proquist96
Member
i want to buy a outdoor tv antenna and want to use a splitter to also connect my scanner when not watching tv. Would that type of antenna work? john
VHF tv outdoor antenna
- Thread starter proquist96
- Start date
- Status
Tumbleweed
Member
I'm not qualified to answer this but it sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe even hook in a TV signal amplifier 
N4JNW
Member
For general scanning, I'd just go with a regular cable TV splitter. I have done this before, and I know, I know those splitters ARE somewhat lossy in terms of RF, but, I was still able to scan about 40 miles with it.
Your major limitation is going to be the antenna. Don't worry about the splitter. I know someone will jump in here and say they work like crap, but hey, take it from me, Me and a fellow ham buddy of mine, had two identical scanners. RadioShack 2051's actually. We split both scanners into one scantenna, and was recieving Iowa Police in Kentucky one night when skip was high.
There are "real" splitters out there for scanners that will let you connect one scanner to multiple antennae, or multiple scanners to one antenna. They're around 100 bucks I think. Go spend 5 for a basic Cable TV splitter. Like said, your performance won't be awesome, but it WILL work decent.
Why would you want to turn your TV off in order to listen to the scanner? If you have a splitter, splitting the TV antenna between your TV and your scanner, you wouldn't have to turn the scanner off to watch TV, or turn the TV off to listen to the scanner. Both recieve only. I have 3 scanners hooked to one antenna, and all three run constantly.
Now if the TV somehow could transmit, then it wouldn't be a good idea. But in a recieve only situation, hook anything you want to one antenna and you should be fine.
On another note, TV booster boxes, make good scanner amplifiers. TV band runs in the 800 mhz range I belive, or is it 400? I dunno, but still, if you hook a TV booster to your scanner, you'll REALLY suck in the stuff around the TV band. If it operates in the 800 range, you'll rock on trunked frequencies, if it's 400, UHF will roar as well. But, be ready to deal with consequences of an amplifier. Not only will you amplify signals, but you'll also amplify NOISE... That's right.. your noise level will rise as well.
Enjoy..
Your major limitation is going to be the antenna. Don't worry about the splitter. I know someone will jump in here and say they work like crap, but hey, take it from me, Me and a fellow ham buddy of mine, had two identical scanners. RadioShack 2051's actually. We split both scanners into one scantenna, and was recieving Iowa Police in Kentucky one night when skip was high.
There are "real" splitters out there for scanners that will let you connect one scanner to multiple antennae, or multiple scanners to one antenna. They're around 100 bucks I think. Go spend 5 for a basic Cable TV splitter. Like said, your performance won't be awesome, but it WILL work decent.
Why would you want to turn your TV off in order to listen to the scanner? If you have a splitter, splitting the TV antenna between your TV and your scanner, you wouldn't have to turn the scanner off to watch TV, or turn the TV off to listen to the scanner. Both recieve only. I have 3 scanners hooked to one antenna, and all three run constantly.
Now if the TV somehow could transmit, then it wouldn't be a good idea. But in a recieve only situation, hook anything you want to one antenna and you should be fine.
On another note, TV booster boxes, make good scanner amplifiers. TV band runs in the 800 mhz range I belive, or is it 400? I dunno, but still, if you hook a TV booster to your scanner, you'll REALLY suck in the stuff around the TV band. If it operates in the 800 range, you'll rock on trunked frequencies, if it's 400, UHF will roar as well. But, be ready to deal with consequences of an amplifier. Not only will you amplify signals, but you'll also amplify NOISE... That's right.. your noise level will rise as well.
Enjoy..
Television is broadcast with horizontal polorization.
Public safety and LMR is broadcast with vertical polorization.
You lose half the signal if you don't re-orient the antenna to the proper polorization.
If you're using the typical VHF TV antenna, it's also directional.
Cable drop amps work well as scanner distribution amps.
There are many threads on RR about using tv antennas for scanners.
Do a thread search for some interesting reading.
Public safety and LMR is broadcast with vertical polorization.
You lose half the signal if you don't re-orient the antenna to the proper polorization.
