Scanner Antenna

General scanning discussion forum. Talk about anything to do with scanners, equipment, VHF/UHF reception and the art of catching those illusive signals!
Post Reply
rink123
Regular
Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: 24 Jun 2021, 11:53

Scanner Antenna

Post by rink123 »

Hi all, I hope someone can help me out please
I have just received a Alinco DJ-11 scanner and i am looking for a in door Antenna for
it and was wondering if someone can help me out please :thumbup:
User avatar
ch25
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1673
Joined: 03 Dec 2016, 11:07
Call Sign: Lemmy
Location: Poland

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by ch25 »

For 2/70 and suroundings https://www.qsl.net/dk7zb/Duoband/dipolduoband.htm
For Hf Wellbrook loop.

Dumb idea place it indoors :)
WE ARE MOTÖRHEAD, AND WE PLAY ROCK N' ROLL
You can't have too many antennas...
rink123
Regular
Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: 24 Jun 2021, 11:53

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by rink123 »

Thanks ch25, why is it a dumb idea to put it up in the loft ?
paulears
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1089
Joined: 10 Jun 2007, 22:41
Call Sign: G4RMT
Location: North East Suffolk
Contact:

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by paulears »

A quarter wave for say 2m on your window sill makes a good comparison. If you replace it with say a discone in the room, the improvement is not spectacular. Try the 1/4w on the next floor window sill and it’s better, so is the discone. Pho up in the loft and it might get better, depending on your roof. I’ve got a concrete tile roof, and it has lots of moss. It’s got water content in the concrete, so the bedroom placed antenna is actually better. When it rains, loft space antenna for me just stop working. I have a tv antenna up there for one tv in a bedroom. It does when it rains and the moss acts as an Rf blanket. The discone on a pole on the chimney is substantially better than downstairs. Height and no obstructions makes a massive distance. Also remember that my windowsill downstairs faces the sea, I can hear the coastal marine traffic solid. The Norfolk broads are to the rear, through three rooms with brick and plaster. The harbourmaster is one mile away. I cannot hear him. This is pretty much how it works, only you can look at your home and figure out what you’ll hear. Very few wide band antennas have gain, and those that do at one frequency might be dreadful at others. For scanning, the best is a wide band antenna with few nulls where they are useless, as high and exposed as you can get. Walls, roof material and worst of all, foiled backed plasterboard walls make all antennas struggle.
rink123
Regular
Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: 24 Jun 2021, 11:53

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by rink123 »

Thanks very much Paul for all your help, I have a tile roof to with a bit of moss on it so I think I will need a
outside antenna then. Thanks again
User avatar
ch25
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1673
Joined: 03 Dec 2016, 11:07
Call Sign: Lemmy
Location: Poland

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by ch25 »

rink123 wrote: 24 Jun 2021, 14:08 Thanks ch25, why is it a dumb idea to put it up in the loft ?
Because most of signals you pick will be noise from electronic devices around.
WE ARE MOTÖRHEAD, AND WE PLAY ROCK N' ROLL
You can't have too many antennas...
rink123
Regular
Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: 24 Jun 2021, 11:53

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by rink123 »

Thanks now I understand, What do you think would be a good outside Antenna for the DJ-11 Please
User avatar
ch25
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1673
Joined: 03 Dec 2016, 11:07
Call Sign: Lemmy
Location: Poland

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by ch25 »

Antenna from post #2 if you diy.
If not buy https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221126816733
WE ARE MOTÖRHEAD, AND WE PLAY ROCK N' ROLL
You can't have too many antennas...
rink123
Regular
Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: 24 Jun 2021, 11:53

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by rink123 »

Thanks Ch25 :}
User avatar
stanogs68
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 2569
Joined: 05 Mar 2013, 19:38
Location: warrington,north west

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by stanogs68 »

ch25 wrote: 26 Jun 2021, 15:00 Antenna from post #2 if you diy.
If not buy https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221126816733
What would the best signals that would pick up ,I was going to get a euro stick but I want to milk some information off you if that’s ok
love your familly
rink123
Regular
Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: 24 Jun 2021, 11:53

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by rink123 »

ch25 wrote: 26 Jun 2021, 15:00 Antenna from post #2 if you diy.
If not buy https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221126816733
Hi ch25 I have just bought that Antenna you said was good for my DJ-X11 tHX :thumbup: can you please tell me what coax cable do I need to get that will fit on my scanner please sry for being a noob {bnghd}
User avatar
ch25
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1673
Joined: 03 Dec 2016, 11:07
Call Sign: Lemmy
Location: Poland

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by ch25 »

How long that coax would be?
For RX purposes, long runs you can use sat tv 75 Ohm coax. Low loss, good quality and cheap.
It's stiff, so 1-2m pigtail from RG-178 on radio end will do the trick.
WE ARE MOTÖRHEAD, AND WE PLAY ROCK N' ROLL
You can't have too many antennas...
rink123
Regular
Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: 24 Jun 2021, 11:53

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by rink123 »

Thanks ch25 m8, I think I need it to be very long if I put it on my house 🏡 roof cos I live on a housing estate
User avatar
ch25
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 1673
Joined: 03 Dec 2016, 11:07
Call Sign: Lemmy
Location: Poland

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by ch25 »

So buy satellite coax. i use long runs of that cable for my RX antennas.
WE ARE MOTÖRHEAD, AND WE PLAY ROCK N' ROLL
You can't have too many antennas...
rink123
Regular
Regular
Posts: 15
Joined: 24 Jun 2021, 11:53

Re: Scanner Antenna

Post by rink123 »

Thanks for the help ch25
Post Reply