Which antenna would be best for my listening preferences? (Uniden-BCD43HP)

[txemt88]

Hello y’all,

Please forgive me if I say anything that’s totally off because I’m slightly new to all this.

I’ll try to make this short and sweet. I have a Uniden BCD-436HP and these are the 2 counties I listen to:

McLennan County, Texas (TX) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference (McLennan Co, TX)

Falls County, Texas (TX) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference (Falls Co., TX)

When looking for an antenna upgrade, would I need dual band, or would I be better off with just a VHF antenna? I know that most of the frequencies I listen to are around the 150mHz range, but like I said being new to this, I’m not sure if it even matters or not that most of those 2 counties are a part of the Heart of Texas Regional Radio System ( Heart of Texas Regional Radio System (HOTRRS) Trunking System, Various, Texas - Scanner Frequencies ), which is a P25 Phase II system.

TIA for any recommendations or advice!

 

[mmckenna]

Mobile, portable or base antenna?

 

[trentbob]

You definitely want to upgrade from the stock antenna. It's not a good idea to use just a VHF antenna as you do have 800 MHz also and some UHF I see.

For wide coverage there are two antennas I can recommend, the Watson w881, I believe it only comes in BNC and you would have to use the provided adapter that comes with the radio. It may come in SMA, I don't remember, it's about 15 in long but it is flexible and will give you significant Improvement, especially on vhf high.

The other popular wide coverage antenna now is the remtronix 842s which is also longer but not flexible, that is the SMA version. significant Improvement, especially in the vhf high range.

REM also makes 820s which is primarily for the 7-800 MHz range, it also does a decent job on UHF but unfortunately it is terrible on VHF High and there's no fixing that LOL but it would improve your reception on 800 significantly.

HTH... Bob.

 

[txemt88]

Mobile, portable or base antenna?

Portable.

 

[mmckenna]

Portable.

That helps, thanks.

Looks like there's a mix of VHF, UHF and 7-800MHz stuff, so I agree with Bob, you don't want to limit yourself to a VHF only antenna, unless the VHF stuff was the -ONLY- frequencies you wanted to listen to.

 

[txemt88]

…as you do have 800 MHz also and some UHF I see.

Unless I’m reading wrong, isn’t there only like 1 channel in the 800+ range? Police SWAT or something? If so, I can do without that one channel for the sake of not having to buy a separate antenna for that range or getting a more expensive antenna than what I would need for all the rest just to cover that band.

Apologies again, as I say I’m pretty new. I’m familiar with the adapters you mentioned I’d need for certain antennas, but can you tell me what the connector I’d need for this scanner? Like if I were to just look for antennae to fit the scanner without an adapter, what would I look for? BNC? TNC?

 

[txemt88]

Looks like there's a mix of VHF, UHF and 7-800MHz stuff, so I agree with Bob, you don't want to limit yourself to a VHF only antenna, unless the VHF stuff was the -ONLY- frequencies you wanted to listen to.

Is there a good portable antenna you recommend that would cover it all? Also, what is in the 700-800 range? Is that the HOTRRS trunked system?

 

[hiegtx]

Hello y’all,

Please forgive me if I say anything that’s totally off because I’m slightly new to all this.

I’ll try to make this short and sweet. I have a Uniden BCD-436HP and these are the 2 counties I listen to:

McLennan County, Texas (TX) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference (McLennan Co, TX)

Falls County, Texas (TX) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference (Falls Co., TX)

When looking for an antenna upgrade, would I need dual band, or would I be better off with just a VHF antenna? I know that most of the frequencies I listen to are around the 150mHz range, but like I said being new to this, I’m not sure if it even matters or not that most of those 2 counties are a part of the Heart of Texas Regional Radio System ( Heart of Texas Regional Radio System (HOTRRS) Trunking System, Various, Texas - Scanner Frequencies ), which is a P25 Phase II system.

TIA for any recommendations or advice!

