Radio Shack discone antenna on clearance
Rick Colombo
>I found a Radio Shack discone antenna the other day on clearance.
Is the Rat Shack discone any good (i.e.; worth buying at any price)?
Rick Col...@fnal.gov
(My anti-spam address didn't help, I still got junk e-mail.)
Patrick A. Thompson
Bob Bermuda Schwartz wrote:
>
> I found a Radio Shack discone antenna the other day on clearance.
> discontinuing it or not, but keep your eyes open. The regular price
> is about $59 US, I believe.
It is discontinued...and the price will be coming down even further if
you wait longer...its one of the best antenna's RS ever sold...don't
miss out on its cheap price...they will go fast...
Dave Rickmers
On Thu, 24 Jul 1997 09:51:04 -0500, Rick Colombo <col...@fnal.gov>
wrote:
>>I found a Radio Shack discone antenna the other day on clearance.
delicate than a Sirio. I put one up a couple months ago; so far it
works like a typical one bay vertical omni. We'll see how it likes
the 100 mph+ winds we get here in the winter. For $39 it is probably
worth buying. (I paid $49 for mine-open package.)
dr
tfh
>I found a Radio Shack discone antenna the other day on clearance.
>It had been marked down to $39 US. I don't know if they're
>discontinuing it or not, but keep your eyes open. The regular price
>is about $59 US, I believe.
Yes, it is discontinued because they came out with a new one that has
a 23-30 or something like that MHZ spike on the top of it like the
Diamond antennas.
This is a good antenna for scanner usage, I have one about 15' over my
house and can pick up anything I need to. It has a good wide freq
coverage and it a good deal for 40 bucks.
- TFH -
___________________________________________________________________
Out the modem, through the firewall, off the router, over the T1...
Nothing but NET.
Spam Stopper --
Remove [] from email address to write me
Bob Bermuda Schwartz
Makinou
>you wait longer...its one of the best antenna's RS ever sold...don't
>miss out on its cheap price...they will go fast...
>
junk. Why anyone would use a discone for scanning is beyond me. One, it
has no gain. Two, your paying for an antenna designed for both receiving
and *transmitting.* Three, you have to modify the RS discone by adding an
element to the top if your want to monitor low power devices, baby
monitors and such. Four, the damn thing was overpriced to begin with.
The Scantenna for $40 is a better buy for scanning. Discjones? I spit on
your discjones! My grandmother uses discjones!
Diane Ryan
Bob Bermuda Schwartz wrote:
>
> I found a Radio Shack discone antenna the other day on clearance.
> It had been marked down to $39 US. I don't know if they're
> discontinuing it or not, but keep your eyes open. The regular price
> is about $59 US, I believe.
Not a bad antenna, but you need to add a CB type verticle to it to
receive low frequencies well. I modified my RS dicone & still wasn't
that happy with it. The main thing is it's not very hardy in high
winds.
I bought a Sireo (sp) that had the verticle already on it. It is much
more strongly built. It seems to do better on low freqs then the
modified RS discone.
I'd recommend that you buy a Sireo or Diamond discone (around $90.00).
Mark Bryant
I found that buying a GM replacement mast for car radio (about 6 bucks) and
tapping to the thread on top of the discone is the easiest way. Takes
about 5 minutes and would only require a tap and drill bit if you don't
already have them.
Good luck
Mark
Christopher Conley <Christoph...@email.sps.mot.com> wrote in article
<Christopher_Conle...@222.153.249.5>...
> In article <33D8A7...@fyiowa.infi.net>, Diane Ryan
> <dir...@fyiowa.infi.net> wrote:
>
> > Bob Bermuda Schwartz wrote:
>
> > Not a bad antenna, but you need to add a CB type verticle to it to
> > receive low frequencies well. I modified my RS dicone & still wasn't
> > that happy with it. The main thing is it's not very hardy in high
> > winds.
>
> Thanks for the info on the RS antenna. I wondered why, when I installed
> mine (on a 20' mast), the reception from low power devices was worse than
> the stock desktop antenna that I had been using. I have a RS pro-2021
and
> I am using rg-58 (?) coax with a distance from discone element to radio
> about 25 ft, including the mast. My question, if you don't mind, is:
> what type of vertical element should I mount on top of the antenna? Do I
> need to drill and tap a hole in the hub and screw some type of different
> antenna in, or what? I have been thinking of doing this for some time
> now, but I don't quite know 1.) what type of antenna (vertical element)
to
> get, and 2.) best way to mount it. Any insight would be helpful...
