Where can I get an 800 Mhz cell phone antenna?

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AggiePhil

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Guys, I'm having trouble locating the old school wire cell phone antennas with the magnetic base mount. RadioShack now only sells a plastic "universal cell phone antenna" that is not the same thing. It has a screw on connector instead of the bayonet connector, so I don't know how well it works. But I would really like to just find one of the old wire antennas. Can someone point me to a place to buy/order these? Thanks.
 

KR4BD

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Lexington, KY
Radio Shack used to sell them. I bought a magmount 800 MHz antenna several years ago for about $15-20, as I recall. You may be able to find one (old stock) in a store near you.
 

AggiePhil

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Nope, no stock anymore. Apparently they quit selling them some time ago and have since sent back any remaining stock. I called/visited four local stores. Where else? :)
 

LarrySC

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SO what do you want to connect it to. I have a 23" dual open coil 1/2 wave over 1/2 wave over 1/4 wave 5db cell antenna used with my hard wired 3 watt bag phone. See it at this site. www.bncantenna.com Also the new 2" fat boy 800 that the police are using on 800 works fine.
 

AggiePhil

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I want to use it on a scanner. RadioShack Pro-97 for the time being.
 

gcgrotz

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There should be lots of commercial antennas out there just like the ones the police and 800 MHz business band people are using. Can't get any better than that. Antennex, Maxrad are 2 that come to mind. Antenna specialists is another good name.

Try one of the old "traditional" cellular company stores in your area, they may just have a box full of old de-installed stuff.

Good Luck!
 

mcema699

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The old cell mag mount you are talking about had a TNC connector on it (screw type). I still have one in the package for an emergency. :) You needed to replace that end with a BNC or adapter for scanner use. You could use an adapter on the new RS antenna if you want.
 

AggiePhil

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Radio Shack sells a TNC to BNC adapter. No cutting necessary. :) Would you be willing to part with your, Mcema699?
 

kf4lne

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Flea markets. Look around at flea markets, hamfests, rummage stores and places like that. I find all kinds of great gear at places like that. If any of you want i can keep a watch for these things at flea markets and grab them. Personally i would rather just invest in a 800MHz antenna at a local /\/\ shop and use that.
 

Universaldecoder

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Resurrection

Hello,

Sorry to revive this old thread, but I wanted to post a pic of an 800 mhz antenna from one of those old bag phones for a fellow on a another forum (I thought posting the pic here was more on topic). By the way, I got it from an electronics store that closed a few years ago. The owner had alot of old stuff from the 80's. In fact, his stock never really got past the 80's.
 

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jrs71

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Jun 28, 2005
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Southern Illinois
Valor PMM3B

Not really a cell phone antenna, but these work really well for UHF. Decent on VHF-HI, too. Extremely strong magnet. And you cant beat the price.

Not sure of the type connector you're needing, these terminate with a BNC. You may need an adapter if you buy one.
 

br0adband

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The Radio Shack 800 MHz duckie will give you the same or better performance than an actual "brick phone" or bag phone cellular antenna. I've done my own testing in the past with such things - I grabbed some original "brick phones" at a thrift store for a few bucks each years ago, and a few bag phone 90 degree bend ones like the one in the pic above. With a TNC to BNC adapter (and yes I know there is some technical signal loss but it's so miniscule at the scanner itself it's not even relevant - we're not talking about 50 feet of coax from antenna to the scanner), I tested using a Uniden 246T, a Uniden BC200XLT (oldie but goodie), a Realistic Pro-34, Pro-25, Pro-37, and a Pro-43.

Using the 800 MHz duckie resulted in cleaner signals with better noise quieting than using the so-called cellular tuned antennas on almost all the "stuff" I was monitoring. I don't know precisely who makes this duckie for Radio Shack (maybe someone out there does, I'd love to find out myself), but it truly is an amazing thing for the price.

It seems like an actual "cellular" antenna from the good old days of analog cellular activity would make a difference, but for me, the 800 MHz duckie is the best $20 I've ever spent for an antenna for a specific band - and as a bonus it pulls in UHF Lo (~450 MHz) with outstanding clarity and even VHF Hi (~150 MHz) damned fine too.
 

sgtech

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NW Houston, TX
cell antenna

I found one of the brick phone antennas (like pic in previous post) at a local electronics shop for only $2.95! I also have the 800 mhz Radio Shack antenna and on the systems I listen to (P25), the cell antenna works better. Uniden HP-1 also shows better signal on the RF test. Now I'm trying to figure out a way to put it on a mag mount for the car :)
 

markandjere

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Franklin County, PA
I found a magnet mount cell phone antenna at a thrift store for $3.00. Short 4 or 5 inches or so with a great magnet. I believe the "brand" is The Antenna Company called the Mighty Mini. All I needed was an adapter to make the bnc connection.
 
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