E. D. Eliot
Well Known Member
My old Sportys AM/FM/Air frequencies base radio has seen better days and I want to replace it. Looking for the best reception (range) that I can buy. Any suggestions? Thanks, Ed
For this application "cheap" RG58, or even RG59 cable will do just fine. If you want to be "fancy" buy a professionally made RG400 cable but IMHO it isn't worth the extra $$$. Also, for "best" reception use at least 3 horizontal elements with 4 being the most common used.Thank you for the diagram and most importantly, the picture! I will build your antennae. Since I can build the antenna but know nothing about antennas, etc., please advise as to what the cable to the radio is. My lead from the antenna to the garage will be about 40 '. Shielded like the TV antenna - think they call it T-6???? Thanks again, Ed
Each additional horizontal element makes slightly less of an impact than the previous one, so not really. Just make sure the horizontal elements are spaced about equal distance from each other and you will be fine.I can do eight or twelve if the reception will be worth the effort - please advise - thanks, Ed
I assume even something cheap like this should work, assuming you hook it to the same remote antenna.
https://smile.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-Dual-Radio-Black/dp/B007H4VT7A/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=vhf+scanner&qid=1579527555&sr=8-6
However, that particular radio is VHF-FM and will not work on the aviation frequencies which are VHF-AM.
Oops, nice catch.
Or build one out of a 3"x3" piece of aluminum, some 12ga solid copper wire (Home Depot) a Female BNC connector or an SO-239 connector. If you use an SO-239 connector you won't need the piece of aluminum but your coax cable will require a PL-259 connector on one end instead of a BNC connector.
Cut the wires to the appropriate length (use whatever local frequency you want to monitor or 127.5Mhz) then solder/hook them up. The vertical radial (A) will be about 22.00" long while the horizontal elements (B) will be about 24.64" long and bent down about 45degrees.
Put the antenna on the outside of your hangar/home and the increase in reception distance will be amazing.
Is there any reason I couldn't put one of these in the attic of a 2-3 story home and use the extra piece of RG6 that is wired to all my rooms in the structured cabling? That would keep everything inside and use my existing wiring.
I assume even something cheap like this should work, assuming you hook it to the same remote antenna.
https://smile.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-Dual-Radio-Black/dp/B007H4VT7A/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=vhf+scanner&qid=1579527555&sr=8-6
IMHO $392.00 is a lot to spend if you are only going to monitor a few aviation frequencies.YAESU FT2DR is one such radio. They just came out with a replacement that has a better display. It may or may not receive AM airband. I know my FT2DR does receive only on airband and have used it as such at least once.