>
> Thanks-ChristopherC
>
Scott Ryan
Christopher Conley wrote:
>
> In article <33D8A7...@fyiowa.infi.net>, Diane Ryan
> <dir...@fyiowa.infi.net> wrote:
>
> > Bob Bermuda Schwartz wrote:
>
> > Not a bad antenna, but you need to add a CB type verticle to it to
> > receive low frequencies well. I modified my RS dicone & still wasn't
> > that happy with it. The main thing is it's not very hardy in high
> > winds.
>
> Thanks for the info on the RS antenna. I wondered why, when I installed
> mine (on a 20' mast), the reception from low power devices was worse than
> the stock desktop antenna that I had been using. I have a RS pro-2021 and
> I am using rg-58 (?) coax with a distance from discone element to radio
> about 25 ft, including the mast. My question, if you don't mind, is:
> what type of vertical element should I mount on top of the antenna? Do I
> need to drill and tap a hole in the hub and screw some type of different
> antenna in, or what? I have been thinking of doing this for some time
> now, but I don't quite know 1.) what type of antenna (vertical element) to
> get, and 2.) best way to mount it. Any insight would be helpful...
>
> Thanks-ChristopherC
I used a CB radio bottom loaded mast, which I mounted to the center stud
of the RS Discone. I can't remember exactly how I mounted it. Used
some kind of treaded coupler from the hardware store I think.
tyler
In the sale flyer I just got today they have a picture of the discone with a
vertical element on it! I forget wether they have it listed as a new model or
not. I think it goes for $59!
tyler
Christopher Conley
In article <33DA11...@fyiowa.infi.net>, Scott Ryan
<cr...@fyiowa.infi.net> wrote:
Thanks! I will check into a CB antenna, or as previously mentioned, a GM
replacement mast. One other question: What would be the optimum length
for the element to pick up 30-50 MHz? I guess you can tell that i'm not a
whiz on radio, but i just love monitoring and CB as a hobby. Sorry if
these questions are elementary to those of you "in the know". As always,
any help is much appreciated!
Thanks-Christopher
thanks again
James D. Cronin
In article <19970725050...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
Makinou <mak...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>Yeah, it may be one of the best RS has sold, but it's still a piece of
>junk. Why anyone would use a discone for scanning is beyond me. One, it
>has no gain.
I got a used one cheap, and have had it up for a year or so. It's a
perfectly reasonable antenna for general scanning. Lack of "gain" does
not translate to poor performance.
> Two, your paying for an antenna designed for both receiving
>and *transmitting.*
It's not like this makes it cost extra. It's a characteristic of
discones in general.
>Three, you have to modify the RS discone by adding an
>element to the top if your want to monitor low power devices, baby
>monitors and such.
It works OK on low-band VHF as-is. Of course it isn't as good as my 6
meter, 6 element yagi for low-band DXing. But then again it doesn't
take up all that space on the mast.
>Four, the damn thing was overpriced to begin with.
Yes and no. You can build a discone for $10 to $15 in parts. What's
your time worth? I got my R.S. discone used for $20. Well worth it...
73..Jim N2VNO
--
James D. Cronin, Sr. Software Engineer
Directory and Operator Services, Northern Telecom
j...@cci.com
jdcr...@nt.com
Don
only one antenna and you want 25-1300mhz, omni-directional, it can't be
beat. Really don't need gain antennas for scanners. But if you live in
an RF hole or want to recieve something miles & miles away of course you
need a different type of antenna.
I'm suprised we didn't see the arqument over 50 or 75 ohm coax also!!
Good Monitoring;
Don :-)
Steve Kennedy
Don <dtm...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
<snip>
>I'm suprised we didn't see the arqument over 50 or 75 ohm coax also!!
>Good Monitoring;
>Don :-)
I have a Radio Shack Discone up in the attic feeding to radios
downstairs with quad-shielded 75 ohm coax..... so there!
Real men don't need impedance matching for receive antennas (but that
quad shielding sure makes a difference!).
Steve
Clint Bradford
>Yeah, it may be one of the best RS has sold, but it's still
>a piece of junk. Why anyone would use a discone for scanning
>is beyond me. One, it has no gain.
Well, then...I guess the past decade or so of monitoring for me
has been a total waste of time...<g>
I use a discone for scanning...the "no gain" argument doesn't
hinder me in the least - I live in an area that has plenty
of activity - and I do not require "gain" or "amps" on the
input.
