Railroad Scanners

Anything pertaining to railfanning in Michigan.
User avatar
cbehr91
Chairman of the Bored
Posts: 1169
Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 9:29 pm
Location: Stella Ct
Contact:

Re: Railroad Scanners

Unread post by cbehr91 »

I haven't yet trimmed it; unfamiliar with the process. I'm sure there's documentation somewhere I can get started with.[/quote]

The antenna should have come with a cutting chart. Otherwise you can find one online specific to your antenna (that last part is important). Remove the whip from the coil using an allen wrench (should have come with the antenna), measure, measure again, and trim with bolt cutters.

hoborich
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 2992
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:05 am
Location: Northern Michigan

Re: Railroad Scanners

Unread post by hoborich »

In a vehicle, you are most likely to be using a 1/4 wave antenna. 18 inches is pretty close. The roof or trunk of your vehicle is the antenna ground plane, and is actually the other half of the antenna. Another thing about scanners is that there is nothing wrong with old scanners. They either work or they don't. They don't wear out like other stuff. Most electronic stuff either works or it doesn't. There is no in between.

VHF / UHF 1/4 Wave Rough Cutting Chart

Frequency MHz
Whip Length Inches

136-144 20 1/2
144-150 19 3/16
150-160 18
160-170 16 15/16
400 6 5/8
410 6 1/2
420 6 3/8
430 6 5/16
440 6
450 5 13/16
460 5 11/16
470 5 9/16
480 5 7/16
490 5 5/16
500 5 1/8
510 5 1/16
800-900 2 3/4
870-940 2 7/16
"Ask your doctor if medical advice from a TV commercial is right for you".

User avatar
Doktor No
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1076
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2015 4:49 pm
Location: Rockford, Michigan

Re: Railroad Scanners

Unread post by Doktor No »

My Cobra SR15 from 1989 works GREAT. I have a Bearcat that is a major PIA. Touch this, hold this and program this then count to 10 and press the red button. I have it in the truck and the Cobra in the house. I pick up Wyoming Cops, Wyoming Tower and everything in between with a lousy rubber ducky antenna sitting on the basement bar with the Cobra. Simple to program...even for a simpleton like me. Amazing what I get up here northeast of Rockford with both scanners though....Tammy from CSX comes in decent as does everything else.
Curb Your Enthusiasm.

User avatar
cbehr91
Chairman of the Bored
Posts: 1169
Joined: Wed May 26, 2010 9:29 pm
Location: Stella Ct
Contact:

Re: Railroad Scanners

Unread post by cbehr91 »

I really have yet to find something more sensitive than the Regency HX1000/1200/1500 scanners from the mid 1980s. The trouble is finding one today that still works.

About antenna mounts: I have found that sometimes a magnet mount doesn't provide a decent enough connection for the antenna to pick up as well as it should. A ground independent halfwave may work better. YMMV.

Post Reply