Well, without having a lot of fancy test equipment, save for my trusty pro97, my testing method may have been a bit unconventional.
First I tried the CB antenna, unmodified, on the scanner. Very little came in on any band without a considerable amount of static.
Next, I trimmed the Stainless Steel whip to 19". My next test with the scanner was better. The State Patrol in the 150Mhz area came in with a lot less static, but more than I wanted to listen to.
Next I unloaded the coil, by removing most of the solder with a pump, and using copper braid to clean up the rest. I unraveled the coil, 26 turns of 18 gauge wire, from the plastic bobbin it was wound on. I used my hot knife to cut a groove in the bobbin. I reconnected the center pin lug to the whip lug with one half turn of 12 gauge wire, and did not reconnect the coil to ground.
Now the state patrol comes in clear as a bell. I'm not sure how to scientifically quantify that, sorry.
Additionally, I am receiving the Seattle Simulcast, and Port of Seattle 800Mhz systems, also clear as a bell, as in no static, like in the old "pin drop" sprint commercials, as in "Wow! is that cop in my backseat?" clear.
Then I thought to myself, "Self, you should try it with that other antenna, and see if you can't pick up the air bands". So, I trimmed the other one to 24 inches, leaving a little to tune, and tried it out. SeaTac tower was there, but not as clear as my homebrew ground plane. I removed the ground connection from the base loaded coil, leaving the 22 turns between the solder lugs.
This time, I was able to receive the SeaTac Tower very clearly. It also receives the FRS/GMRS channels really well, which is nice.
Like I said prior, I have them both connected to a T fitting, and then to my scanner, when I'm in the car. One works just as well as the other, regardless of whether one or both of them are connected at the time.
I'm not sure why you're so against the idea of experimentation. It seems a little derisive to point out that "it's science and not magic". I never inferred that it was magical in any way. I have a lot of fun testing things out, and am often very surprised at how well things work, after
you've said that it wouldn't. You can throw as much money as you want at your problems. I prefer to try to build it myself. If it doesn't work, I'll try something else.