The discone also performs admirably on 220mHz, 2-meter, and 440
for me, too.
SO...the discone from Radio Shack has its place for many.
And their NEW discone promises better low-end coverage.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clint Bradford, KE6LCS/KAF3359 909.681.6210 Voice sy...@atdbbs.com
ATTENTION to Details 909.681.6221 BBS f...@atdbbs.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
jon...@usaor.net
Patrick A. Thompson wrote:
>
> Bob Bermuda Schwartz wrote:
> >
> > It had been marked down to $39 US. I don't know if they're
> > discontinuing it or not, but keep your eyes open. The regular price
> > is about $59 US, I believe.
>
> you wait longer...its one of the best antenna's RS ever sold...don't
> miss out on its cheap price...they will go fast...
+++I have this antenna up at 30 feet for the past five years. I have
better reception off of a portable antenna.
D amburg
Rob Kling wrote:
> >>> I found a Radio Shack discone antenna the other day on clearance.
> >>> It had been marked down to $39 US. I don't know if they're
> >>> discontinuing it or not, but keep your eyes open. The regular
> price
> >>> is about $59 US, I believe.
> >>
> >Yeah, it may be one of the best RS has sold, but it's still a piece
> of
> >junk. Why anyone would use a discone for scanning is beyond me. One,
> it
> >has no gain. Two, your paying for an antenna designed for both
> receiving
> >and *transmitting.* Three, you have to modify the RS discone by
> adding an
> >element to the top if your want to monitor low power devices, baby
> >monitors and such. Four, the damn thing was overpriced to begin with.
>
> >
> >The Scantenna for $40 is a better buy for scanning. Discjones? I spit
> on
> >your discjones! My grandmother uses discjones!
> >
>
> Let's talk! If you are going to SCAN the RF spectrum from 25 Mhz to
> 1200 Mhz and only have one antenna jack,
> the discone is by far the best antenna you can get. I do not know of
> any other design that is as broadbanded!
> You are right in that it has no gain, the antennas with gain are
> uasally directional and/or of a size that does not make them
> practical. I think it is by far the best choice for a scanning
> antenna. Transmitting is not an issue unless coil
> diameter and element thickness matter. I mean resonance is resonance
> whether I am sending or receiving.
>
> If I could afford the my ideal station, it would contain the PRO2035
> with an opto board connected to the new RS discone
> and have next to it an ICOM R7000/R7100 with a CI-V interface
> connected to an array of directional antennas
> (rotor driven and computer controlled:Yaesu 5400B). The software would
> be written in such a way that when a faint signal was received by the
> PRO2035 the rotor would rotate, to peak the signal strength on the
> ICOM R7000. Note that the heart of my antenna system is the
> discone antenna. It truly is an overlooked design that is well worth
> the 39$.
>
> Ok don't buy one, I imagine its going to be hard enough for me to find
> another one.
> Now I will get off my soapbox and back to some work
>
> Rob Kling
I have a discone mounted up 40 ft using low loss RG-213, big cable
tough to work with but the price was right, it is the difference between
night and day, to improve lower end reception I adapted a firestick
mobile CB antenna and screwed it on the top. I have heard a tapped out
GM antenna will work also.
I would like to get a directional antenna so I could zoom into certain
signals. I have heard TV antennas mounted vertically do pretty well. Has
anyone tried this and how are you using the 2 antennas, i.e. rf switch
or combiner, also are there ready made baluns from 300 ohms to 50 ohms
impedance.
living off the ether of others, ;)
derick
Rob Kling
Don
Clint Bradford wrote:
>
> >Yeah, it may be one of the best RS has sold, but it's still
> >a piece of junk. Why anyone would use a discone for scanning
> >is beyond me. One, it has no gain.
>
> has been a total waste of time...<g>
>
> I use a discone for scanning...the "no gain" argument doesn't
> hinder me in the least - I live in an area that has plenty
> of activity - and I do not require "gain" or "amps" on the
> input.
>
> The discone also performs admirably on 220mHz, 2-meter, and 440
> for me, too.
>
> SO...the discone from Radio Shack has its place for many.
>
> And their NEW discone promises better low-end coverage.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Clint Bradford, KE6LCS/KAF3359 909.681.6210 Voice sy...@atdbbs.com
> ATTENTION to Details 909.681.6221 BBS f...@atdbbs.com
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
But it won't STAY in its place as it is too flimsy.
Don
Don
D amburg wrote:
>
> Rob Kling wrote:
>
> > >>> I found a Radio Shack discone antenna the other day on clearance.
