REQ: Advice on antenna

[Trabanti]

Hi all, recently bought a UBC125XLT and am considering an extra (better) antenna. Since I have zero experience on those and struggle to find a forum or review specifically aimed at military radio traffic, I would like to know your thoughts.

Requirements are:
- for use in car (when static) and on location (e.g. hotelroom near airbase)
- to be either mounted directly on scanner or with a (magnetic) foot/base and connected by wire
- budget ~50 euro

Some candidates I came across:
Magnum Scanstick 2000
Diamond HC-200
Moonraker G-scan II
Moonraker Skyscan mobiel

Alvast bedankt!

Cheers, bart

[catbird]

Diamond RH771 is also good one 144/430 Mhz covert VHF and UHF

[Flyboy]

I recently purchaced the BNC-W100RX and this proofed to be a huge improvement. At the maximum lengte a bit tight in the car.

[Thijs]

See also https://www.scannerforum.nl/index.php?topic=33818.0

And some other topics at the same forum. Search function works very well

[Trabanti]

Bedankt voor de tips guys!

[avanbergen]

used this one for 2 weeks https://www.jbe.nl/nl/communicatie/luch ... nd-antenne.

A fine antenna.

[Trabanti]

Thanks for the tip, I had already ordered a Midland RH771 this morning!

[Flobold]

Do you mind sharing your experience with this antenna?

I too have the ubc125xlt and am looking for an upgrade.

[Trabanti]

Yep, I can. Though I haven't used it much yet (only at SP & RS once), the reception is much better than the original. I can listen to ATC further from the base and the signal is just stronger overall. Should have taken it to the USA in September. I thought it was illegal but it isn't apparently..

[Flobold]

I thought it was illegal

But you take it to SP and RS?

But yeah I will also mainly visit SP as I live nearby.
If you can tell, how far from the base can you listen to ATC?

Thanks for the response!

[grunt087]

When I went to Nellis AFB USA I had a BC-125 with the stock rubber duck antenna. Most of the spotters there had the longer flexible Diamond Antenna and were picking up more planes at greater range. Also Scanners are legal in the USA. Police radio's are mostly digital and if they don't want you to hear them they can encrypt the transmissions and no one has reported they have been able to unscramble them yet. If you do go to the states there is a website called Radio Reference that lists almost all Radio Frequencies even Air Bases and Air to Air Tanker frequencies for the USA. It also has a good forum with good info and advice about scanners.

[TopGunPhotography]

I have the Bearcat125 AT with the Diamond 177CA and it's awesome. I'm usually at KPSM (Portsmouth NH) often and I can hear the tankers and fighters refueling over 631 up in the middle of the state or hear fighters diving into the Yankee MOA. I also brought it with me to Star Wars Canyon and could hear the planes clearing themselves in so you had a heads up and got ready.

[Trabanti]

Nice to see the topic is active and experiences are being shared. To reply to an earlier question: With my Bearcat UBC125XLT and Midland RH771 antenna I could listen to Hohn twr from Jagel and vv. Tower a bit faint, but planes on approach and in the pattern clearly. No wonder, as you can also see them in the distance, but wouldn't expect this with the original rubber ducky.

Now knowing it is is legal in the USA, I regret not taking it to Andrews for the airshow arrivals, as that would have made life easier with the parallel runways...

[Henk Voortwijs]

I am using a WATSON W-901 on my UBC3500XLT, works very well.