Running same antenna for Scanner and CB

[Akosikojak]

I run my mobile scanner and CB thru the same antenna for now and both work great, I do make sure not to xmit on the CB when the scanner is on though. I was curious if this hurts performance on either the scanner or the CB in either the xmit or recieve modes?

[Stealth Stalker]

You first have to tell us if it's a CB antenna or a scanner antenna. Whichever it is not, it is killing performance of that device.

[AirMoore]

Exactly. Better off running one for each.

[Akosikojak]

You first have to tell us if it's a CB antenna or a scanner antenna. Whichever it is not, it is killing performance of that device.

Damn, I feel

I run a wilson 5000 trucker, it works great picking up the 42 MHz band which I could not pick up with a shorter CB antenna I had mounted on.


I do plan to run a scanner antenna later, you got any suggestions for a good scanner antenna. I don't want to use the ones that press onto the window/windshield but would rather have something I could hard mount like the antenna I have up now.

[Stealth Stalker]

What frequencies do you scan? If 42 mhz is your primary interest, then you're fine with what you have. If you need anything higher, you're way behind the 8-Ball. The best plan is to get an antenna specific for the band you are monitoring. But if you're monitoring everything from 33 to 900 mhz, then you'll have to compromise with a wideband antenna. The best wideband out there are these:

Austin Spectra Mobile Antenna

Comtelco All-Band Low-Profile Scanner Antenna

The Austin Spectra is pretty big and ugly. It's the best, but it's not worth it unless you have a serious need for outstanding low band performance. The Comtelco is much smaller, better looking, easier to mount, cheaper, and performs nearly as well except for low band.

[Akosikojak]

What frequencies do you scan? If 42 mhz is your primary interest, then you're fine with what you have. If you need anything higher, you're way behind the 8-Ball. The best plan is to get an antenna specific for the band you are monitoring. But if you're monitoring everything from 33 to 900 mhz, then you'll have to compromise with a wideband antenna. The best wideband out there are these:

Austin Spectra Mobile Antenna

Comtelco All-Band Low-Profile Scanner Antenna

The Austin Spectra is pretty big and ugly. It's the best, but it's not worth it unless you have a serious need for outstanding low band performance. The Comtelco is much smaller, better looking, easier to mount, cheaper, and performs nearly as well except for low band.

I listen predominately low band 39-42 MHz due to the HP. I do listen to the VHF for the lcl PD but not nearly as much.

Thanks for the info, l think I will try out the Spectra, I kinda like big and ugly on my truck.

[Stealth Stalker]

Ah, then you'll be very pleased with the Spectra. It cannot be beat on low band, as far as wideband antennae go. Just fair warning: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ASSEMBLE THE ANTENNA UNTIL YOU HAVE VERY CAREFULLY READ EVERYTHING IN THE BOX, OR YOU WILL RUIN IT. Probably at least half the people who buy that thing screw it up before they ever get to use it. Read the fine print!

[Akosikojak]

Got it Stealth, thanks for the info.