antenna for scanning ?

[astro_boy]

I'm currently using a 6dbi CB antenna attached to my scanner.
It works quite well as most of my scanning(99%) is in the 400mhz UHF range(400-480)
Though i'm going to upgrade the coax on this antenna to rg213 and it got me thinking,
Would it be worth spending the cash on a Discone if it would work any better?
Or should I just save it and stick to the uhf antenna, Its mounted about 6m high off the ground.

Suggestions anyone ?

Cheers

[brianWE]

Looking forward to a reply on this.....have, always, wondered about discones. I believe they have no gain. If this is the case, what is the reason for their existence?

Genuine question...I have no idea.

[Farsouthscanner]

Hi Astro_boy
I would keep the UHF antenna and just upgrade the coax. Although if there is something you really want to listen to down in the lower bands then a discone might be a bit better, how much I am not sure of, probably not all that much and probably not worth it.
As BrianWE said, discones don't have any gain so you would lose some signal in the UHF band.
Having said that I have bought an Icom discone to go with a Diamond Pre Amp and some low loss cable. Hopefully this will get installed in Janruary some time so I will be able to tell you all how it performs.
Mark

[astro_boy]

Thanks, I might just stick to it as its the main area I scan.

[astro_boy]

Put in the new coax,
Is about a 9m run but the difference is massive
The rfs channels around the 460mhz really boom in now.
I can also pick up some channels I couldn't get before lower down the 400mhz range.

Well worth the upgrade!

[Farsouthscanner]

Glad you had success with it.
Did you end up going with the RG213. I use that for my main antenna run of about 20m and its really good stuff.
Mark

[brianWE]

Glad you had success with it.
Did you end up going with the RG213. I use that for my main antenna run of about 20m and its really good stuff.
Mark

213 is great....as long as you don't have too many corners to negotiate

[astro_boy]

Yes it was rg213.
Its good stuff.

[Farsouthscanner]

Glad you had success with it.
Did you end up going with the RG213. I use that for my main antenna run of about 20m and its really good stuff.
Mark

213 is great....as long as you don't have too many corners to negotiate

I have bought some LDF4 50A for my main antenna run for my new antenna system. Luckily I won't be the one installing it, the poor antenna installer guy gets that job. At least there will be only a couple of gentle bends.
I might end up wishing I had stuck with the 213.
Mark

[aircadet]

Big difference between the RG-213 and RG-58 over about 12m??? Thinking of a upgrade..

Cheers