SDS200 Antenna Recs

[MayportDrone]

Anyone have any good recommendations on antenna's for the SDS200 (that is if the one that comes on the base model standard isn't already really good.) I am trying to see what my options are for reaching out a little farther. I hear my county perfectly fine, but the surrounding counties come in here and there. Depending on where I place the scanner or move around the house. So, I wasn't sure if there was any really powerful antennas that can do it all in one, or if a window mount is needed, or simply I just need to be closer to the surrounding areas in general. TIA!

 

[ka3aaa]

install an antenna outside and as high above ground as you can get it, this will improve dramatically.

 

[dlwtrunked]

install an antenna outside and as high above ground as you can get it, this will improve dramatically.

Yep, and is independent of what radio is owned.

 

[MayportDrone]

So sorry for my lack of knowledge here with this response. But, mount an antenna outside as high as I can and run a co ax all the way to the scanner to replace the existing antenna? Or, what do you mean by independent? Also, while I have you here lol. Any brands or specific antennas to go for?

 

[bearcatrp]

Put a discone antenna outside above the highest peak of your house. Use quality coax. This should get you big improvements.

 

[Alain]

So sorry for my lack of knowledge here with this response. But, mount an antenna outside as high as I can and run a co ax all the way to the scanner to replace the existing antenna? Or, what do you mean by independent? Also, while I have you here lol. Any brands or specific antennas to go for?

Hello MD,

Since no one has [yet] given definitive/specific antenna, let me be the first. I have one that has been up in the San Diego heat/rain and snow [yup, we get snow up here!] During the 2007 wildfire/evac in my backyard we has sustained gusts of 70+. The Diamond Discone antenna just shrugged them off.

D130J - Diamond Antenna

www.diamondantenna.net

I had a R/S discone in 2003, when we had our first wildfire/evac, same conditions prevailed. Only difference was that after the conflagration, I found radials over 300 feet from my property. I have posted similar reviews around the forums here since 2003. Give a search, they'll all sound pretty much the same. Here are 70+ reviews on eham.net, if you need more...

Coax? If you're looking to monitor the higher UHF areas [700/800 MHz] invest in some good LMR cable, like LMR 400 to start. These paired together [discone and coax] you should be set for just about anything Nature can throw your way.

https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=2777

 

[dlwtrunked]

So sorry for my lack of knowledge here with this response. But, mount an antenna outside as high as I can and run a co ax all the way to the scanner to replace the existing antenna? Or, what do you mean by independent? Also, while I have you here lol. Any brands or specific antennas to go for?

Independent means the same would be true no matter what scanner you are using--whether you are using an SDR200 or another scanner makes no different. The Diamond D130J suggested by Alain is a very good choice for your purpose.