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Scanner Antenna


 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    eLightbars.org Forum -> Non-lighting warning equipment
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Shawn J. Williams
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Regular


Joined: 20 Aug 2005
Posts: 476
Location: Bedford, PA
PostPosted: Tue 18-Nov-2008 22:29    Post subject: Scanner Antenna Reply with quote
I am looking for a Scanner antenna for my wife's car that is both functional, stealthy, and doesnt take away from the car. I have seen a couple of police cars around here that have what looks to be like VHF antennas on them. Could I get an antennex black Trunk lip mount with a BNC connector and use a UHF antenna on it? I dont like some of the current trunk mount scanner antennas with the black boxes on them and I definately dont want an antenna that is like 30 inches long. HELP!!!!!!!!!
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Pimpala03
Moderator
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Joined: 20 Aug 2005
Posts: 10752
Location: Union Parish, Louisiana
PostPosted: Tue 18-Nov-2008 23:10    Post subject: Re: Scanner Antenna Reply with quote
[quote:685cde1376=\"Shawn J. Williams\"]Could I get an antennex black Trunk lip mount with a BNC connector and use a UHF antenna on it?


Sure. The mounts aren't band specific, I don't believe.
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Shawn J. Williams
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Joined: 20 Aug 2005
Posts: 476
Location: Bedford, PA
PostPosted: Wed 19-Nov-2008 07:44    Post subject: Reply with quote
So would it pick up just UHF or all bands? I mainly just need high/ low vhf and uhf. No 800 mhz or anything like that.
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Respondcode3
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Joined: 27 Aug 2005
Posts: 511
Location: Lake County, IL
PostPosted: Wed 19-Nov-2008 09:00    Post subject: Reply with quote
A UHF would just get UHF.. I have had good luck with a 1/4 wave VHF antenna for low/high VHF and UHF.

I have a chrome maxrad trunk lip base and VHF whip with a BNC connector that is brand new I havent used if your intrested..
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C420sailor
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Regular


Joined: 10 Dec 2007
Posts: 438
Location: Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL
PostPosted: Wed 19-Nov-2008 10:53    Post subject: Reply with quote
Always use an antenna that fits the bill for the lowest frequency range you are going to scan. I had a small highband/800mhz antenna on my 996T, and while it picked the highband and 800 stuff up great up to 40-50mi out, I couldn't hear my department's tone outs on 46mhz over a mile and a half away. It sucked. I then went to a roof mounted antenna with a 33\" whip, and now I pick up lowband great, and the UHF/800 stuff just as well, if not better than the old small antenna.

If you want lowband, you gotta go big!
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QualityLights
Frequent Poster


Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Posts: 1649
Location: Port Jervis, NY
PostPosted: Wed 19-Nov-2008 11:00    Post subject: Reply with quote
I would recommend a length of around 18\" if you are going to use a 1/4 wave antenna. We use them on scanners all the time and they work great from low band 42 MHz. range on up so it should fit the bill for most of your scanning requirements.
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