Scanntenna horizontal, or vertical?

[ILbandit]

I currently have a Scanntenna mounted horizontally in my garage attic.
It seems to do a pretty decent job.

Would I notice any major improvement if I switched it to a vertical mount?
(wasn't sure if it was designed to go a certian way)

 

[N_Jay]

I currently have a Scanntenna mounted horizontally in my garage attic.
It seems to do a pretty decent job.

Would I notice any major improvement if I switched it to a vertical mount?
(wasn't sure if it was designed to go a certian way)

Most land mobile is vertically polerized.

You should notice a slight improvement putting it vertical.

 

[ILbandit]

OK, Thanks, I'll give that a try.

Also,,,, would running a ground wire to the mount make a difference also.
I know with CB's grounding is everything, not familiar with just "recieving" antennas though.

 

[N_Jay]

OK, Thanks, I'll give that a try.

Also,,,, would running a ground wire to the mount make a difference also.
I know with CB's grounding is everything, not familiar with just "recieving" antennas though.

Grounding helps with noise and safety.

"In General" on VHF and above it will not improve reception.

On HF it is important because the couterpoise (ground plane) of the antenna usually includes the earth surface.

 

[ILbandit]

N_Jay,

The way I had it mounted was horizontal,(flat like a table.)

I took your tip, and moved the antenna, I put it where there was about 4 more ft. of roof peak, and mounted it vertical.

WOW!! did it ever bring my scanner alive! I am hearing new stuff, and the distant signals I heard before, are coming in loud and clear now.

Thanks for the responce! It sure made a difference.

 

[Highlander_821]

I kind of thought you would see a major difference when you went vertical. I thought that the difference between the two was on the order of 10 DB. That's alot of signal.

 

[N_Jay]

I kind of thought you would see a major difference when you went vertical. I thought that the difference between the two was on the order of 10 DB. That's alot of signal.

In theory the difference between vertical and horizontal (or any two orthoganol polerazations) can be as high as 20dB.

In the multipath environment usually fornd in mobile radio you rarely see more than 6 dB.

With raliegh fading 6 dB is about the difference between a weak but understandable signal and a clear one.