uhf/vhf signals

[1clo1]

Hi does anyone know how I can make a uhf/vhf signal on a handheld still work in a vehicle? Ultimately I'm going to put mobiles in the vehicles with rooftop antennas, but until I get the funds to do that we are using handhelds. Is there a booster or something I could get or fabricate to get better reception in a vehicle?

 

[ff-medic]

If the signals are close or local, you should have no problem monitoring.

Distant signals may be a problem, which up to a point can be remedied by squelch adjustment.

In a lot of cases, you can monitor and listen just as well with no outside antenna - using only the antenna on the scanner.

If you can, purchase a handheld scanner mount for your vehicle.


FF - Medic !!!

 

[1clo1]

Thanks for the reply, I should clarify, it's not scanners in using its two way radios. If I'm out of the vehicle the radios work fine, getting in the vehicles degrades signal. On both RX/TX. will be getting mobile radios eventually. We are currently not on a repeater. We just do radio to radio.

 

[W8RMH]

External mobile antennas are a must. You can get a mag mount dual band amateur antenna that would work for less than $40.

 

[jk77]

I can't attest as to how good it is, but you can get a dual-band mag mount antenna off Amazon for less than $20. It's bound to be better than what you are using now simply because you are moving the antenna outside the car.

Also, I would suggest that you get an SMA(Female) to BNC adapter and a pigtail to reduce wear and tear on your sma connector on the HT.

 

[jonwienke]

Better yet, get a SMA-to-SO239 adapter, so you can connect the external antenna to the radio without double adapters. And you might want to consider having a HT dedicated for vehicle use. Put it in a RAM mount with a cigarette lighter power cord and the external vehicle antena, and it will work well for short-to-medium range comms.

 

[1clo1]

Thank you for your replys, now mounting it in the vehicle kinda defeats the purpose of it being a portable. Like I mentioned i plan on getting mobile units for the vehicle. I've seen for cell phones wireless repeater type antennas. It's got a cable from external antenna to receiver in vehicle, and the receiver picks up signal and sends to external antenna. Is something like that available for 2 way radios?

 

[jk77]

Not that I am aware of, but I could be wrong. In any case, it would be a lot more expensive than getting a simple mag mount antenna. I want to be clear on one point ... just because you have a mag mount antenna doesn't mean that you are permanently mounting your HT in the car. In fact, mag mount antennas are really not designed to be permanent mounts. It's just a quick way to move the antenna outside the car.