Antenna Question - AR15.COM

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Posted: 6/14/2009 7:38:47 PM EDT

I just got an ICOM IC-A24 aviation transceiver and want to improve the range on it so I can use it as a scanner at home. I have a 6 foot tall pole antenna that I used on a CB and was wondering if I get the adapter for it if it would work with my ICOM. Anyone know or tried this? I dont know if the antenna is UHF or VHF or if it matters. Any advice would be appreciated. The transceiver is VHF.

Posted: 6/14/2009 7:44:00 PM EDT

[#1]

Here is a link to the specs including the frequencies: ICOM Info

Posted: 6/14/2009 7:46:12 PM EDT

[#2]

No.

A CB antenna is tuned for the 26-27mhz range, your aviation radio is 108-140mhz.

You need an antenna designed for that specific freq range to get decent results. Tell me a bit more about what you want to do and I can suggest one you can buy or build.

Are you looking to get good reception from all directions, or interested primarily in one direction from your home (say toward an airport)?

Will the antenna be indoors or out?

If outside, how high up?

What kind of terrain near you?

Posted: 6/14/2009 7:49:05 PM EDT

[#3]

An 11 meter vertical wont be resonant on the freqs you want to listen to.

If your handy, you can build a copper jpole on the cheap.

Posted: 6/14/2009 7:50:32 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
No.

A CB antenna is tuned for the 26-27mhz range, your aviation radio is 108-140mhz.

You need an antenna designed for that specific freq range to get decent results. Tell me a bit more about what you want to do and I can suggest one you can buy or build.

Are you looking to get good reception from all directions, or interested primarily in one direction from your home (say toward an airport)?

Will the antenna be indoors or out?

If outside, how high up?

What kind of terrain near you?

Thanks for the quick response. I would prefer to pick up from all directions. I am close to Hartsfield-Jackson and pick up planes and ATC fairly well. Antenna would be outdoors, I would like a pole antenna that would mount on my truck toolbox like a CB antenna. Terrain is flat. No mountains between me and the airports.

Posted: 6/14/2009 7:53:22 PM EDT

[#5]

Get a simple quarter wave 2 meter antenna, it will pick up the 118-136 band just fine.

Posted: 6/14/2009 7:56:36 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Get a simple quarter wave 2 meter antenna, it will pick up the 118-136 band just fine.

Do you have links to them? Do they come with BNC connectors installed or do I have to install them?

Posted: 6/14/2009 7:59:48 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:

Quoted:
No.

A CB antenna is tuned for the 26-27mhz range, your aviation radio is 108-140mhz.

You need an antenna designed for that specific freq range to get decent results. Tell me a bit more about what you want to do and I can suggest one you can buy or build.

Are you looking to get good reception from all directions, or interested primarily in one direction from your home (say toward an airport)?

Will the antenna be indoors or out?

If outside, how high up?

What kind of terrain near you?

Thanks for the quick response. I would prefer to pick up from all directions. I am close to Hartsfield-Jackson and pick up planes and ATC fairly well. Antenna would be outdoors, I would like a pole antenna that would mount on my truck toolbox like a CB antenna. Terrain is flat. No mountains between me and the airports.

Too easy.

Since you want mobile, and want to RX from a vehicle, I will suggest a 1/4 wave mobile. Some may suggest a 5/8 wave, but the 1/4 wave will give you better performance with higher aircraft, as a 5/8 wave antenna does better toward the horizon and will have nulls toward the sky in some places.

Get this, but call the company and tell them you would like a whip centered at 125mhz (will be about 3 inches longer for that).

Posted: 6/14/2009 8:02:41 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Get a simple quarter wave 2 meter antenna, it will pick up the 118-136 band just fine.

Do you have links to them? Do they come with BNC connectors installed or do I have to install them?

Search for part # bnc44 here

Youll need this adapter to make it work.

Posted: 6/14/2009 9:31:04 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
I just got an ICOM IC-A24 aviation transceiver and want to improve the range on it so I can use it as a scanner at home. I have a 6 foot tall pole antenna that I used on a CB and was wondering if I get the adapter for it if it would work with my ICOM. Anyone know or tried this? I dont know if the antenna is UHF or VHF or if it matters. Any advice would be appreciated. The transceiver is VHF.

Jeff,

Are you ever going to come back to your "Hostile Encounter" thread where you lied about banging your co-worker? I'd love to see some follow up there...

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=886337

Posted: 6/14/2009 9:49:25 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Get a simple quarter wave 2 meter antenna, it will pick up the 118-136 band just fine.

Do you have links to them? Do they come with BNC connectors installed or do I have to install them?

I use an NMO mount, but, dpending on how you mount it, it's a little more permanent.

I picked it up locally. Hamradio.com or gigaparts.com will have stuff like that. NMO mount is around 20 bucks, with cable, and the antenna was around the same.

Posted: 6/14/2009 10:05:23 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Get a simple quarter wave 2 meter antenna, it will pick up the 118-136 band just fine.

ya, what he said,,

Posted: 6/15/2009 3:17:41 AM EDT

[#12]

I almost forgot, in Atlanta you can also just run over to Ham Radio Outlet in Doraville and snag one....

Posted: 6/15/2009 5:21:30 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

Jeff,

Are you ever going to come back to your "Hostile Encounter" thread where you lied about banging your co-worker? I'd love to see some follow up there...

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=886337

+1

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