Simple and inexpensive way to test for "what's best" for your setup:
- Connect the wire version of the Homebrew Off-Center Fed Dipole into your radio. You may need an adapter to go from the 75 ohm coax F-female to your 996-P2. Hang the antenna in the highest window in your house or attic. You may have to move it around away from large metal objects, metallic glass, or other metal objects.
- Don't connect the amplifier yet. Listen to the scanner long enough to observe how it is doing with what you want to hear. Good place to check on VHF is all the NOAA weather frequencies... see how far away the stations are you pick up. Listen for signs of interference, paging transmitters, broadcast towers, etc.
- NOW connect the amplifier and see if it's better, worse, or the same for what you want to listen to.