I just ordered a AX-31B, active UHF antenna, made by WiNRADiO, though Grove
Enterprises. It's a very small, indoor, directional log-periodic antenna,
with a 20dB amplifier. I intend to point it at Selfridge Air Base, about
fifteen miles from me. I can hear them now, on the telescoping antenna,
that came with the BC796D, but sometimes it's a little weak, with some
noise. This should provide full quieting on the signal.

[link] http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT4.html

I'm also considering the purchase of a PAR MON-3, omni-directional, outside
antenna, through Universal Radio. It's optimized for 144~174, 440~470, and
800~900MHz. They claim it has 1.7dBi. I like it for it's simplicity, and
ruggedness. Here in Michigan, we get some fairly high winds, and nasty
winters with ice storms that can really build up on an antenna.

[link] http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...ants/4464.html

I'll post my results when available.

Bill Crocker


"www.activesignals.com" wrote in message
...
What kind of antenna are you using with your scanner? Presently I have
a discone mounted about 25 feet high. What is your favorite?
--
Keep the volume up

www.activesignals.com has a forum board.
www.activesignals.com for all listeners.
www.activesignals.com is a lot of fun.
www.activesignals.com is worth the look.

Bill Crocker ...

^ I'm also considering the purchase of a PAR MON-3, omni-
^ directional, outside antenna, through Universal Radio.
^ It's optimized for 144~174, 440~470, and 800~900MHz.
^ They claim it has 1.7dBi.

A di-pole has a gain of about 2.5 dBi. Before you spend money on an expensive
antenna, try a homemade vertical di-pole with one element for each band you
want to receive soldered to some good coax. For protection from the weather
you can seal it in a suitable length of PVC pipe with endcaps.

For the bands you mention above, your elements would be: 17", 6", and 3.3".
One of each soldered to the center conductor and another of each soldered to
the shielding. This is not a transmitting antenna so no impedance matching
mechanism is necessary and the coax can run down alongside the lower half of
the di-pole.

To calculate other lengths: FEET=234/MHz (i.e. 17'=234/160.000).

Frank

try a homemade vertical di-pole with one element for each band you
want to receive soldered to some good coax. For protection from the weather
you can seal it in a suitable length of PVC pipe with endcaps.

For the bands you mention above, your elements would be: 17", 6", and 3.3".
One of each soldered to the center conductor and another of each soldered to
the shielding. This is not a transmitting antenna so no impedance matching
mechanism is necessary and the coax can run down alongside the lower half of
the di-pole.

To calculate other lengths: FEET=234/MHz (i.e. 17'=234/160.000).

Hey Frank,
That is interesting and I know of the thinking behind it. Have you or someone
you know (maybe someone in this group) ever run an antenna like that and what
are/were the results. {?}

This might sound silly, but you wouldn't need a switch box would you to switch
to each 'antenna.'?? You mean you could use this 'one' antenna and just run it
straight to your scanner and as you searched different parts of the spectrum
the cut antenna would automatically work for the part/areas you were scanning?

Thanks for any reply by anyone. :-)

**I know in SWL you'd have to use a switchbox for a setup like that.

"Dxluver" wrote in message
...
try a homemade vertical di-pole with one element for each band you
want to receive soldered to some good coax. For protection from the
weather
you can seal it in a suitable length of PVC pipe with endcaps.

For the bands you mention above, your elements would be: 17", 6", and
3.3".
One of each soldered to the center conductor and another of each soldered
to
the shielding. This is not a transmitting antenna so no impedance
matching
mechanism is necessary and the coax can run down alongside the lower half
of
the di-pole.

To calculate other lengths: FEET=234/MHz (i.e. 17'=234/160.000).

Hey Frank,
That is interesting and I know of the thinking behind it. Have you or
someone
you know (maybe someone in this group) ever run an antenna like that and
what
are/were the results. {?}

This might sound silly, but you wouldn't need a switch box would you to
switch
to each 'antenna.'?? You mean you could use this 'one' antenna and just
run it
straight to your scanner and as you searched different parts of the
spectrum
the cut antenna would automatically work for the part/areas you were
scanning?

