Two Scanners - One Antenna
Charles J. Coumbe
Hash: SHA1
I have a Radio Shack dipole antenna I have been using on my BC855XLT
for the past few years with no problems (except for the fact that
there's really not much to listen to up here in Fairbanks, Alaska!).
I am in the process of acquiring a new BC245XLT next week and am
wondering if I can connect both scanners to the same antenna. One of
the reasons I'm getting a new scanner is related to the fact that I'm
getting ready to move to Omaha, Nebraska next month and will
most-likely have a lot more to listen to once all my stuff arrives
and I get everything setup again.
Anyway, if connecting both scanners to the same antenna is not a
problem, what kind of splitter should I use? I suppose it would be
quite similar to connecting two TVs to the same antenna except for
the fact that the cables are quite different.
I've got a Radio Shack up here where I can purchase the required
parts, but the folks who work there aren't very technically
proficient. :-(
Thanks!!!!
Charles
Fairbanks, Alaska
p.s.--If anyone wants the Eielson AFB military freqs, email me.
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JohnL
> Anyway, if connecting both scanners to the same antenna is not a
> problem, what kind of splitter should I use? I suppose it would be
> quite similar to connecting two TVs to the same antenna except for
> the fact that the cables are quite different.
Take a look at www.stridesberg.com/prod01.htm. Unfortunately you won't
find these at Radio Shack, however these are the splitters you are looking
for. They protect each rig from the other(s) and come in passive and
amplified models covering HF, VHF, UHF, and 800 MHz in different models.
--
John L
Note the email address used for posting is not valid.
Sent with PAN 0.11.93 running on Mandrake Linux 8.2
GeorgeF
I wrote an article about connecting 2 ants to one scanner. You can read
this artical at http://www.milaircomms.com/review_stridsberg_mca204.html
Thanks,
George
http://www.MilAirComms.com <- HF, VHF, UHF Military Freqs and MORE!
Charles J. Coumbe wrote:
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Charles J. Coumbe
Thanks for the info, guys!!!
Charles
<M2...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:12128-3CF...@storefull-2336.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> x-no-archive: yes
>
> A multicoupler will do the job.
>
> http://www.grove-ent.com/page36.html
>
.
listening station.
Hank
Charles J. Coumbe wrote in message ...
GeorgeF
Charles J. Coumbe wrote:
> I didn't think I could just use a standard BNC "T".
>
> Thanks for the info, guys!!!
>
> Charles
Actually you can however there are costs to doing so. Just check out
my artical on this subject at
http://www.milaircomms.com/review_stridsberg_mca204.html as I mention
in the artical when you can and can't use a BNC T connector.
Thanks,
George
http://www.MilAirComms.com <- HF, VHF, UHF MilAir Freqs and MORE!
Max Imo
splitter?
"Charles J. Coumbe" <dunes...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:uf23can...@corp.supernews.com...
Jake Brodsky
>What would be wrong with using a VHF/UHF amplifier and an inexpensive
>splitter?
In a word: "isolation"
Your scanners will leak a certain amount of it's local oscillator.
For the purposes of most immediate listeners, it's only a milliwatt or
two. However, when you apply that kind of signal on the same coaxial
cable as another scanner, you'll start hearing all sorts of
interference products from each of the two scanners.
These interference products will result in phantom signals with dead
air or possibly IMD products with other existing signals.
My suggestion is that since these scanners are different brands, with
different IF and LO systems: try it. If it doesn't work, get a real
multicoupler with an appropriate high isolation splitter. And by the
way, beware of those inexpensive amplifiers. They often increase IMD
problems. As amplifiers go, you don't need much gain. If your
multicoupler has only four ports, you should have no more than seven
dB of gain from the amplifier (a signal split four ways would see six
decibels of attenuation plus an additional one decibel for connector
and other miscellaneous losses).
Jake Brodsky, AB3A mailto:fru...@erols.com
"Beware of the massive impossible!"
Hank
provide total isolation, and be much cheaper than an amplifier and splitter.
Hank
Jake Brodsky wrote in message ...
GeorgeF
Hank wrote:
> Not that I'm an expert, but as I had posted, a cable A/B switch would
> provide total isolation, and be much cheaper than an amplifier and splitter.
>
> Hank
But with an A/B switch you couldn't use both scanners at the same
time.... Want cheap, just unscrew the connector from one scanner and
screw it to the other.... can't get much cheaper....
George
http://www.MilAirComms.com <- HF VHF UHF Military Freqs and more.
Hank
GeorgeF wrote in message <3CF3CBB1...@licensed4fun.com>...
I don't believe he wants to listen to 2 at a time. BTW, isn't unscrewing
from one and connecting to another, one at a time?
Me again
>
>
Charles J. Coumbe
question. :-)
I think I have learned quite a bit just by reading everyone's various
responses.
Once I get moved to Nebraska next month, I'll have to get one of the
couplers so I can use both scanners simultaneously. Until then, I'll use
the "cheap" method - disconnect the antenna from one scanner and connect it
to the other.
Thanks for everything, guys!!!
Charles
Fairbanks, Alaska -- Soon-to-be Omana, Nebraska :-)
"Hank" <no...@noware.com> wrote in message
news:uvRI8.55991$Oa1.5...@bin8.nnrp.aus1.giganews.com...
Book
--
Book
"Glenn" <ggr...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:HE_I8.8$r46....@newsfeed.slurp.net...
> Charles,
>
> You just need to put up a second antenna! You never can have
> too many antennas.
>
>
> Glenn
mike_m.
several years. I use RG-6 coax and "F" to BNC adapters to connect to
the scanners. There is some signal loss, but unless you are in a
really weak signal area it works fine.
Ed Rodrigues
Using the TV Splitter is no real problem and works just fine with the
RG-6 75ohm cable. About the only problems you get into running
passive splitters occurs when certain frequencies generated by one
scanner gets into the other scanner and locks it up. If you're in a
real hot-bed of transmitters (like you live next to the Police
Dispatch Office) you can have problems where the energy from those
transmitters goes into your receiver and mixes with other frequencies
subsequently generating frequencies (intermodulation frequencies)
which once again locks up your scanners or makes a bunch of crazy
noise.
I personally am running 12 (twelve) scanners via 3 passive TV
splitters with a 30db amplifier in front of the splitters. I do not
have a lot of trouble with "on-site" interference though there is
some. I do not live in or near an RF HOTBED. As long as you live in
a fairly benign RF area it isn't a real killer issue.
Ed/Atwater, CA
> >
> >
> >
michael
make, model, freq range ?
Thanks
"Ed Rodrigues" <erod...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:4052b83b.0206...@posting.google.com...