Which portable scanner antenna?

[livingaboard]

Not trying to beat a dead horse here but I have searched this forum and have not really come up with anything specific for me.

I have the new bc346xt Uniden scanner and there is not a lot of information about these out there yet. I am also a newbie.

I would like opinions on whether I should stick with the stock screw on antenna or "upgrade" to something like the radio shack rs800 antenna for $20. I will mainly be listening to the 800mhz trunking frequencies and some 150 mhz conventional channels. I seem to get decent reception for local things but I would like to reach out a bit and get some Seattle WA stuff from the Everett WA area.

I see these 2.5 gain antennas for sale and can't figure out if that is good or not. The whole gain thing confuses me.

Thanks for any help.

 

[thewenk]

Not trying to beat a dead horse here but I have searched this forum and have not really come up with anything specific for me.

I have the new bc346xt Uniden scanner and there is not a lot of information about these out there yet. I am also a newbie.

I would like opinions on whether I should stick with the stock screw on antenna or "upgrade" to something like the radio shack rs800 antenna for $20. I will mainly be listening to the 800mhz trunking frequencies and some 150 mhz conventional channels. I seem to get decent reception for local things but I would like to reach out a bit and get some Seattle WA stuff from the Everett WA area.

I see these 2.5 gain antennas for sale and can't figure out if that is good or not. The whole gain thing confuses me.

Thanks for any help.

Actually, in my experience, the stock 346XT antenna is very good. There have been some posts where it has been indicated that the stock antenna is essentially equal to the RS800 on 800 MHz. My own experience is with both antennas in the 770 MHz range. Both the stock and the RS800 antenna are very close to equal in the 700 MHz area. I doubt you would see any tremendous improvement with the 800 MHz antenna over the stock antenna. But all situations are different, so maybe you should get the 800 and check it out for yourself.

Dave

 

[livingaboard]

I am the Op here

I did go out today and get the 20-232 RS 800 antenna. I definitely like the look and flexibility of the antenna.

It is about 1.5 inches longer than stock but so far, I have about 2 bars more strength on the same channel with the new antenna than with the stock one. Also, the state patrol at about 155.000 definitely has about 2 bars fewer with the new antenna.

I still have to play with it at home to see if I like it.