We seek to understand and document all radio transmissions, legal and otherwise, as part of the radio listening hobby. We do not encourage any radio operations contrary to regulations. Always consult with the appropriate authorities if you have questions concerning what is permissible in your locale.

« previous next »
Pages: [1]

Author Topic: Scanner beam  (Read 12545 times)

NJQA

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 348
    • Virginia
Scanner beam
« on: September 26, 2020, 1252 UTC »
These might make good scanner antennas (mount for vertical polarization).  In bulk, they are $12 each and have a Type F connector.

https://www.mtcradio.com/case-of-ten-hdtv-outdoor-antenna-vhf-uhf-16pleg-element-hi-gain-log-periodic-design/

They remind me of the scanner beam that Grove sold many years ago.
Logged

ChrisSmolinski

  • Administrator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 34674
    • Westminster, MD USA
    • Black Cat Systems
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2020, 1336 UTC »
Interesting. Nice potential for a group buy, but not sure how expensive re-shipping each antenna would be.

OTOH I guess you could install a bunch of them aimed in different directions, and select which one to use, as a reviewer did.

Looks like you can get two for $38 shipped https://www.mtcradio.com/buy-one-get-one-free-hdtv-outdoor-antenna-vhf-uhf-16-element-hi-gain-log-periodic-design/
Logged
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! [email protected]
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

NJQA

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 348
    • Virginia
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2020, 1421 UTC »
The mounting hardware it comes with directly supports horizontal or vertical mounting, so nothing needs to be drilled.
Logged

ChrisSmolinski

  • Administrator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 34674
    • Westminster, MD USA
    • Black Cat Systems
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2020, 1448 UTC »
Looks like they're also being sold on eBay for $25 each, shipped https://www.ebay.com/i/233400693902

I found that listing while trying to find some dimensional info on the antenna, which I still have not found.
Logged
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! [email protected]
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

ThaDood

  • DX Legend
  • ******
  • Posts: 1648
    • Likely, not where you are.
    • Extreme, Part #15!
    • Email
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2020, 1900 UTC »
Or, find a trashed TV antenna on a curb-side, junk store, or even a dumpster, and drill-out the holes in the boom to make it VERT, for next to nothing. Yeah... I'm that cheap, but this does work. Even some successful TV antenna MOD's for 6M, 2M, 222MHz, and 432MHz, Amateur Radio RX / TX.
Logged
The best two statements of advice that I've ever gotten are from my brother-in-law in the early 1990's. 1st one, when I bought a used '89 Olds Cutless, my bro-in-law said, "Congratulations!!! You've just bought a deficit!". The other, was on a work environment, " No matter where you go, it's going to be f***'ed -up!". No truer words have been spoken.

NJQA

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 348
    • Virginia
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2020, 1753 UTC »
Quote from: ChrisSmolinski on September 26, 2020, 1448 UTC

I found that listing while trying to find some dimensional info on the antenna, which I still have not found.

The dimensions (within an inch or so):

Boom length = 48 inches

Widest elements = 16 x 2 = 32 inches

Narrowest elements = 2 x 2 = 4 inches
Logged

ChrisSmolinski

  • Administrator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 34674
    • Westminster, MD USA
    • Black Cat Systems
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2020, 1805 UTC »
Thanks for the dimensions!
Logged
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! [email protected]
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

Evil Elvis

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 835
    • Disgraceland
  • On the banks of the mighty Wolf River
    • Disgraceland
    • Email
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2020, 1754 UTC »
Not looked into that antenna at all, but it is advertised as a Log Periodic which would be much different than a normal Yagi.

They are also offering buy one get one free https://www.mtcradio.com/buy-one-get-one-free-hdtv-outdoor-antenna-vhf-uhf-16-element-hi-gain-log-periodic-design/

Ordered a 'buy one get one free' for 25$ shipped via eBay. Have a few old TV rotators to play with.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2020, 0202 UTC by Evil Elvis »
Logged
Evil Elvis - [email protected]
West Tennessee, East of Memphrica, North Dixie on the edge of the Delta and Central fly-over.
Disgraceland Kiwi #1: http://22471.proxy.kiwisdr.com (7.5m Low Noise Vertical)
Disgraceland Kiwi #2: http://23075.proxy.kiwisdr.com (AziLoop K9AY)
Icom City: IC-705, IC-7300, IC-7610, IC-9700
SDR Land: G33DDC, Perseus, Perseus22, NetSDR, SDR-IQ, SDR-14, Kiwi, HF+ Discovery, RSP2Pro, RSPDuo, FDM-S2
Aerials: Aziloop Df-72 K9AY, Wellbrook ALA100LN, ALA1530LNP Imperium, VE3PSZ LNV

Old School: No remote SDRs, my receivers, my tenners.

ChrisSmolinski

  • Administrator
  • Marconi Class DXer
  • *****
  • Posts: 34674
    • Westminster, MD USA
    • Black Cat Systems
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #8 on: September 29, 2020, 1256 UTC »
Quote from: Evil Elvis on September 28, 2020, 1754 UTC
Not looked into that antenna at all, but it is advertised as a Log Periodic which would be much different than a normal Yagi.

They are also offering buy one get one free https://www.mtcradio.com/buy-one-get-one-free-hdtv-outdoor-antenna-vhf-uhf-16-element-hi-gain-log-periodic-design/

Ordered a 'buy one get one free' for 25$ shipped via eBay. Have a few old TV rotators to play with.

What's the URL for the BOGOF for $25 shipped via eBay?  I see BOGOF on their site for $25.99 + $12 shipping, and one on eBay for $25 shipped. 
Logged
Chris Smolinski
Westminster, MD
eQSLs appreciated! [email protected]
netSDR / AFE822x / AirSpy HF+ / KiwiSDR / 900 ft Horz skyloop / 500 ft NE beverage / 250 ft V Beam / 58 ft T2FD / 120 ft T2FD / 400 ft south beverage / 43m, 20m, 10m  dipoles / Crossed Parallel Loop / Discone in a tree

KandiKlover

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 92
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2024, 1130 UTC »
Quote from: ChrisSmolinski on September 26, 2020, 1336 UTC
Interesting. Nice potential for a group buy, but not sure how expensive re-shipping each antenna would be.

OTOH I guess you could install a bunch of them aimed in different directions, and select which one to use, as a reviewer did.

Looks like you can get two for $38 shipped https://www.mtcradio.com/buy-one-get-one-free-hdtv-outdoor-antenna-vhf-uhf-16-element-hi-gain-log-periodic-design/

Or also point them all in the same direction and have one hell of a phased array. Like Japanese EME hams do on 2 meters.
Logged

Robot Matrix

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 338
    • West-central, MO, USA
Re: Scanner beam
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2025, 0659 UTC »
Quote from: ThaDood on September 26, 2020, 1900 UTC
Or, find a trashed TV antenna on a curb-side, junk store, or even a dumpster, and drill-out the holes in the boom to make it VERT, for next to nothing. Yeah... I'm that cheap, but this does work. Even some successful TV antenna MOD's for 6M, 2M, 222MHz, and 432MHz, Amateur Radio RX / TX.

This definitely works! The TV antennas are just log periodic antennas oriented horizontally. Nothing stopping you from making it a vertical.
Logged
eQSL: [email protected] THANKS!
NESDR Smart V5, Ham It Up upconverter v1.3, WEB-888 SDR, (tr)uSDX, Raddy RF760, Inverted L Antenna 20' up and 30' over with adjustable base loading coil, and various other antennas to cover 1kHz-1+GHz. Unless otherwise noted, all signals or broadcasts are received at my QTH with my own gear.
Pages: [1]
« previous next »