Upgrading equipment

[Waltz41]

Hello,
Just curious, I have a Pro-97 scanner from radio shack that I just started really getting into listening to mil air stuff. Never did anything with radios before, so I'm still learning. Had it about 5 months now, and I live very close to a Naval Joint Reserve Base in South-East PA (willow grove). I'm hearing a decent amount, but seems like I should or at least could be hearing more, being that I'm about 45 minutes of another base (McGuire) and two ranges Warren Grove (NJ- now closed for time being) and Bollen (PA), which are both around 1.5 hours from me. Atlantic City is also only about 2 hours from me max.
Question is, now that I've gotten a bit of the bug listening, I want more! From the Pro-97 which again, I just got to start out and to listen to the base near me, what's the next step up, trying to be reasonable price wise. And also....hey is the pro-97 good enough, maybe just up the attenna? I have a diamond rh77ca now. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Brian

 

[DPD1]

Going to an external antenna would probably extend you range for sure. Only problem is that sometimes handhelds get overloaded a bit when going to a large external antenna. I've never had that radio myself... maybe someone who's had it can comment.

If that's the case, you could get a desktop radio and external antenna... You could find a used 780xlt, which has always been big with mil guys. But I would also study the freqs for your area as well... That's where you may be missing some stuff. The fields are easy, but the range and tactical stuff usually takes a little more effort to find.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[CORN]

I have a Pro-97 and it works great, at least for me, with a Maldol AL-500H antenna or a Diamond RH77 antenna. Ditch the stock one. But, for better reception with a handheld you either need to be outside with one of the aforementioned antennas or it needs to be on an external antenna. I second the motion about handheld recievers getting overloaded with an external antenna.

If you are serious about the hobby you need to invest in a desktop unit W/outside antenna or at least one in the attic, if you have covenant restrictions. My main antenna is in the attic and that's a Scantenna W/25 ft of RG-6U Quad Shield and it works good. I can hear UHF a/c on the extereme east edge of Kansas City Center without a preamp. I've heard the Diamond Discone antenna is good, plus there are directional antenna's such as the Log Periodic cut for 225-400MHz, etc. As for radios, the BC-780XLT is a VERY good choice if you can find one. I got two of mine on ebay so i guess they are out there. Another good choice is the Pro-433 from Radio Shack. I don't have it on an external antenna, just the telescopic whip it came with and just a few minutes ago heard REAPER 11 and 12 W/Indianapolis Center. Of course those are B-2's with kickbutt transmitters. But still if you are serious go with a base radio/external antenna and save your handheld as a supplemental radio and for traveling. I still utilize my 97 but i'm also using my base radios. The 97 will hit on close in stuff (inside the house) and then i can take the freq from the handheld and put it in on my base for further listening. Good luck and welcome to the hobby.

 

[ASF1]

I have a pro-99... It's pretty good for NORMAL listening, but sadly it doesn't cover the 175 to 405 range where a lot of the mil-air stuff is... so if you upgrade DON'T upgrade to a pro-99.