SDS100 842S REMTRONIX Alternative in South Africa

[RadioScannerSA]

Hi,

I have an SDS100 and I want to upgrade my stock rubberduckie antenna.
I listen to mainly VHF and UHF. But the 140-155 spectrum is more important to me.

I've read that the 842S fits the SDS100 and is the best. But, it is not available in South Africa.
The SDS100 just took a month and a bit to arrive and customs cost almost 20% of the scanner, so I don't want to import. Surely there is an alternative.
I'm not an expert, so I'd love to have some suggestions.

Thanks!

 

[RadioScannerSA]

Would this:

Dual Frequency 145 / 435 Portable Antenna AL-800 with SMA Female Connector (VHF/ UHF)

Dual, Frequency, 145, 435, Portable, Antenna, AL-800,SMA, Female, Connector, VHF, UHF,AL800

www.giga.co.za

with

SMA Male To SMA Male Barrel Adapter Connector

SMA, Male, SMA, Male, Barrel, Adapter, Connector

www.giga.co.za

Work on the SDS100?

 

[n1chu]

You can always look at the many amateur radio antennas available that either use the same connection or an adapter. I have a drawer full of antennas but I’ve never had any success in learning which one has an edge over the others… mostly because I am located close to the transmit sites… what I listen to is strong.

state this because I can’t be the only one with a drawer full of antennas. There’s got to be others who can recommend a particular amateur radio antenna that has high performance for the band you are interested in.

Find and ask a ham radio operator about what I have written here. He may just have a good working antenna in mind.

 

[RadioScannerSA]

Ok, so it's not like Remtronix is extremely special and is the only way to go right?

 

[n1chu]

Nope. It’s not the only way to go… just a suggestion. Ideally, the best way would be a mono band antenna with a center resonance on the frequency you most want to monitor. But given it’s a scanner and you want to monitor other frequencies on the same band, It would be a good choice. That’s a mono band antenna. The Remtronix gives you multi-band coverage, meaning it’s resonant on other bands also. They come in different flavors…. dual band, multi band. If you use your portable scanner as a base scanner. An outside gain antenna is the way to go.

 

[n1chu]

To clarify my reply (which is contradictory)…

The Remtronix is a good antenna for all the bands the SDS100 monitors.

Stock antennas for hand held scanners are a compromise. They give you reception on the bands the scanner receives. But when they are built for use on more than one band they loose something. That’s the trade-off. Aftermarket antennas like the Remtronix are an improvement on the stock antennas. But a mono band antenna cut for the band you most monitor (or have the hardest time receiving) might be the way to go if the other stuff you listen to happens to be stronger and doesn’t need a better antenna. Ex; I listen to my SDS100 using a stubby dual band 2 meter/440 MHz ham, zero gain antenna. I can get away with this antenna because I have no problem hearing all the agencies I am interested in. Those other agencies include 700-800 MHz trunked systems along with the VHF High Band and UHF bands.

 

[RadioScannerSA]

Thanks n1chu, this makes sense!! Really appreciate the help.