If you're using the typical VHF TV antenna, it's also directional.
Cable drop amps work well as scanner distribution amps.
There are many threads on RR about using tv antennas for scanners.
Do a thread search for some interesting reading.
N4JNW
Member
trooperdude said:
You do not lose half the signal. Granted, if you DID turn the antenna up on it's side, you will recieve somewhat better, but increasing gain by half just by changing polarization isn't realistic. You might gain a few dB. (For those greenhorns, dB is a measurement of RF gain)
So tell us then, if a TV antenna is genrally flat side, why are TV broadcast antennae vertically polarized? Every TV station I've seen, the antenna is at the very tip top of the tower, and is a vertical. Maybe I'm just seeing something different.
Agreed, you WILL be directional, considering a TV antenna is a yagi design. So whatever you point it at, it will recieve the best.
I'm assuming you're doing this to just improve recpetion over the stock antenna that came with your scanner, in which you will. Anytime you can get your antenna physically outdoors, you will achieve more gain. Even if the polarization is incorrect.
Sidenote, Personally, I don't think polarization is THAT big of a deal. It all has to do with the takeoff angle of an antenna. Ham operators lay their beam antenna flat, to take advantage of the takeoff angle of the antenna, in order to talk DX.
I have an Antron 99 CB vertical, and I've talked all over the US on 10 meters. Many of the hams, running flat side beams.
All things considered, IMO you are far better off to have dedicated antennas for each.
N4JNW
Member
gmclam said:
I'll agree fully. Your TV antenna is made for TV. You obviously already have a small tower or mast, so grab you a Scantenna, and put up under it. They're not high priced, maybe 40 or 50 bucks best I remember, and they're awesome performers.
The TV antenna will be an improvement over your scanner antenna being inside your home, but an actual scanner antenna will boost your recieve far better, and you won't need any amplifier to hear things with it.
proquist96
Member
Thanks for all the replies. A separate scanner antenna mounted on the mast isn't a bad idea. A motor drive can rotate the whole thing. I want free HDTV and better scanner reception would be a nice bonus. Thanks,John
Hi Pro and all,
Let's cut the chitter chatter and get to the point. A vertically mounted TV antenna will work for both (TV and FM signals are circularly polarized, horizontal went bye bye 20 odd years ago) BUT a TV antenna is designed for TV, not the "scanner bands". Then there are splitters, amps and assorted claptrap further complicating things, I won't tread in THAT swamp. You'll get less than optimum performance with a Frankenstein lash-up, just do it right and save the aspirin.
Let's cut the chitter chatter and get to the point. A vertically mounted TV antenna will work for both (TV and FM signals are circularly polarized, horizontal went bye bye 20 odd years ago) BUT a TV antenna is designed for TV, not the "scanner bands". Then there are splitters, amps and assorted claptrap further complicating things, I won't tread in THAT swamp. You'll get less than optimum performance with a Frankenstein lash-up, just do it right and save the aspirin.
ind224
Member
TV antenna
My TV antenna testing using a 2045 and pro 96 were only good in the 800/900 range.
VS the discone with LMR 400 same height
Big RS 210 TV fed w RG6 and up about 30' air and PS from 118-170 not so good I mean bad bad but NWS did get through. Even with a billion folks in town this weekend the 400's were pretty dead.
800 MOT II and EDACS good digital SAFE T very good
If you need only 800 a tv antenna will do a great job but the discone killed it for Air and VHF PS.
With some element changes (tuning) the lost bands could be better.
Stu
My TV antenna testing using a 2045 and pro 96 were only good in the 800/900 range.
VS the discone with LMR 400 same height
Big RS 210 TV fed w RG6 and up about 30' air and PS from 118-170 not so good I mean bad bad but NWS did get through. Even with a billion folks in town this weekend the 400's were pretty dead.
800 MOT II and EDACS good digital SAFE T very good
If you need only 800 a tv antenna will do a great job but the discone killed it for Air and VHF PS.
With some element changes (tuning) the lost bands could be better.
Stu
- Status
Similar threads