Thanks for any reply by anyone. :-)

**I know in SWL you'd have to use a switchbox for a setup like that.

His idea is similar to the antennas that RS and maybe others sold. The ones
with "3" vertical radials one for VHF low, one for VHF Hi and one for UHF -
3 distinctly different length vertical elements - all mounted to a center
plate and connected to a SO239 with ground radials to boot. I made one like
it once out of a block of wood, 3 clothes hangers and 4 curtain rods - to
work in a pinch. I used 50 ohm coax. It worked quite well when made to
center of the bands they were to receive. No switch box needed. L.

His idea is similar to the antennas that RS and maybe others sold.

Thanks 'L'......I know of the thought process, for some reason it struck me
weird, guess it's late. ;-) But I like the idea of the PVC capped, that
shouldn't affect anything, should it?

Yeah boy, I can see this now, about 60ft. in the air....lol.

Does the factor 234 equal full wave or partial? 3.3" sounds a might small
for 850 mhz


"L." wrote in message
...

"Dxluver" wrote in message
...
try a homemade vertical di-pole with one element for each band you
want to receive soldered to some good coax. For protection from the
weather
you can seal it in a suitable length of PVC pipe with endcaps.

For the bands you mention above, your elements would be: 17", 6", and
3.3".
One of each soldered to the center conductor and another of each
soldered
to
the shielding. This is not a transmitting antenna so no impedance
matching
mechanism is necessary and the coax can run down alongside the lower
half
of
the di-pole.

To calculate other lengths: FEET=234/MHz (i.e. 17'=234/160.000).

Hey Frank,
That is interesting and I know of the thinking behind it. Have you or
someone
you know (maybe someone in this group) ever run an antenna like that and
what
are/were the results. {?}

This might sound silly, but you wouldn't need a switch box would you to
switch
to each 'antenna.'?? You mean you could use this 'one' antenna and just
run it
straight to your scanner and as you searched different parts of the
spectrum
the cut antenna would automatically work for the part/areas you were
scanning?

Thanks for any reply by anyone. :-)

**I know in SWL you'd have to use a switchbox for a setup like that.

His idea is similar to the antennas that RS and maybe others sold. The
ones
with "3" vertical radials one for VHF low, one for VHF Hi and one for
UHF -
3 distinctly different length vertical elements - all mounted to a center
plate and connected to a SO239 with ground radials to boot. I made one
like
it once out of a block of wood, 3 clothes hangers and 4 curtain rods - to
work in a pinch. I used 50 ohm coax. It worked quite well when made to
center of the bands they were to receive. No switch box needed. L.

What I read here no switch box will be needed.
The radio will pick the element that is most resident to the frequency your
scanner locks onto and will let you receive accordingly.


"Dxluver" wrote in message
...
try a homemade vertical di-pole with one element for each band you
want to receive soldered to some good coax. For protection from the
weather
you can seal it in a suitable length of PVC pipe with endcaps.

For the bands you mention above, your elements would be: 17", 6", and
3.3".
One of each soldered to the center conductor and another of each soldered
to
the shielding. This is not a transmitting antenna so no impedance
matching
mechanism is necessary and the coax can run down alongside the lower half
of
the di-pole.

To calculate other lengths: FEET=234/MHz (i.e. 17'=234/160.000).

Hey Frank,
That is interesting and I know of the thinking behind it. Have you or
someone
you know (maybe someone in this group) ever run an antenna like that and
what
are/were the results. {?}

This might sound silly, but you wouldn't need a switch box would you to
switch
to each 'antenna.'?? You mean you could use this 'one' antenna and just
run it
straight to your scanner and as you searched different parts of the
spectrum
the cut antenna would automatically work for the part/areas you were
scanning?

Thanks for any reply by anyone. :-)

**I know in SWL you'd have to use a switchbox for a setup like that.




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What I read here no switch box will be needed.
The radio will pick the element that is most resident to the frequency your
scanner locks onto and will let you receive accordingly.

That's what I thought.
Thanks for the reply :-)