Difference between revisions of "Antennas"
From The RadioReference Wiki
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Now, about those scanner antennas. Here are some references: | Now, about those scanner antennas. Here are some references: | ||
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* [http://www.antenex.com Antenex Antennas] | * [http://www.antenex.com Antenex Antennas] | ||
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* [http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/37 EHam review of V/UHF Omni antennas (includes some HT antennas)] | * [http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/37 EHam review of V/UHF Omni antennas (includes some HT antennas)] | ||
* [http://www.grove-ent.com/scannerantennas.html Grove Scanner Antennas page] | * [http://www.grove-ent.com/scannerantennas.html Grove Scanner Antennas page] | ||
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* [http://www.niljon.com NilJon Antennas] | * [http://www.niljon.com NilJon Antennas] | ||
* [http://www.parelectronics.com/ant_scanner.htm Par Electronics MON-3] | * [http://www.parelectronics.com/ant_scanner.htm Par Electronics MON-3] | ||
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* [http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanants.html Universal Radio Scanner Antennas page] | * [http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanants.html Universal Radio Scanner Antennas page] | ||
* [http://shop.waltel.com/catalog/prod...products_id/478 Waltel online ordering] | * [http://shop.waltel.com/catalog/prod...products_id/478 Waltel online ordering] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Strong Signals Pages=== | ||
| + | * [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/antenna.html Antennas page] | ||
| + | * [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/co-ax.html Coax Cable] | ||
| + | * [http://strongsignals.net/access/content/opi_ant.html#p0001 User Antenna Opinions] | ||
| + | * '''NOTE:''' Mixed Scanner and HF/MW Loop antennas mentioned here | ||
| + | * [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=ant&num=004 NilJon Super M Mobile Review] | ||
| + | * [http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=ant&num=001 SkyScan 1300 Desktop Antenna Review] | ||
==Yahoo Groups== | ==Yahoo Groups== | ||
Revision as of 21:28, 20 December 2005
This is the Antenna Section.
Here you'll find Antenna Reviews, Pictures, and Frequently Asked Questions.
If you submit something, make sure you link to it on the appropriate page.
Contents
Loops
MW only
- Altazimuth 'Hoop Loop' project
- AM Radio Antennas
- AM Loop Antennas
- Edek loop review
- Hula Loop MW DX Antenna
- Kiwa MW loop
- Loop Antennas
- Loop Antennas (courtesy Minnesota DX Club)
- Radio Plus+ (Home of the Quantum Loop)
- Select-A-Tenna (via Grove website)
- Super Select-A-Tenna (via Grove website)
- Terk Advantage (via C Crane co.)
- Twin Coil Ferrite AM antenna (via C.Crane co)
MW/SW coverage
- AOR LA350 (via Grove website)
- AOR LA380 (via Universal website)
- Kiwa Pocket Loop
- Palomar LA1 (via Universal website)
- Wellbrook ALA330 review
SW only
- Coax Loop Antennas
- 160-40 meter constant voltage loop
- AOR WL500 'Window' loop antenna (via Grove website)
- N5ESE Shielded Loop Receiving Antenna
- Sony AN-LP1 (via Universal website)
- RadioIntel Review: Degen DE31 vs. Sony AN-LP1
HF Antenna Sites (Commercial/Homebrew)
- AC6V antenna links
- Alpha Delta Communications
- Antennas and More
- Antenna Supermarket
- Antenna Terms and Build a Dipole Antenna - from the MT Website
- Antennex Magazine - Very technical discussions,construction projects and reviews are presented here
- Antentop - Partially in Russian
- Barker and Williamson Amateur Products
- Boston Area DXers Antennas page - Construction plans for a low noise antenna, grounding and other topics
- Build a Multiband SW antenna (from the Hamuniverse site)
- Definition, History and Building a Random Length antenna - from the MT website
- Dressler Active Antennas
- DXing.Info Equipment Page
- EHam reviews of antennas (Wire,Verticals)
- Grove SW/MW Antennas
- Hard Core DX Antennas Page - Technical Discussions, Plans, Hidden Antennas and more
- International Antenna Corporation
- Loop Antennas - Construction and Theory
- Miracle Antenna
- North Country Radio Active Antenna
- PAR EF-SWL antenna
- Radio Database International sells a White Paper on Antennas
- RadioWorks catalog pages (PDF)
- RF Systems
- The Antenna Elmer
- Universal Radio SW/MW Antennas
- Universal Radio Amateur Antennas
- W4RNL Antenna Notes
- Wellbrook Communications
Magnetic Longwire Baluns (MLBs)
- Erickson Engineering
- Industrial Communications Engineers - ICE Model 180 LMB
- Review of the ICD 180 LMB (courtesy BADX website)
- Palomar MLB-1
- RF Systems Magnetic Longwire Balun (from the Universal website)
- Wellbrook Universal Magnetic Balun
- Winradio WR-LWA-0130 Long Wire Antenna Adapter
- Wellbrook - How to install a Long Wire Balun
- The following articles are courtesy of Hard Core DX:
- Magnetic Longwire Balun - Not Really a Balun
- Magnetic Longwire Balun - A Con or Not?
Scanner Antennas and Topics
Choosing the right antenna is important. But it might be even more important to use the right type of coax to connect your chosen antenna to your scanner.
I'd been hearing this advice for years, but never really understood the impact of using the correct coaxial cable until I took the time to actually try different cables with one of my antennas designed for 800Mhz. I had been trying to monitor a particular local (digital) public safety frequency in the 800Mhz range for years without luck, and I had even gone to the length of getting a 7-element Yagi just for this frequency. When even the high-gain antenna didn't work, I just assumed that I was just in a bad location. Then I got up in my attic with that 800Mhz Yagi and a short length of good cable. Presto! 90% successful packet decoding. The same antenna connected to just 25 feet of what was advertised as "micro loss" RG58 good through 900Mhz... 5% successful packet decoding. Same antenna connected to 50 feet of LMR600 (see Time Microwave, manufacturer of LMR series cable), 90% successful packet decoding!
The moral of the story is: Even the best antenna is no good without the right coax.
See similar comments on the VHF/UHF Military Monitoring page and a page with some good comments on the Strong Signals website
Now, about those scanner antennas. Here are some references:
- Antenex Antennas
- EHam review of V/UHF Omni antennas (includes some HT antennas)
- Grove Scanner Antennas page
- Grove Handheld Scanner Antennas page
- Modifying the RS MagMount antenna
- Northwest Radio's review on mobile antennas
- NilJon Antennas
- Par Electronics MON-3
- Universal Radio Scanner Antennas page
- Waltel online ordering
Strong Signals Pages
- Antennas page
- Coax Cable
- User Antenna Opinions
- NOTE: Mixed Scanner and HF/MW Loop antennas mentioned here
- NilJon Super M Mobile Review
- SkyScan 1300 Desktop Antenna Review