It is a Larsen product... my bad
Larsen LP800NMOW - 700/800/900 MHz Phantom/Disguise Antennas
Larsen Mirage low profile 806-960 MHz unity gain antenna. Whip Length 1.25" H x 4" dia.
theantennafarm.com
theantennafarm.com
Thanks, I will see if it yields any better results.Larsen LP800NMOW - 700/800/900 MHz Phantom/Disguise Antennas
Larsen Mirage low profile 806-960 MHz unity gain antenna. Whip Length 1.25" H x 4" dia.
A single-band antenna will almost always outperform a multiband antenna. Whether that improved performance makes a noticeable difference in your application is difficult to say.
The low profile antennas for 800MHz work pretty well and provide gain over a standard quarterwave antenna. They're pretty close in performance to 3dB gain "curly-cue" whip antennas that were popular for a long time, which are about 7-8" tall. There are also higher gain 5/8th wave antennas which are taller.
If you've programmed your scanner to "roam" automatically among VIPER sites as your location changes, then you may not find that the single-band, higher gain antenna makes much difference. There are lot of VIPER sites and they're pretty close together, so you're not likely to be out of range of a VIPER site in many places. As noted in previous comments, gain to the horizon (which translates to better reception at longer distance) comes at the expense of performance above the horizon. If you find yourself "under" a tower, you might notice more trouble with reception, but that's usually only an issue if you're really close, say within half a mile of the tower.
On the other hand, if you're wanting to monitor a specific site (or system) outside its intended coverage area because that site or system carries specific talkgroups of interest that aren't carried on the closest sites, then increased gain might help. In Asheville, I would guess that simulcast (on the Buncombe Co and Asheville systems) is a problem for your scanner that won't be helped by antenna choice. Mountainous terrain obstructions (having rock between you and your monitoring target) is probably another. Interference from commercial data towers overloading the receiver on your scanner is probably another. A higher gain antenna might help in some of these situations, or it may make the reception problem worse. Trial and error is the best approach here. Fortunately these antennas aren't crazy expensive, and if you have an NMO mount, you can try different antennas to see which work best. Good luck.
The low profile antennas for 800MHz work pretty well and provide gain over a standard quarterwave antenna. They're pretty close in performance to 3dB gain "curly-cue" whip antennas that were popular for a long time, which are about 7-8" tall. There are also higher gain 5/8th wave antennas which are taller.
If you've programmed your scanner to "roam" automatically among VIPER sites as your location changes, then you may not find that the single-band, higher gain antenna makes much difference. There are lot of VIPER sites and they're pretty close together, so you're not likely to be out of range of a VIPER site in many places. As noted in previous comments, gain to the horizon (which translates to better reception at longer distance) comes at the expense of performance above the horizon. If you find yourself "under" a tower, you might notice more trouble with reception, but that's usually only an issue if you're really close, say within half a mile of the tower.
On the other hand, if you're wanting to monitor a specific site (or system) outside its intended coverage area because that site or system carries specific talkgroups of interest that aren't carried on the closest sites, then increased gain might help. In Asheville, I would guess that simulcast (on the Buncombe Co and Asheville systems) is a problem for your scanner that won't be helped by antenna choice. Mountainous terrain obstructions (having rock between you and your monitoring target) is probably another. Interference from commercial data towers overloading the receiver on your scanner is probably another. A higher gain antenna might help in some of these situations, or it may make the reception problem worse. Trial and error is the best approach here. Fortunately these antennas aren't crazy expensive, and if you have an NMO mount, you can try different antennas to see which work best. Good luck.
Thank you Brian! I do not monitor the Buncombe Co or Asheville systems due to mostly being encrypted. I only monitor the VIPER for Buncombe and surrounding counties, they are not simulcast right? I didn’t see the same frequency across the sites. I ordered a Laird B7603 which should cover the frequencies perfectly and says it is a 3Db gain.
Correct, there are no simulcast VIPER sites in the Buncombe County area. And that antenna you selected should work fine. I'll be surprised if you can detect a significant difference between it and your tri-band antenna, but it's fun to try new antennas.
Yes those are all Mooresville
Wilson County touts new VIPER radio system for better communication, stronger emergency response
Wilson County Emergency Services had its first significant success with VIPER when fighting the fire that engulfed a church in Lucama last week. One fire chief called the technology a game-changer.
www.wral.com
Found some VIPER sites while going through my photos and thought you all might enjoy.
Can anyone guess what sites these are?
Can anyone guess what sites these are?
Attachments
Is the last one Mt. Jefferson?
Indeed it is! That one is pretty recognizable since it is right off the main trail at the state park
NOBEES
Member
If a government like a city or county wants to pay for the installation of a VIPER System on an existing tower to improve radio coverage, does anyone have a rough idea as to how much that would cost? Also, is there a public list that shows where future VIPER sites are supposed to be installed? This is just a curiosity question and I do not represent or work for any government.
For a single tower at least 1 million plus dollars
Hi all - just moved to the Raleigh area and started monitoring VIPER on my SDS200 using ProScan for logging. As of 10pm last night it all went silent, and I have not received a transmission all day today. Anyone else experiencing this?
Working now - bad BNC cable.
I like to listen to my home county(Chatham), along neighboring counties up to 50mi..
Alamance-100% VIPER(apart from Burlington PD n' FD)
Chatham-county p25(Simulcast)
Durham-county p25(Simulcast)
Granville-100% VIPER
Harnett-100% VIPER
Lee-NXDN
Moore-100% VIPER
Orange-100% VIPER
Person-100% VIPER
Randolph-100% VIPER
Wake-county p25(Simulcast)
Chatham, Durham, Granville, and Wake, come through strong.
Of course, for the moment. I am only interested in VIPER.
Granville comes through fine. Orange and Person are sporadic, at best. I have never received Alamance, Harnett, Moore or Randolph.
TIA
Alamance-100% VIPER(apart from Burlington PD n' FD)
Chatham-county p25(Simulcast)
Durham-county p25(Simulcast)
Granville-100% VIPER
Harnett-100% VIPER
Lee-NXDN
Moore-100% VIPER
Orange-100% VIPER
Person-100% VIPER
Randolph-100% VIPER
Wake-county p25(Simulcast)
Chatham, Durham, Granville, and Wake, come through strong.
Of course, for the moment. I am only interested in VIPER.
Granville comes through fine. Orange and Person are sporadic, at best. I have never received Alamance, Harnett, Moore or Randolph.
TIA
There has to be units from those counties affiliated to the site(s) you're picking up. If there are none, then you won't hear said counties traffic. The other major factors are what type of antenna are you using for your scanner? What cable type ? How long are your cable runs?
SDS100(Remtronix 820S)
BCD436HP(Diamond SRH77CA)
Granville which is 50mi. away, comes in fine on the SDS100. But Alamance which is 30mi. and, Orange, which is 20mi., barely come in at all.
Maybe the intended direction of the antennas/site is pointed away from you and not intended to broadcast in your direction?
I would agree wit that, if. I didn't hear Granville as much as I do, and how little I hear from Orange n' Alamance.