> > >>> It had been marked down to $39 US. I don't know if they're
> > >>> discontinuing it or not, but keep your eyes open. The regular
> > price
> > >>> is about $59 US, I believe.
> > >>
> > of
> > >junk. Why anyone would use a discone for scanning is beyond me. One,
> > it
> tough to work with but the price was right, it is the difference between
> night and day, to improve lower end reception I adapted a firestick
> mobile CB antenna and screwed it on the top. I have heard a tapped out
> GM antenna will work also.
>
> I would like to get a directional antenna so I could zoom into certain
> signals. I have heard TV antennas mounted vertically do pretty well. Has
> anyone tried this and how are you using the 2 antennas, i.e. rf switch
> or combiner, also are there ready made baluns from 300 ohms to 50 ohms
> impedance.
>
> living off the ether of others, ;)
>
> derick
Yeah you could use a TV ant with a rotator. I use a Grove Scanner beam
for the same effect feeding a Diawa CS-4 coax switch (4 BNC inputs/1 BNC
output) as well as a 8ft vertical for low band stuff, and a Diamond
(brand) discone in parallel with a 2in spike for +1000mhz "stuff".
Good Monitoring,
Don :-)
Don
Don ;-)
Clint Bradford
CB> The discone also performs admirably on 220mHz, 2-meter, and 440
CB> for me, too.
DON>> But it won't STAY in its place as it is too flimsy.
Completely irresponsible of you, Don, to state that. I seriously
doubt you have EVER owned or even had your hands on one of these
antennas --- because mine has survived 60+ MPH winds here in
Southern California with no problems.
rwi...@ix.netcom.com
have had mine mounted on 2 10' poles strapped to my chimney for 10
years thru noreaster's and countless other storms with no
problems,works great with my 2006, and from western suffolk,long
island can receive all 5 boros (approx. 50-60 miles)Worth the 60 bucks
I paid for it.Just my 2 cents.
-bob-
Don
Clint Bradford wrote:
>
> CB> The discone also performs admirably on 220mHz, 2-meter, and 440
> CB> for me, too.
>
> DON>> But it won't STAY in its place as it is too flimsy.
>
> Completely irresponsible of you, Don, to state that. I seriously
> doubt you have EVER owned or even had your hands on one of these
> antennas --- because mine has survived 60+ MPH winds here in
> Southern California with no problems.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Clint Bradford, KE6LCS/KAF3359 909.681.6210 Voice sy...@atdbbs.com
> ATTENTION to Details 909.681.6221 BBS f...@atdbbs.com
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saw one in a RS store + reports from others. I wouldn't buy one. I
bought a bunch of Diamond discones when they were cheap(er). 60mph?
That's a pretty stiff wind for here in SoCal.
Good Monitoring,
Don :-)
tyler
Two, your paying for an antenna designed for both receiving
>>and *transmitting.*
Clueless wonder. All antennas are reciprocal. (sp) They transmit as well as
they receive. An antenna designed to transmit will also receive on those same
frequencies equally well.
tyler
MN Maniac
Haven't been following this thread.
How much is RS clearing out the discone for?
-Drew in Sunny Central Florida-
KF4DDM since 9/95 on 2m & 10m
KADF-6895 since 9/76 on 11m
Active scanner and Internet freak as well
(no license required)
JTWard01
I went into my local RS store the other day to buy one of the discone
antennas at the "clearance" price and was told by the store manager that
they were not on clearance, and that the price was the normal $59.95. I
could see his computer screen over his shoulder, and he was telling the
truth, as least so far as the information he had was concerned. There was
nothing to indicate that the antenna should be marked down.
John
Steve Kennedy
jtwa...@aol.com (JTWard01) wrote:
>John
The OLD discone without the top whip is indeed being sold out on
clearance pricing. The NEW replacement discone WITH the top whip is
$59.95.
Steve
Bud Jamison
-> How much is RS clearing out the discone for?
$20 off normal, or $39.95.
dr7...@rand.nidlink.com
After seeing the postings, I went to the Radio Shack up north (north Idaho).
The discone was marked $44.95 -- rang up at $39.95. Great deal.
David
Jason
reception?
Thnx Jason
MN Maniac
>Same here, I went down to my local radio shack store today, and was
>told by the manager that the disconne was 59.95. He double checked it
>on his computer
Sammy Salesdroid probably does not know or understand the difference
between the OLD discone (without vertical element) and the NEW discone
(with vertical element)