Scantenna vs Discone for long distance 800s

[andrewccm]

I have a Yagi and Scantenna ST2 side by side with the Yagi on a rotator. Without a doubt the Yagi has much further range (albeit, pretty directional...nearby signals are fine regardless of rotation though)

Scantenna shines in other ranges I have found. 800 is not it's strong suit. It's not bad at all, but not the best choice for what you're trying to accomplish.

Best of luck!

 

[jon_k]

I would definitely get a Yagi for the directional properties. At 40 miles away a Yagi will be great to point in the direction of the signal you want.

 

[tilleyhat]

- After reading of all your advices, the best solution for my 40 miles away from the tower is definitly the yagi. A discone does not change my reception for better than what i have now with my ST2.
- In waiting to find the budget for that, i'll change my coax from rg-6 to lmr-400 on my scantenna.
Again, thanks all of you.
Have a good week, at work and at your sweet home

- Note: Do you have some 800s yagi models to suggest me?

 

[jon_k]

$80 http://www.antennaguy.com/Yagi.html
I have no experience with this dealer though.

You can make your own on a shoe string budget and they will work as good as a commercial brand!

Here is the general concept of design for a specific 800mhz Yagi.
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45999

You can calculate the lengths of the antenna components and then use something like coat hangar and PVC pipe to design it. To find the lengths and spacing of the elements, see this Yagi calculator: http://bfn.org/~bn589/antenna.html

 

[SAR923]

A typo, perhaps? The Scantenna is omnidirectional, more or less. A yagi is not.

Whoops! Yes, a yagi is unidirectional and the scantenna is (mostly) omnidirectional.

 

[N1BHH]

That link to the Harris pdf tells the story, as did my previous post, the pattern is looking up, there is no downtilt pattern related to the discone. It's not looking at the horizon.

 

[hoser147]

Got both and for 800 its the scantenna over the discone...........Hoser

 

[andrewccm]

For what it's worth, you might want to run the LMR400 for the Yagi. Mine came with N-Type connector and I was able to get 75ft LMR400 with N-Types for $39 or so.. Yagi was $59 new from Ebay store (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310046791048)

My Scantenna still has standard RG6.

I need to shorten the runs on both of my antennas... I really only need about 30-40ft runs and have way too much LMR400.

 

[tilleyhat]

Got both and for 800 its the scantenna over the discone...........Hoser

- yes, that's my future plan. yagi over st-2 on the same mast
- and i found these two 800s band yagi from Wilson:
http://www.wilsonelectronics.com////ViewProductB.php?ID=13
and this one:
http://www.wilsonelectronics.com////ViewProductB.php?ID=14
I wonder what model is most suitable for my 800s listening between them.

 

[andrewccm]

- yes, that's my future plan. yagi over st-2 on the same mast
- and i found these two 800s band yagi from Wilson:
http://www.wilsonelectronics.com////ViewProductB.php?ID=13
and this one:
http://www.wilsonelectronics.com////ViewProductB.php?ID=14
I wonder what model is most suitable for my 800s listening between them.

My Yagi is the first link you have listed.

 

[tilleyhat]

My Yagi is the first link you have listed.

- and you're satisfied with this model? thanks.

 

[andrewccm]

Yes sir.

 

[tilleyhat]

My Yagi is the first link you have listed.

- Andrew, to listen to 800's P25, you install your wilson horizontally or vertically?

 

[andrewccm]

Elements are vertical...point the antenna length wise toward the tower you want to pick up.

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[tilleyhat]

My Yagi is the first link you have listed.

- Done ysterday. Same Wilson yagi model oredered. I'll combine it with my scantenna

 

[af5rn]

- Done ysterday. Same Wilson yagi model oredered. I'll combine it with my scantenna

"Combine", as in phase two antennae together into one signal?

Or do you mean you'll run them separately to a coax switch for separate use?

 

[tilleyhat]

"Combine", as in phase two antennae together into one signal?
Or do you mean you'll run them separately to a coax switch for separate use?

- I'll use the diplexer box to combine them together (2 input from antennas/1 output to my scanner). I see somebody in this forum suggesting a combiner box from Tin Lee Electronic.com

 

[andrewccm]

I have considered doing something similar. Right now I have my Yagi to my 396T and my ST2 into a BCT15. I would like to combine both antennas and output to both scanners. Do they make diplexers/combiners that take two signals combine and have 2 outputs?

Off to search now...

 

[af5rn]

Do they make diplexers/combiners that take two signals combine and have 2 outputs?

Off to search now...

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/preamps/0973.html

I'm going to give one of those a try for my mobile set-up as an experiment. What's $130 bucks? :lol:

 

[ScannerDude244]

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/preamps/0973.html

I'm going to give one of those a try for my mobile set-up as an experiment. What's $130 bucks? :lol:

Damn to bad they don't make them with more outputs