Scanner Antenna Setup

[youngpilot]

I have a radioshak PRO-92 and I live about 12 miles away from KMIA and like 5 miles from KTMB. Like everyone else, I can hear the planes, but no ATC. (sometimes I do) I wanted to know if an OUTDOOR VHF-HI/UHF SCANNER ANTENNA from radioshack would work. Website to antenna is below. Would it work?

Thank You




Website:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103641&cp=2032052.2032075.2032078.2032098&parentPage=family

[dave]

It should help tremendously - unless you have local power line noise that covers the ATC up.  It's likely to help a lot.

Dave

[youngpilot]

Thank You.

[KB6HLM]

I am sorry to say that this antenna proforms very poorly on the aircraft Frqs !

You would be much better off making your own 1/4 wave

It makes a good scanner antenna but its not cut right for the airband


73s
Glenn KB6HLM Las Vegas, NV

[KTAN John]

I have mounted this Radio Shack antenna and works okay. However, being situated between KBOS and KPVD I pick up no ATC whatsoever.

I do get considerable local GA traffic, and AWOS, which was my goal at the time of purchasing the RS antenna. It out-performs my truck antenna, but just barely.

I'd spend a bit more for something better.

John

[KB6HLM]

You may consider building your own 1/4 wave ground plane or even a J-POLE
 The basic math for 1/4 wave antenna is quite simple
1/4 wave = 234 divided by frequency or to arrive at a proper antenna length

If not there are lots of antennas on the market cut just for the airband  personally I would stay away from the so called all bander if your serious about ATC  !

I use the Custom tuned 5/8 wave LARSEN SUPER BASE  http://wingsandwheels.com/page14.htm

I looked around for you to find a cheap well constructed Airband antenna and came up with this one (The Airband J-Pole) $33.00 at http://kb9vbr.com/products.php

Price is right and it looks like he did a nice job !!

Anyone have this antenna ? let us know

73s
Glenn KB6HLM Las Vegas, NV

[rbrong]

Youngpilot,

I have this antenna in my attic as I didn't want to fool around with a mast, grounding, etc., etc., outside.  Even at that, it improved my reception here in Reno quite a bit.  My only gripe is that it also increased my interference from nearby FM broadcast towers a lot.  I've ordered a couple of filters from Universal Radio that should fix that problem.

My scanners are a RaidoShack PRO-2052 and an old Uniden Bearcat BC175XL I bought for a few bucks off of eBay.  I use the Bearcat for my LiveATC feed for Reno.

Cheers!

Richard

p.s.  I should add that I live about ten miles from KRNO and I do pick up ATC and aircraft most of the time.  I agree with some of the other posts, too, in that this antenna isn't the perfect fit for the aircraft band.  Considering the price, though, it's a decent option if you're an antenna idiot like me.