InterceptRadio.com Forums

Someone wanna recommend a good multi band antenna that goes into an NMO mount? Looking to cover freqs used in my hunting area, which encompasses low-band for logging trucks, VHF-high for DNR/USFS, and a little UHF for our FRS and at least one UHF logging company repeater.

Has to be as low-profile as possible due to overhang. I've been using my standard 18" VHF high, but the loggers have to be within a quarter mile to hear well, and if they close off the road I wanna hear it before I get there :wink:

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President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

Good luck. :lol:

From my experiences - wanting a short antenna but able to hear everyone - doesn't go hand-in-hand.

Try a Maxrad BMAXSCAN1000

Hell, at this point my best guess is a small multiband on the NMO, and a low band whip lashed horizontally to the roof rack. Not the best bet, but should do for a few miles where I'd mostly be above the loggers. I have a "Y" splitter so two antennas is a feasible idea.

Ps- If you wondering why horizontal, the pic linked below should give you an idea. Some of the roads I've been on lately make this look like an interstate, and it's been hell on the antennas...

http://a1.vox.com/6a00d41420df763c7f011 ... 860c-500pi

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President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

I use the larsen tri-band 150/450/800. Kinda spendy but for a broadbanded antenna, I haven't used anything better. If you're on top of low-band, you will probably hear ok but I've never heard distant lo-band unless I went to a specific whip.

http://www.electro-comm.com/ac/product. ... 69193&sc=0

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"I was installing un-programmed radios"

Dame. You know that your main man Brian Preston is the Antenna dude of the NW. Give him a call. And I like Rich's idea. A good antenna - that might do the job. Unless you want to mount 6 or 7 antennas on one vehicle -- like my old Nova. NO Laughing from this crowd -- or else.

You could go with a Stico or equiv broadcast covert dual band antenna for the vhf hi and uhf, glass mount for the 800 and fender mount nmo lowband if you were wanting to spend allot of money and hear really good...

they also make a splitter for the broadcast antenna that feeds a scanner but with not so good receive performance at any bands really.

But like its been said already... You cant have your cake and eat it too...

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"A well regulated breakfast, being necessary to the healthy start of the day, the right of the people to keep and eat food shall not be infringed."

Come on now... Brian is not the only skilled antenna guy on these forums... :wink:



:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

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"A well regulated breakfast, being necessary to the healthy start of the day, the right of the people to keep and eat food shall not be infringed."

I've had good experience with Comet antennas.


FC-54NMO
VHF/UHF Dual Band Antenna
1.5:1 or less
SWR:
153-157/460-470MHz
Gain: 2.15/5.0dBi
Max Power: 50 watts
Length: 36 inches
Connector: NMO
Fold-over hinge included

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I taste copper.
Comments, views, opinions - and trails of destruction - are my own.

I use the Maxrad BMAXSCAN1000 on a NMO on my car.
The best place to mount it is in the center of the vehicles roof.
I have tried many antennas and this one works the best so far.

_________________
" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

Check out Rich's antenna wiki.. The antenna I use is the one on the far right.

http://www.interceptradio.com/wiki/inde ... Comparison

_________________
" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

Its on ebay right now good price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... =P11S2005i

The Maxrad is a good antenna, although for good VHF-low performance you really need proper antenna length.

I use a Comtelco dual-band 6/2 meter whip on the work van. Works great on VHF, and adequately on UHF. It's seems to handle the abuse of getting smacked by low branches well enough.

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-Tom, W1WSO -- Plymouth, CT
http://tf.sdf.org/monitor/

Ehh, I should add that the Comet I posted WON'T survive getting smacked well. It has a fragile center conductor that will snap. If you can take care of it, it works great.

_________________
I taste copper.
Comments, views, opinions - and trails of destruction - are my own.