primary listening is done in 147-163 range anyway but performance in the 400-420 is good as well.

http://www.strongsignals.net/access...splay&rtype=rev&class=ant&num=002

 

[Al42]

A factory cut for a specific freq range using a base load coil or center coil can give the antenna GAIN.

Gain over what? A loaded antenna has loss over the same antenna made longer and with no coil.

Maybe you're thinking of 800 MHz gain antennas that have about 3" of antenna, a coil and about 6" of antenna. That's not a loading coil, it's a phasing section - something entirely different. (The only reason it's coiled is to make it aerodynamic - many ham designs of the same kind of antenna call for the "coil" to stick straight out.)

 

[scanbc780]

(The only reason it's coiled is to make it aerodynamic - many ham designs of the same kind of antenna call for the "coil" to stick straight out.)

The coil does not make it Aerodynamic, if that were true the coil would not whistle on an open coil antenna which is a RESTRICTION of air. The coil in the middle is to seperate the 5/8 over 1/4, 1/4 over 1/4 or however it's configured to give it GAIN. A 3" antenna for 800 MHz is a Unity gain antenna and a 5/8 over 1/4 with a coil in the middle would be approx a 3dB gain. If it were a closed coil then that would be for aerodynamics, maybe thats what you meant to say just a shorter version. :wink:

 

[Al42]

(The only reason it's coiled is to make it aerodynamic - many ham designs of the same kind of antenna call for the "coil" to stick straight out.)

The coil does not make it Aerodynamic, if that were true the coil would not whistle on an open coil antenna which is a RESTRICTION of air.

Aerodynamic as opposed to what it would be if the matching section weren't coiled. Then, depending on which way the "flag" were aimed, wrt the direction the car was moving, it would be better or worse aerodynamically, but worse is more likely.