Stock Antenna Supplied With The 500 ?

[BOBRR]

Hi,

I realize there's an antenna forum, but thought that it would be applicable to post here.
Have never had a handheld.

Concerning the stock antenna that comes with the 500.

I know the answers are subjective to a large extent, and a function of where you are and the distance to what you are monitoring, etc., but, in general:

How "good" is it in general ?

On the air bands, in particular ?

Is it decent enough to generally live with, or is it assumed that one must run out and purchase a longer antenna to get fairly good results, like the Diamond RH77 one which I guess is among the most popular, but around 15" (ugh !) ?

Thanks,
B.

 

[PC_Medic]

Hi,

I realize there's an antenna forum, but thought that it would be applicable to post here.
Have never had a handheld.

Concerning the stock antenna that comes with the 500.

I know the answers are subjective to a large extent, and a function of where you are and the distance to what you are monitoring, etc., but, in general:

How "good" is it in general ?

On the air bands, in particular ?

Is it decent enough to generally live with, or is it assumed that one must run out and purchase a longer antenna to get fairly good results, like the Diamond RH77 one which I guess is among the most popular, but around 15" (ugh !) ?

Thanks,
B.

I have the OEM and an RS 800Mhz antenna.
Because I receive all of my local PD's and such fine with the stock I have just left it on full time and have no problem picking up the air traffic in the area.

 

[wa5jot]

Antennas

Bob,
The stock antenna seem to work pretty well for me, but the RH77CA works much better at civilian air freqs. I am about 2.8 miles from the local tower at KCLL in College Station, Texas. The longer antenna is closer to a natural 1/4 wave than the short, stock antenna. For comparison, I tuned to ATIS on 126.85. The stock antenna gave only one S unit on the 500, and the 77 gave three. When listening to either Houston Center re-broadcast from the airport on 120.4 or the local VOR on 113.3, the 77 gave me a much better copy, with less noise. Also, when tuning to a clear frequency (113) and disconnection and reconnecting both antennas, the stock gave no apparent increase in noise, while the 77 gave a distinct increase (better for the 77). At the military tower freq of 284.7 , I could hear no increase in noise with either antenna on the 500 or my AR 8000. So, it depends on how well you can copy your freqs of interest. If they are weak, a better antenna can make all the difference - it they are strong, no need to spend the money. Of course, where the scanner is placed in your home can sometimes help a lot. Hope all this wasn't too confusing.

bob baldwin Since 1945
WA5JOT Since 1964
bryan, texas

 

[RodStrong]

My OEM antenna was very loose and it was really bothering me. I read a while back on another post that the OEM Gre antennas were often loose fitting.

I replaced it with a RS 800mhz antenna, and it fits very snug.

As far as the difference, they seem to be comparable on the 800mhz digital system I follow in Colorado. I don't use my PSR-500 for any other scanning at the moment. My other scanners/radios handle the non trunking stuff. Good luck.

 

[hoser147]

Just an FYI the Diamond isnt that hot on 800mhz and i believe that what you gain in Air you will lose on 800 JMHO>..................Hoser

 

[kikito]

FWIW, being that the GREs always have "hot" receivers, the stock antenna works pretty well for most people and most bands.

 

[w5tsn]

I Tried The Oem Ant. On Several Radios And It's Loose On All Of Them

 

[RoninJoliet]

Mine wobbles back and forth also, why don't GRE offer a replacement like "Uniden" did some years ago on the Uniden 245 when the center pins were defective and coming out of the rubber duck and sticking in the radio??