n4yek
Member
While on vacation in Florida, I purchased the following Radio Shack mobile scanner antenna:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...052.2032075.2032078.2032098&parentPage=family
I read the reviews on it, especially about it bending at the lower coil and blowing off, but decided to give it a try.
I purchased some heat shrink tubing while I was there and place it around the loading coils to give it some added stability. I was impressed with the reception I got with this antenna, it was an improvement over my existing antenna I had been using. I had an improved reception on all band except UHF which was about the same. I immediately started picking up 10 meter Ham repeaters I had not heard with the other antenna and even swapped back and forth to verify it. VHF Low and high bands were excellent, UHF bands were about the same but still good. 800 MHz reception was about average with any antenna I had ever used before.
I used this antenna while traveling back from Florida going at speeds of 70 to 80 mph on top of my Dodge minivan. This antenna held strong and those speeds and evening went through a pretty bad storm with high cross winds, it never moved.
The reviews about it bending over at the lower coil had me concerned as to my decision to buy the heat shrink to place around the loading coils. The antenna is still standing straight so I would say that helped.
I just thought I would give my opinion on this antenna, it is a good one for scanners and is even able to transmit on the ham bands, I believe it stated 6 meters, 2 meters, and 440 MHz.
Take care all and happy scanning.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...052.2032075.2032078.2032098&parentPage=family
I read the reviews on it, especially about it bending at the lower coil and blowing off, but decided to give it a try.
I purchased some heat shrink tubing while I was there and place it around the loading coils to give it some added stability. I was impressed with the reception I got with this antenna, it was an improvement over my existing antenna I had been using. I had an improved reception on all band except UHF which was about the same. I immediately started picking up 10 meter Ham repeaters I had not heard with the other antenna and even swapped back and forth to verify it. VHF Low and high bands were excellent, UHF bands were about the same but still good. 800 MHz reception was about average with any antenna I had ever used before.
I used this antenna while traveling back from Florida going at speeds of 70 to 80 mph on top of my Dodge minivan. This antenna held strong and those speeds and evening went through a pretty bad storm with high cross winds, it never moved.
The reviews about it bending over at the lower coil had me concerned as to my decision to buy the heat shrink to place around the loading coils. The antenna is still standing straight so I would say that helped.
I just thought I would give my opinion on this antenna, it is a good one for scanners and is even able to transmit on the ham bands, I believe it stated 6 meters, 2 meters, and 440 MHz.
Take care all and happy scanning.