I think, initially, I would simply try the antenna that comes with the scanner. While it is by no means the 'best choice', you might find it adequate for what you intend to monitor. But if you find improvement is needed, read on.

Waco, as well as most of the various cities & agencies in McLennan County, use the HOTRRS trunked system. That uses a simulcast system in your county. Using "too much" antenna, such as one of the antennas tuned designed primarily for the 700 & 800MHz bands, can possibly increase possible simulcast distortion. That would include an antenna such as this. Plus, antennas such as that do not perform as well on Vhf-high frequencies. While Falls S.O. has a few talkgroups on HOTRRS, the majority of the various public safety agencies in Falls County use Vhf, with a couple of Uhf EMS channels.

If you find that you need better sensitivity on Vhf, to hear Falls & perhaps a few of the other mostly Vhf counties around you, then consider something attuned more for Vhf & Uhf, such as this:

https://smile.amazon.com/Diamond-Original-RH77CA-Dual-Band-Handheld/dp/B00M1X73EA/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=diamond+antennas&qid=1637435181&sr=8-1

That antenna has a BNC connector, so you would need to use the SMA to BNC adapter that came with your scanner. While it is better optiised for Vhf & Uhf, it has good reception for systems such as HOTRRS.
It's also available with an SMA connector (no adapter needed).
(These Diamond antennas are very similar to the Watson model that trentbob suggested.) While these antenna types would improve Vhf & Uhf reception, they are by no means "deaf" on 700/800Mhz. You should still be able to monitor HOTRRS without problems.

Personally, I prefer an antenna such as the RH789. This is a telescoping antenna, so you can vary the length of the antenna to optimize a particular band if so desired, It has markings on the side of the antenna, suggesting how many links to extend for a specific band. Here in Dallas County, Dallas (city) is mostly Uhf; Dallas County is mostly Vhf-high. All of the larger suburbs are on 700/800MHz systems (like HOTRRS), with a handful of smaller cities on Uhf NXDN, and the smallest cities in the southern part of the county on Vhf. This antenna works well for the mix of systems I monitor. When I visit friends in a more rural area west of the DFW metro area (near Possum Kingdom lake), virtually everything in use there is Vhf-high, so I extend the antenna a couple of lengths to improve the reception. The first link posted is for the BNC version, so you'd need the adapter. This is the SMA version, no adapter needed.

I'm on the same page with mmckenna and trentbob. Go with antenna that performs well across the bands. Don't concentrate solely on Vhf nor 800MHz.

 

[txemt88]

Personally, I prefer an antenna such as the RH789. This is a telescoping antenna, so you can vary the length of the antenna to optimize a particular band if so desired, It has markings on the side of the antenna, suggesting how many links to extend for a specific band.

Excellent advice, thanks! I’m kinda leaning toward the Watson w881 or the Diamond one that was mentioned that isn’t telescoping, but I’m not yet sold on anything. I do like the many, many positive reviews for the RH789 that you mentioned, but I’m not sure how complicated it would be to have to lengthen/retract the antenna just based on what band or range I’m listening to? Sounds kinda labor-intensive to me, unless I’m not understanding.

If this helps narrow it down (between telescoping and fixed): In my scanner, I just have basically 2 favorites lists I switch between, named “McLennan Co ALL” and”Falls Co All”. All I did in Sentinel was right-click on McLennan County and append to favorites, and the same with Falls Co. Therefore, when I’m scanning either list, it’s rapidly going through the conventional channels and the trunked system (HOTRRS). I can’t see myself adjusting the antenna length over and over when it stops on a transmission.

 

[mmckenna]

Is there a good portable antenna you recommend that would cover it all? Also, what is in the 700-800 range? Is that the HOTRRS trunked system?

Did you try the one that came with the scanner like Steve mentioned?

And, yes, the HOTRRS is in the 800MHz range.

