What antenna should I be looking for in my installation?

[mibzzer15]

Hello. I am wanting to install an antenna on my truck (1999 Dodge Ram 1500) for monitoring on my scanner. I've got a GRE PSR-300 that I will mainly be using but also a BCD996XT when on trips. I want something that can cover a good variety of popular bands. Aircraft, public safety, marine, news, ham, railroad, and cb maybe...... Is there one antenna that is not too long, and can cover many bands?

And if anyone is interested. I will mainly be listening to Fremont PD and Alameda County Fire department in California. Also I want to be able to listen to CHP , aircraft and towers at airshows and airports....

Right know I just have my PRS-300 with the RS 800mhz antenna on it, so I know that any antenna mounted outside of the vehicle will be better.

So what should I be looking for? And any recommendations? Larsen tri band? spectrumforce? scanforce antenns?

I will probably be installing it on the rear of my camper shell on my truck and running a coax up to the scanner.

Thanks for any help!

 

[W2GLD]

I like the Larsen 150/450/800 Tri-Band antenna... They perform pretty well across most of the popular bands and seal out water well if used with a through-hole NMO mount.

 

[Rt169Radio]

Yup,the Larsen tri-band is a good antenna.The only thing it might not pick up well is the CB freqs.

 

[KC4RAF]

+3 on the Larsen tri-band.

It does very well on most of what you want to monitor, but the CB frequencies does suffer. Other than that, it is a really good antenna.

 

[mibzzer15]

Yeah I think I may be going with the Larsen tri band then. I really don't mind with the CB freq because I do have a CB installed already, I just don't think I have it setup correctly yet because I don't receive anything yet.

Where is the best place to buy the larsen tri band from?

 

[W2GLD]

Honestly, does anyone really even listen to CB anymore?

 

[mibzzer15]

Honestly, does anyone really even listen to CB anymore?

I am not even sure lol!

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Also, what NMO mount would be good for an install on my truck's camper shell? Is there any one that you would recommend?

 

[KC4RAF]

You can do a Google search for

that antenna. There's one on eBay for 39 plus 8 for s+h. Just search around to see if one is near you for the right price.

 

[mibzzer15]

What about coax? What type of coax would be best?

 

[LtDoc]

The type of coax used depends on the length of the run and the typical frequency range it'll be used for. For short runs as in a mobile (20 feet or less?), almost anything will work just fine, especially if you are just receiving. For runs of more than 20 feet and less than 50 feet or so, I think RG-8X would be the smallest I'd use. Fractional dB loss is almost meaningless so don't 'sweat' the small stuff.
- 'Doc

 

[mibzzer15]

Thanks! Yeah I will be doing a mobile install, less than 20 feet. I am thinking of going with this NMO mount and coax, Maxrad BMATM Brass Antenna Mount with 17 Foot RG58 U Coax Cable

and this larsen antenna.

Larsen NMO150/450/800 Tri-Band NMO Antenna

Anybody have any rejections? This should be good right?

 

[n5ims]

What about coax? What type of coax would be best?

Get your NMO mount with the coax already attached to the mount (although not to the connector for the scanner). This will nearly certainly limit you to RG-58 (or the close cousin LMR-200), but it will be the same thing that nearly every public service agency uses so you'll be in great company with that choice. If you try to use something else you'll most likely end up with problems either at the connection or from heat, vibration, water, or other issues related to mobile installs. The lower loss from using some other coax won't be noticed over a 20' run anyway so why take the chance.

You want the scanner end free to feed from your antenna mount to where your scanner will mount with the smallest size hole possible. If you have a connector already installed, your hole will be at least twice as large as it otherwise would be and this extra room will leave lots of area for water to flow into your vehicle. Even if it's sealed (as it should be) the extra room will allow the cable to wiggle around while driving and cause the seal to leak sooner or later.

 

[mibzzer15]

Thanks for the help. Ordered the mount and Larsen Tri-band this morning. I hope to have some free time before September 8th/9th to get it all installed. California Capitol Airshow those days!!

 

[W6KRU]

If your camper shell is fiberglass and you mount it there, you will not have a groundplane. Most mobile antennas require a groundplane for proper operation.

 

[Rt169Radio]

If your camper shell is fiberglass and you mount it there, you will not have a groundplane. Most mobile antennas require a groundplane for proper operation.

Quite true.

 

[mibzzer15]

No its all metal shell luckily.