Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
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Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
Hi guys,
I just bought my first scanner, a Uniden UBC126AT, and I have to say that I'm rather disappointed with the reception I receive from Moorabbin Airport (a very busy metropolitan class D airport) just 5 kilometres away (as the crow flies). In fact, I'm not picking up the airport at all.
I'm sure it's got something to do with my antenna as I travelled to the base of the control tower itself and could hear all communications perfectly fine.
I'm wondering if I can increase my receiving abilities with a replacement antenna that is suitable for portable use. Something I don't have to stick on my roof.
Do you think this could improve my scanning ability? If so, which antenna would you recommend?
Thanks for any help in advance!
Noah
I just bought my first scanner, a Uniden UBC126AT, and I have to say that I'm rather disappointed with the reception I receive from Moorabbin Airport (a very busy metropolitan class D airport) just 5 kilometres away (as the crow flies). In fact, I'm not picking up the airport at all.
I'm sure it's got something to do with my antenna as I travelled to the base of the control tower itself and could hear all communications perfectly fine.
I'm wondering if I can increase my receiving abilities with a replacement antenna that is suitable for portable use. Something I don't have to stick on my roof.
Do you think this could improve my scanning ability? If so, which antenna would you recommend?
Thanks for any help in advance!
Noah
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
Welcome to the forum!
Typically these transmissions are line of sight. The higher the better, failing that, a directional antenna may help
I would suggest an external antenna at a high location at your house to assist with receive capability.
Typically these transmissions are line of sight. The higher the better, failing that, a directional antenna may help
I would suggest an external antenna at a high location at your house to assist with receive capability.
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
Thanks! I'm thinking about getting a UBC355XLT in the future so I guess it could be worthwhile putting an antenna up. My main intention though is to just listen to air-band. Would you have any recommendations?Phantom wrote:Welcome to the forum!
Typically these transmissions are line of sight. The higher the better, failing that, a directional antenna may help
I would suggest an external antenna at a high location at your house to assist with receive capability.
I also intend to use my scanner while plane-spotting but I'm worried that the comms may become unclear a few kilometres away from the control tower, say for example, at a larger airport. Do you have any recommendations for a replacement antenna I could plug into the scanner?
Thanks for the reply!
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
My suggestion would be to ideally match an antenna to the band/freq that you are listening to. This generally gives the best result as it is matched.
Maybe you should go out and explore and see the limitations.
Maybe you should go out and explore and see the limitations.
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
Get the Nagoya 771. Couple of bucks from eBay, it's great for airband.
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
Hi Chainz!chainz wrote:Get the Nagoya 771. Couple of bucks from eBay, it's great for airband.
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I figured I'd do what Phantom suggested and go out and explore the possibilities.
I did a bit of research and concluded that the Diamond SRH77CA would be a good start -- but hey, I know almost nothing about scanning!
I couldn't find an Australian store that stocked these so I ended up purchasing one from The States on eBay for about $100 (including shipping).
How would you say the Diamond SRH77CA stacks up against the Nagoya 771?
Thanks!
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
I would say that you have just wasted your money. The Nagoya 771 is the same thing. Sure the Nagoya is a knock off but it would have been perfect and it works amazingly well
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
Whoops! I was actually looking at the Nagoya 771 but the endless warnings on the web about fakes really turned me off.chainz wrote:I would say that you have just wasted your money. The Nagoya 771 is the same thing. Sure the Nagoya is a knock off but it would have been perfect and it works amazingly well
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If the Nagoya is as much of a rip-off as you say, surely the Diamond will perform just as well if not marginally better?
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
The Nagoya will perform just as good and only cost you 5 bucks including shipping
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
Well I might end up getting one anyway as I have just realised that my scanner (a Uniden UBC126AT) has a BNC antenna connector and the antenna I just bought has an SMA male connector. Is there some sort of converter I can get to bridge them together?chainz wrote:The Nagoya will perform just as good and only cost you 5 bucks including shipping
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
There are. But up to you, If you want to spend 100 on something thats gonna be the same as something that cost 5 bucks, go for it
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
The Nagoya antenna will probably cost a little more than $5.00, and adapters are a few dollars from Jaycar. I used a similar set up on a Yaesu scanner some years ago.
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Re: Best Antenna for Receiving Airband on Hand-Held Scanner?
Nope. They range from 5 to about 15 bucks.
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