Worth replacing a Diamond Antenna RH77CA?

[raisindot]

Short story: I lost my 10-year old Diamond RH77CA antenna whilst traveling. Other than my RS 800 MHZ antenna. I haven't used any other antenna with it, although I do have all the stock antenna that came with the various scanners I've bought over the years.

I'm really trying to decide whether I should get another RH77CA again. Since I haven't compared it to "stock" antennas in years, do you folks out there think it's so much darned better on the lower-than-800Mhz frequencies that one of the longer stock portable antennas? And are the "newers" RH77CAs as good as the old ones? The only thing I really listen to on VHF these days are aircraft and occasional ambulances.

Thanks!

 

[WQPW689]

I recommend it without hesitation. If you listen to VHF at all, I've found the reception superior to the 800 Mhz antenna (mine's the Remtronix). Yet it still picks up 800 bands with no problem. Then again, I'm usually in two radio source rich counties, Palm Beach in Florida and Hudson in NJ. Most of what I listen to is in fairly compact areas.Dunno if that has anything to do with it.

In any event, good luck.

 

[jonwienke]

+1. I've tested the RH77CA against several other antennas, and for everything below 800MHz, it's either the best or close to it, and it performs decently at 800MHz.

The Diamond SRH320A works a bit better below 500MHz (especially in the 220MHz region), but its performance craters above 500MHz. It will probably work slightly better for 300MHz milair than the RH77CA. But if you ever monitor 800MHz it's a no-go.

 

[N9PBD]

I agree with WQPW689, get a replacement for it. I use a couple of them. I can actually get into a UHF DMR repeater 28 miles west of me on my 4 watt HT, from inside my house with this antenna.

It's worth its weight in your favorite precious metal.

 

[ShyFlyer]

+3 for the Diamond RH77CA!

 

[eorange]

+1. I've tested the RH77CA against several other antennas, and for everything below 800MHz, it's either the best or close to it, and it performs decently at 800MHz.

The Diamond SRH320A works a bit better below 500MHz (especially in the 220MHz region), but its performance craters above 500MHz. It will probably work slightly better for 300MHz milair than the RH77CA. But if you ever monitor 800MHz it's a no-go.

My SRH320A performs pretty well on both 700 and 800 MHz systems. In fact the performance is close to my RH77CA, if not the same.

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[jonwienke]

Nope. I've tested them side by side. The RH77CA pulls in about 10dB more signal than the SRH320A in the 700-800MHz range. They are pretty comparable in the 130-170 and 400-500MHz ranges, but the SRH320A is better in the 200-350MHz range.

 

[br0adband]

Is this a trick question? Who doesn't own a Diamond RH77CA, and why the hell don't they?

Absolutely replace it, it's worth every penny and I can't imagine anyone really having any issues with it, especially alongside the RS 800 MHz as a sort of "one-two punch" for receiving antennas.

 

[eorange]

You can measure dB all you want. But the fact is, for me, the SRH320 pulls in strong signals and provides great 700-800 MHz decode.

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[jonwienke]

That's great. But that doesn't change the fact that the RH77CA is better for 700-800MHz and the SRH320 is better for 220-350MHz.

 

[Roodog2k]

I have the SRH77CA, which is the same thing with an SME connector for my HTs. I'm probably going to buy an RH77CA for my new BC125AT. It's the gold standard.

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