 

[trentbob]

Unless I’m reading wrong, isn’t there only like 1 channel in the 800+ range? Police SWAT or something? If so, I can do without that one channel for the sake of not having to buy a separate antenna for that range or getting a more expensive antenna than what I would need for all the rest just to cover that band.

Apologies again, as I say I’m pretty new. I’m familiar with the adapters you mentioned I’d need for certain antennas, but can you tell me what the connector I’d need for this scanner? Like if I were to just look for antennae to fit the scanner without an adapter, what would I look for? BNC? TNC?

No need to apologize oh, what I think is happening is you are a newbie and your posts are being moderated and it seems to be causing a delay showing up, that very well might end a few post from now. I guess you see by now the phase 2 Heart of Texas system is 800 MHz with the Waco simulcast site.

The two main connections or mounts for scanners are BNC and SMA... your radio uses the SMA but the adapter is provided with your radio so as you can use BNC. Supposedly there is no loss. I just like using an SMA for the 436.

 

[txemt88]

Did you try the one that came with the scanner like Steve mentioned?

And, yes, the HOTRRS is in the 800MHz range.

Yeah, I’ve been using it for the last few days and I get decent results, best I can tell. I still get some static or feedback and sometimes the trunked system transmissions cut in and out or are garbled. I have went off the advice of others here on RR and turned off weather, priority and close call and it’s way better but I’d say now instead of 70-80% of the time it’s still kinda static-y/garbled about 20% of the time.

 

[txemt88]

No need to apologize oh, what I think is happening is you are a newbie and your posts are being moderated and it seems to be causing a delay showing up, that very well might end a few post from now. I guess you see by now the phase 2 Heart of Texas system is 800 MHz with the Waco simulcast site.

The two main connections or mounts for scanners are BNC and SMA... your radio uses the SMA but the adapter is provided with your radio so as you can use BNC. Supposedly there is no loss. I just like using an SMA for the 436.

Yeah, there is a delay because they’re being moderated, and I’m not sure how long they take to actually show.

But anyhow, yeah I’d just assume use the one that comes with it (SMA) as that’s what I’m used to with my HTs. The part that confuses me is I understand “male” and “female” when it comes to plumbing and electrical work, but is it opposite on these? My AnyTone and Baofeng are both SMA but I think the post you screw into the handheld is called female?? Whereas normally the hole would be called that.

 

[mmckenna]

but I’d say now instead of 70-80% of the time it’s still kinda static-y/garbled about 20% of the time.

If you are using the scanner indoors or inside a car, a lot of that will be resolved if you get an antenna outside and in the clear. Portable radios used in homes or cars is about the worst case scenario you can have. A better antenna ~might~ help, but it's likely not going to make a drastic difference. There's only so much you can do with a 6" antenna sitting on top of the radio.

 

[trentbob]

Yeah, there is a delay because they’re being moderated, and I’m not sure how long they take to actually show.

But anyhow, yeah I’d just assume use the one that comes with it (SMA) as that’s what I’m used to with my HTs. The part that confuses me is I understand “male” and “female” when it comes to plumbing and electrical work, but is it opposite on these? My AnyTone and Baofeng are both SMA but I think the post you screw into the handheld is called female?? Whereas normally the hole would be called that.

Yep I don't want to go off-topic talking about ham gear but Chinese radios kind of get it backwards LOL. I think they call it reverse female LOL.

If you want to go with the stock antenna which of course is SMA that's up to you but I have done side-by-side comparisons and it is generally, widely felt that it's not a good antenna but if everything comes in strong and you're close to everything and you don't have anything fringe or simplex that you want to hear it can do the job. Any of these scanner antennas that come with the SMA mount will fit your 436, the Chinese radios, not so much.

 

[txemt88]

I worded the first part of that post wrong. What I meant was I’d just assume use the connector that comes with the radio, but yeah I do definitely want to upgrade!

I went ahead and ordered the Diamond SRH789 a few minutes ago, and I’ve got free returns on it so if it doesn’t work out, I can always return it and try the Watson. (Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems to be the general consensus across RR that either the Diamond SRH789, Diamond RH77CA, or the Watson W881 are the way to go.)

