Sputnik to compliment a Diamond D130 discone...

[2ManyToys]

I've ordered a Diamond D130NJ for an attic install. I'm looking for for a 2nd antenna to compliment it & am thinking of the Radio Shack 20-176 'Sputnik'.

I want two separate antenna's for my two base scanners, Uniden BCT15 & BCD99T. This way I won't have to worry about multi couplers, etc. I currently use the BCD996T to monitor a local digital trucked system & local VHF/UHF public safety with strong signals & the BCT15 for VHF/UHF in outlaying areas.

I plan to connect the D130 to the BCD996T. So I'm thinking the Sputnik would be perfect for the BCT15. I have already ordered two 50' LMR-400 cable assemblies.

Thoughts on this plan? (As a note, I don't think I have enough height in the attic for a Scantenna).

 

[eraweeb]

Being a ground floor condo dweller, I am forced to keep my antenna farm indoors. Until recently I found that the solution to getting decent reception indoors for my 3 scanners was to set a Radio Shack Discone on a table in front of a window. I also use a RS Mobile Magnet Mount Wideband antenna stuck to the top of a metal filing cabinet.

Believe it or not both work very well indoors across all bands with the Discone outperforming the Mag Mount by quite a bit. The only problem with this setup is that the Discone is really big and ugly and takes up a lot of precious room.

Since I have 3 scanners and 2 antennas, I also did not want to screw around with a coupler, etc. Just out of curiosity I went to RS and purchased that 20-176 antenna that you mentioned. To be perfectly honest I didn't expect a whole lot from it and once I bought it I noticed it was even smaller than I thought it was going to be.

WELL, ARE YOU SITTING DOWN??? Believe it or not that little antenna is not only just as good as that big butt-ugly Discone but on some bands IT'S EVEN BETTER!!! As a matter of fact, that tiny little $25 antenna performs so well that I have decided those other 2 antennas are going on eBay this week!

Since it is designed to basically be an outdoor antenna I did have to modify it a little bit so that it would stand up but that was really no big deal. I just used the mounting hardware that comes with it and I mounted it onto the side of an old CD storage case that I no longer use. I added some rubber feet to stabilize it and set it on top of the table in front of the window where the Discone used to be.

What else can I say? This may just be an ideal antenna for apartment dwellers or for those who for some reason can't install a big antenna outdoors. It's small. light, and cheap and it works equally well on my BCD996T, my ICOM R-20 and my RS PRO 84.

 

[2ManyToys]

...WELL, ARE YOU SITTING DOWN??? Believe it or not that little antenna is not only just as good as that big butt-ugly Discone but on some bands IT'S EVEN BETTER!!!...

eraweeb, I'm curious on what bands you feel the Sputnik is stronger then the discone on? As I said, I had planned to use it primarily for the 118-470 MHz range.

 

[ERICMYERS]

2Many,

At 25 bucks for the sputnik, you can't go very wrong. I've posted my experiences with this antenna a number of times, and the impression is favorable.

You can tilt a scantenna in an attic if the height is the issue. That's my next project, though I won't need to tilt. People say it is a good performer, and again for the money, it's hard to go too wrong.


I'll also tell you that the 774 mhz tuned Yagi I just built is working exceptionally well. cost me about 15 bucks, a few hours research and a couple fun hours assembling. I learned a lot too in the process.

 

[eraweeb]

eraweeb, I'm curious on what bands you feel the Sputnik is stronger then the discone on? As I said, I had planned to use it primarily for the 118-470 MHz range.

That is pretty much the range where the Sputnik excels. I never really listen to the Aircraft band, but I can tell you that I definitely noticed an advantage over the discone in the Ham, Public Service and Federal bands between 144 - 174 MHz.

I would need to spend more time analyzing some 800 MHz Trunking to say for sure, but after listening to some of my usual 900 MHz channels today I have a feeling it will match or rival the discone there too. I have only owned the Sputnik for 2 days now so further testing is ongoing but there is no doubt that I am very impressed with it so far!

I should also add that I have no experience with Diamond antennas except hearing that they are usually exceptional when compared to other brands. The RS discone on the other hand has always worked very well for me but I have heard from others that they were not all that happy with it. Most of those opinions however seemed to center more on the low quality of it's construction rather than on it's performance.

And as always we have to remember that Location, Location, Location can make a big difference when comparing antenna performance.

 

[1979lee]

Hi all, yes the 20-176 isnt a bad antenna at all, it sucks on lowband, the rest is good, it was my first true scanner antenna, ive since up graded to the scantenna, i got it for 34.95 through solid signal, very good place to buy th scantenna http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=AC-ST2.

lee