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Other Stuff That Has Little To Do With PLA => Techinical Shit => Phreaking, Hacking, Social Engineering, Lock Picking => Topic started by: zewb on August 16, 2007, 08:30:09 AM

Title: Uses For This Antenna?
Post by: zewb on August 16, 2007, 08:30:09 AM
A long time ago my Dad decided to put this big ugly antenna behind the house so he could get better reception on an old police scanner he had. He gave the scanner away since then, but that big metal thing is still there.

(http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5057/antennart9.jpg)

Anyone know any uses for something like this? I don't know much about this sort of thing, but could I use it for transmission? If so, how far could it reach?

And please, no dumb, pointless replies.
Title: Re: Uses For This Antenna?
Post by: gangals on August 16, 2007, 09:30:18 AM
Antennas are only good for a the specific frequency range they were designed for.

I would be asking your dad for the information or find the model of the antenna.
Title: Re: Uses For This Antenna?
Post by: legend813 on August 16, 2007, 03:22:58 PM
Use it as a scanner antenna! Buy a scanner and hook it up to it. It looks like it is tuned for VHF-Hi and above.

I would not attempt to transmit though it through, because a CB base station antenna it is not and you would end up damaging your set.
Title: Re: Uses For This Antenna?
Post by: hamnewb on December 29, 2007, 09:20:29 PM
is that hemp in your back yard?
Title: Re: Uses For This Antenna?
Post by: immabadspellor_ on December 29, 2007, 09:47:03 PM
Some scanner antennas, i.e. the one at radio shack that looks similar to this in shape but has more elements, are okay to transmit into at VHF or UHF frequencies but I wouldn't try it unless I knew for sure.  You could check it with a VHF/UHF SWR analyzer.  These are way too expensive to buy just for the sole purpose of checking this one antenna ... so buy it and return it!  Generally there's a ham operator in the area who'll let you borrow his if you give him a beer.  If you're not licenced for ham and not interested in being so then it's only usefulness would be as a scanner antenna.