I was a bit skeptical/annoyed by the fact that it’s telescoping and you can bring it up or down a notch for better reception on different bands, because the way my favorite list is set is that all of McLennan Co. is in one list, including the convential and the P25 Phase II system, and it scans through all of them pretty dang fast. Can’t imagine myself moving the antenna up or down every time a different frequency transmits. Lol. But apparently you don’t have to, it’s kinda optional.

 

[hiegtx]

I worded the first part of that post wrong. What I meant was I’d just assume use the connector that comes with the radio, but yeah I do definitely want to upgrade!

I went ahead and ordered the Diamond SRH789 a few minutes ago, and I’ve got free returns on it so if it doesn’t work out, I can always return it and try the Watson. (Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems to be the general consensus across RR that either the Diamond SRH789, Diamond RH77CA, or the Watson W881 are the way to go.)

I was a bit skeptical/annoyed by the fact that it’s telescoping and you can bring it up or down a notch for better reception on different bands, because the way my favorite list is set is that all of McLennan Co. is in one list, including the convential and the P25 Phase II system, and it scans through all of them pretty dang fast. Can’t imagine myself moving the antenna up or down every time a different frequency transmits. Lol. But apparently you don’t have to, it’s kinda optional.

No need to change the antenna length during normal listening. In general, here at home in Dallas, I use it completely collapsed, using only the base section. Works fine on the systems around me, However, I do extend the antenna (to improve Vhf-high) when I am out west, where virtually everything is on Vhf.

Find the "sweet spot" (as to antenna extension) that is best for your area, & leave it there.

 

[trentbob]

I worded the first part of that post wrong. What I meant was I’d just assume use the connector that comes with the radio, but yeah I do definitely want to upgrade!

I went ahead and ordered the Diamond SRH789 a few minutes ago, and I’ve got free returns on it so if it doesn’t work out, I can always return it and try the Watson. (Correct me if I’m wrong, but it seems to be the general consensus across RR that either the Diamond SRH789, Diamond RH77CA, or the Watson W881 are the way to go.)

I was a bit skeptical/annoyed by the fact that it’s telescoping and you can bring it up or down a notch for better reception on different bands, because the way my favorite list is set is that all of McLennan Co. is in one list, including the convential and the P25 Phase II system, and it scans through all of them pretty dang fast. Can’t imagine myself moving the antenna up or down every time a different frequency transmits. Lol. But apparently you don’t have to, it’s kinda optional.

Yeppers I agree, it's a good antenna but I did not recommended because of its portability and it is telescopic LOL. You don't have to use the telescopic feature.

For what it's worth, on my sds100 in a portable application, where I basically scan 1 tdma phase ll system, CG121, 409 conventional p25, VHF Marine Channel 16, 13 + 22 simplex since I live on the Delaware River, my towns EMA UHF repeater and Aviation... vhf guard, air-to-air news choppers and the Philly Citywide chopper unicom and I must say the REM 842s does a great job. My nylon case kind of keeps the antenna away from my body.

The big thing with a portable antenna is not just superior performance but... Portability. You will be happy with your antenna, it's a good performer.

 

[Ubbe]

I was a bit skeptical/annoyed by the fact that it’s telescoping

Be extremely careful with that as several RR members have said that the scanners antenna connector broke when they dropped their scanner. It seems to be a fragile SMA connector.

/Ubbe

 

[txemt88]

Be extremely careful with that as several RR members have said that the scanners antenna connector broke when they dropped their scanner. It seems to be a fragile SMA connector.

/Ubbe

Yeah, so this is that moment when you start to regret a purchase that’s already went through…lol.

I’ll probably just be super careful with it; like others have mentioned, I don’t really NEED to extend the antenna at all (and def not fully) for regular listening, so I doubt I’ll do that. But I do plan on getting a desktop stand of some kind so it’d less apt to fall over.