Recommend A Scanner Antenna

[Onoff]

Thinking to buy one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Walfront-Receiver-Scanner-Antenna-Charging/dp/B09Y9C8P3H/ref=mp_s_a_1_3

Can anyone recommend a robust, wideband antenna to compliment it?

Cheers

 

[Robotstar5]

Discone antennas are usually favourite for scanners.

 

[voipio]

Bear in mind that the frequency range for this radio seems primarily to cover the shortwave bands plus the broadcast FM band, so a "scanner" type antenna might not be much use, except for VHF broadcast listening, for which the supplied telescopic antenna should be ample in most cases. For shortwave listening, a long wire antenna will probably be sufficient.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Bear in mind that the frequency range for this radio seems primarily to cover the shortwave bands plus the broadcast FM band, so a "scanner" type antenna might not be much use, except for VHF broadcast listening, for which the supplied telescopic antenna should be ample in most cases. For shortwave listening, a long wire antenna will probably be sufficient.

Quite. First question to our esteemed friend @Onoff is "Which bands or types of transmissions interest you most?". Discones have their uses for certain, but for HF, even a long wire will outperform it. Then you have to consider the dynamic range of a £35 communications receiver. It is quite likely to overload when fed with decent signal levels, but it will be a good starter for experimentation and a simple ATU would be worth knocking up at some point to help with that. If you want to dip your toes into the water, I have here a Sangean PL-660 which you are welcome to borrow to play with. It will definitely outperform the Chinese box and is recognised as one of the best of its type.

A second hand "proper" communications receiver would undoubtedly be a better buy.

 

[Kayos]

As has been said, what are you listening to?

I have zero interest in HF so all my gear is low VHF upwards

I have a Uniden 125 I take to airports/air bases and at home I use various SDRs that have appropriate antenna for what they are good at

I have tried a wideband scanner antenna with mixed results

 

[roofman]

As has been said, what are you listening to?

I have zero interest in HF so all my gear is low VHF upwards

I have a Uniden 125 I take to airports/air bases and at home I use various SDRs that have appropriate antenna for what they are good at

I have tried a wideband scanner antenna with mixed results

I have the same scanner the 125xlt, i have tried the magnetic whip Ariel for my car at airbases and to be honest the little stubby that came with it out performs the whip. Some young kid at the scanner store with to many brains and sticky out ears recommended the whip too

 

[Kayos]

I have the same scanner the 125xlt, i have tried the magnetic whip Ariel for my car at airbases and to be honest the little stubby that came with it out performs the whip. Some young kid at the scanner store with to many brains and sticky out ears recommended the whip too

I use the std antenna for mobile use, despite everyone on FB saying it doesn't work

I have a specific marine antenna but I'm further from the coast these days so that doesn't get much use

I'm at Manchester tomorrow, just updated the frequencies, will be the std antenna