RS Base Antenna question
 

Is any one using one of the ground plane antennas that RS closed out a few
(4 or 5) years ago, the one with 3 verticals and the super wide radials?
I have that one and also a RS Scantenna both still in their boxes and am
trying to decide which one I want to put up. I have a gut feeling the ground
plane might be the best overall.

Any thoughts? Any one have experience with both?

I would go with both but also have two SW antennas that I also want to go up
with as soon as the weather warms. RM~

I have that one and also a RS Scantenna both still in their boxes and am
trying to decide which one I want to put up.

Go with the Scantenna.

The other antenna requires alot more horizontal space, which can add to the
wind load.

The Scantenna will provide a safer, more-secure mount to a mast.

For the last 3 years, I have been using that RS ground plane that you had
described in your post. The antenna is mounted on the side of the house,
peak of the roof, (about 35' up). I use Belden 9913 coax (low loss) and get
pretty decent results on VHF and UHF. Doesn't seem to work that well on 800
mhz and above. If thats what you are primarily interested in monitoring, you
might want to consider another antenna.


Chris

The other antenna requires alot more horizontal space, which can add to
the wind load. The Scantenna will provide a safer, more-secure mount to a
mast. Jeff

pretty decent results on VHF and UHF. Doesn't seem to work that well on
800 mhz and above. Chris


I am more interested in freq's below 800 as I get great reception on the
local 800 system with just the on-board antenna.

I am smack dab in the middle of tornado alley and have been thinking as Jeff
mentioned the ground plane will be quite a target. I was considering selling
one but am now thinking I'll put up the ground plane and keep the Scantenna
as a spare as I don't have much invested in either.

Is that 9913 a small diameter or large dia coax? Expensive? I'm needing to
put up 2 sw antennas and 1 scanner ant so will need quite a bit. Was
thinking I would use RG6. RM~

"Rob Mills" wrote in message
news:QGQRb.2735$EW.2331@okepread02...

I am smack dab in the middle of tornado alley and have been thinking as
Jeff
mentioned the ground plane will be quite a target. I was considering
selling
one but am now thinking I'll put up the ground plane and keep the
Scantenna
as a spare as I don't have much invested in either.

Is that 9913 a small diameter or large dia coax? Expensive? I'm needing to
put up 2 sw antennas and 1 scanner ant so will need quite a bit. Was
thinking I would use RG6. RM~
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------


If you live in tornado alley you would probably be better off
with the RS grd plane. I use to have one and they were built way better
than the scantenna. I believe the wind load for the 2 would be approximately
the same, the RS is bigger overall but the scantenna has more vertical
surface to catch the wind. I use to have both the scantenna and the RS,
and after the first freezing rain/wind storm we had the scantenna ended
but looking like a pretzel, the RS was fine. As far as the coax is concerned
skip the 9913 for the scanners and use a good RG 6, and RG 58 is
fine for SW antennas that only are used up to 30mhz. or so. 9913 is big
and stiff and expensive, not to mention hard to work with.

"Rob Mills" wrote in message
news:QGQRb.2735$EW.2331@okepread02...

The other antenna requires alot more horizontal space, which can add to
the wind load. The Scantenna will provide a safer, more-secure mount to a
mast. Jeff

pretty decent results on VHF and UHF. Doesn't seem to work that well on
800 mhz and above. Chris


I am more interested in freq's below 800 as I get great reception on the
local 800 system with just the on-board antenna.

I am smack dab in the middle of tornado alley and have been thinking as
Jeff
mentioned the ground plane will be quite a target. I was considering
selling
one but am now thinking I'll put up the ground plane and keep the
Scantenna
as a spare as I don't have much invested in either.

Is that 9913 a small diameter or large dia coax? Expensive? I'm needing to
put up 2 sw antennas and 1 scanner ant so will need quite a bit. Was
thinking I would use RG6. RM~

9913 cable is a medium sized cable - approx 8mm in diameter, and is
moderately expensive. It is cheap compared to the hardlines like LDK550
(and a damn sight smaller), but more expensive than RG213 or similar (about
the same size though). Sorry I cannot help with the prices, but I am not in
the states so am not aware of what your prices will be like (cheaper than
here in Aust however).




Matt

for the scanners and use a good RG 6, and RG 58 is fine for SW antennas
that only are used up to 30mhz. or so Jeff

Sounds good, don't want to spend a fortune and all three runs will be well
under 50ft, probably more like 30 - 35 ft.. Going to suspend a B&W inverted
vee from a 24 ft mast with the ground plane on top, then mount an AMRAD
active vertical (if I ever get all the parts together and assemble it) to a
sewer vent pipe on the roof.



9913 cable is a medium sized cable - approx 8mm in diameter, and is
moderately expensive. Matt

Yeah, I need cheap (don't see the need for expensive for a receive only ant)
and small as I will have to fish it through some tight spaces to get were
I'm taking it.

Thanks guys, I haven't bought any coax or put up any antennas in 25 years,
Rob Mills ~

"Rob Mills" wrote in message
news:Ws1Sb.3240$EW.1619@okepread02...


for the scanners and use a good RG 6, and RG 58 is fine for SW antennas
that only are used up to 30mhz. or so Jeff

Sounds good, don't want to spend a fortune and all three runs will be well
under 50ft, probably more like 30 - 35 ft.. Going to suspend a B&W
inverted
vee from a 24 ft mast with the ground plane on top, then mount an AMRAD
active vertical (if I ever get all the parts together and assemble it) to
a
sewer vent pipe on the roof.



9913 cable is a medium sized cable - approx 8mm in diameter, and is
moderately expensive. Matt

Yeah, I need cheap (don't see the need for expensive for a receive only
ant)
and small as I will have to fish it through some tight spaces to get were
I'm taking it.

Even for transmit on HF (assuming you are not running high power), and
particularly on the lower freqs, RG58 is fine. For receiving on VHF and up,
go for the best cable that you can afford - 9913 would be fine for the cable
runs you are anticipating using - have not used RG6, and don't know what the
specs are so couldn't comment there. I wouldn't use RG58 for your scantenna
or RS groundplane (depending on which one you end up using).




Matt

Thanks guys, I haven't bought any coax or put up any antennas in 25 years,
Rob Mills ~