SDS-100 antenna question

[safetypro79]

I am using a remtronics all band antenna on my 100 it would seem no better performance than the stock antenn. Any forum member using something different? I m listening to P25, VHF and UHF.

 

[jtwalker]

I didn’t know Remtronix made an all-band antenna. Which specific model antenna do you have?

 

[safetypro79]

Remtronix REM-842B with SMA connector

 

[safetypro79]

Remtronix REM-842S VHF/UHF/ SMA 800 MHz. Triband Scanner Antenna

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Maybe you have a lot of noise in your listening environment? Are you monitoring indoors or outdoors? Are you looking to bring in more distant stations or improve upon what's local?

 

[EAFrizzle]

I've tried all of the Remtronix antennas, including both 842 models. The 842 is a decent antenna, but it's not going to be a barn-burner, especially on VHF. Its best feature is the hinge, really. I prefer the 920s for UHF and 7/800 and keep it on my SDS100 most of the time; I use a ham dual-band antenna for VHF; a ¼-wave on VHF and a little gain on UHF.

The 842 is nice and compact, but it'll never compare to a full size one. I usually have one on my SDS200 for the local simulcast and weather channels. The 920 is probably the best UHF scanner antenna I have, and it's basically the equal of the 7/800 model on that band.

If you're primarily VHF/UHF, try a full length ham dual-bander. Local 800 will be strong enough to work, and your V/U reception will be as good as it can be.

 

[safetypro79]

no noise, indoor and outdoor second story deck, local is no issue so distance. I certainly could use a telescopic antenna which would possibly improve reception.

 

[nessnet]

Any antenna discussion needs to have one key thing - the target frequency.
What do you want to listen to the most?

Any multi-band antenna is always going to be a compromise, compared to an antenna tuned to a specific frequency band.
For example: If you listen mostly to a local 800Mhz P25 system, get a REM-820S.

The REM-842S is not a bad antenna, but it will not perform as well as an 820S on 800Mhz.
Certainly, if you also want to rec've VHF/UHF the 842 is an option, but again, what to you want to listen to the most?

 

[EAFrizzle]

... I m listening to P25, VHF and UHF.

 

[nessnet]

For VHF/UHF someone earlier suggested a ham antenna (2 meter ham is VHF).
Or.....

Did your SDS100 come with the BNC adapter?
Then, that, with a telescoping rod antenna (Uniden BATG0540001 Folding Scanner Antenna BNC) you can tune the antenna to your target frequency.

Southwest Antennas - High Performance RF and Microwave Antennas & Custom Antenna Manufacturing

 

[Ubbe]

There's no antenna that covers all frequencies. If you need to improve reception at 420MHz then there will be antennas that work best in that frequency range but if it is 470MHz that needs to be improved then there's another antenna that needs to be used, and it will work worse at 420MHz.

So it all depends of at what frequencies the signals are that you want to improve and what frequencies that you receive strong enough that they can tolerate to be reduced in signal strength and still be received. And if you have an antenna that works good at 470MHz it might be that it also works good at 170MHz but you want 150MHz to be improved so there might be no dualband antenna that boost both 470 and 150MHz at the same time. If you use a telescope antenna you can at least tune it to one frequency range if you can stick to that, monitor one range of frequencies at a time and that telescope will probably be the one that pick up signals the best, but will be clumsy and awkward to use.

There's no one antenna for a portable scanner that receives everything equally well. If you look at what antennas that are available for a Motorola portable radio you will see that there are a large amount of antennas to choose from, depending of what frequency range in a band that are used.

/Ubbe

 

[buddrousa]

Are you near a Cell Tower?
Are you near a AM or FM Radio Station?
Are you near a TV Station?
Are you near any other Communication Towers?
Do you have several Wifi Transmitters at your location?
Do you have new LED Lighting at your location?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

no noise, indoor and outdoor second story deck, local is no issue so distance. I certainly could use a telescopic antenna which would possibly improve reception.

Do you have an SDR at your disposal that you can use to check the noise floor on the bands giving you trouble? Assuming said "P25" lies within the 700-800+mhz band?