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AR15.COM
7/30/2012 11:23:41 AM EDT
So is there an good all around mobile antenna for a scanner?  I just purchased a Uniden Home Patrol & GPS kit for it.  In my local area we are 800mhz Trunked EDACS system but I also have two counties on either side of me that are a Digital APCO 25 system one of which is VHF P25 and the other is a Harris Open sky system.  Looking for a decent NMO antenna that when I have scanner in car will be on a mag mount NMO mount.  I drive an 09 Ford Focus and my Ham antenna is on driver's side trunk of the car lip mount.

One antenna I was looking at is:

Laird Tech ABSCANC

A friend of mine runs something like this and states it works really well but I can not locate the model number he has as he does not have any info on it any more only number I found on bottom of his is TRA B8212:

Laird Low Pro

So if any of you have the Home Patrol and use it mobile or have any thoughts let me know.

Thanks in advance.
7/30/2012 12:34:19 PM EDT
[#1]
First suggestion would just be to use a typical colinear design (1/2 over 1/4, or 5/8 over 1/4) 800MHz antenna.  These will typically also resonate at about 170MHz and should do fine for scanner reception in the 150-174 range.

Something like this if you were buying new:
http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191_192_198_223&products_id=891

I got three of those on ebay a while back for under $10 shipped, you could also use any similar design cell phone antenna or the like.  Find an old magnet mount cell antenna at a flea market, yard sale or something and you'd be in business for VHF and 800.  I use an old cell antenna for weather radio reception when storm spotting.
7/30/2012 1:38:11 PM EDT
[#2]
Sounds good, if I catch the radio tech here at work see if he has any old antennas laying around he is just going to toss out since we are in the process of switching to some new digital radios at work as well.