i am wondering what would be the best nmo mount scanner antenna to buy?
I will be scanning
33.020-46.420
120.30-154.28
452.7125-468.050
I will be scanning
33.020-46.420
120.30-154.28
452.7125-468.050
help choosing a mobile scanner antenna
- Thread starter seankretzer
- Start date
chief1562
Member
If you're not going to monitor digital this should fit your needs nicely.
Uniden Bearcat BC350 Scanner BC-350C
Uniden Bearcat BC350 Scanner BC-350C
Steve0625
Member
seankretzer said:
Unless you live some where that has marginal reception, start with a standard VHF 1/4 wave and see how it goes. They're inexpensive and readily available. In many (I think "most") cases, it should be all you need.
I have a handful of black ones and several SS ones if you're interested.
chief1562
Member
Misread. Here's a site that you van use for reference on what you might want. Mobile Antennas for Police Scanner Radios | ScannerMaster.com
I recommend the Comtelco tri-band antenna, it's not designed for low band but it receives 40mhz very well and around airports I've had decent results on the air band
Jarred J.
Lifetime VIP Donor
this one from the shack works well.
I have one on my f 150 and used one on my car for years until I went with a trunk lip nmo mount version of it.
receives all the freqs you have listed well. only THP and electric companys use low band around here.
CodeMan
Member
Years ago I had a Through-The-Glass Mobile Antenna with BNC
As it didn't look like the typical scanner ant. and it worked just fine. infact I also ran a Larsen cb ant that looked like a vhf business band ant.
Mobile Antennas for Police Scanner Radios | ScannerMaster.com
good site.
As it didn't look like the typical scanner ant. and it worked just fine. infact I also ran a Larsen cb ant that looked like a vhf business band ant.
Mobile Antennas for Police Scanner Radios | ScannerMaster.com
good site.
Jarred J.
Lifetime VIP Donor
Ben.
Scanner master had a version similar to it that was 3/8th 24 thread mount. I bought an adapter to nmo and its on my car now. it actually pics up 42.00 MHz better that the shack antennaes did.
Scanner master had a version similar to it that was 3/8th 24 thread mount. I bought an adapter to nmo and its on my car now. it actually pics up 42.00 MHz better that the shack antennaes did.
I would recommend you start with a nmo VHF 1/4 wave antenna and go from there, I have ran a 1/4 wave antenna for years (10+ years) and does good on low-band, VHF and UHF. usually these are free if you ask around!
If you feel it doesn't work, then try one of the other scanner antennas.
If you feel it doesn't work, then try one of the other scanner antennas.
Comtelco tri-bands, I've used the Z model because of the t-band coverage. That model receives 46mhz very well too and I've monitored the air band while driving in vicinity of airports.
Tri Band Unity Gain VHF, UHF, 800MHz, Bright finish
A11331A-X 144-160 / 435-460 / 885-970MHz
A11331A-Y 150-165 / 450-470 / 806-940MHz
A11331A-Z 150-174 / 450-475 / 825-896MHz
Tri Band Unity Gain VHF, UHF, 800MHz Black finish
A11331B-X 144-160 / 435-460 / 885-970MHz
A11331B-Y 150-165 / 450-470 / 806-940MHz
A11331B-Z 150-174 / 450-475 / 825-896MHz
Tri Band Unity Gain VHF, UHF, 800MHz, Bright finish
A11331A-X 144-160 / 435-460 / 885-970MHz
A11331A-Y 150-165 / 450-470 / 806-940MHz
A11331A-Z 150-174 / 450-475 / 825-896MHz
Tri Band Unity Gain VHF, UHF, 800MHz Black finish
A11331B-X 144-160 / 435-460 / 885-970MHz
A11331B-Y 150-165 / 450-470 / 806-940MHz
A11331B-Z 150-174 / 450-475 / 825-896MHz
i tried a 1/4 wave antenna that is on my work truck and had very bad results. I hooked the scanner up to a Motorola HAE4011A uhf antenna and it works great on all bands.
kitn1mcc
Member
Jarred J. said:
I used this antenna myself for many years, but they're a bit expensive. The only problem I've experienced with them is if you drive at highway speeds very much, the motion will wear out the part where the antenna screws into the base. But for reception, they're awesome.
A few years ago RS marketed a mobile magnetic scanner antenna that looks like a cell phone antenna. I got one off Ebay for about $15 back when they were available and still use it. It has fantastic range. I drove from Midland to San Angelo a few years ago, before everyone went digital. I had an RS triple-tracker scanner in the car. From Midland to San Angelo is about 115 mi., and I could hear Odessa's then-still-analog trunk going into San Angelo, and Odessa is 20 mi. west of Midland. Not bad! I now use the antenna inside on my Pro2096 digital scanner and it works well, even inside a mobile home!
Jarred J. said:
I love this antenna. I was getting the cheapest thing so I didn't have high hopes but it definitely outperformed most. $22 at my local RS at the time around 3 years ago. Very easy to maintain and fix if needed. The only problem I've had with it was the coax's braided ground tore away from the base of the antenna over the duration of around 2 years. I soldered it up and works perfect with no report to this day. I started to not like the typical silver antenna due to my ham antennas being all black. So I unscrewed the 2 halves and used black shrink tubing. I love it.