Uses For This Antenna?

[zewb]

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.



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.

[gangals]

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.

[legend813]

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.

[hamnewb]

is that hemp in your back yard?

[immabadspellor_]

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.