[Scanner] "Waterfowl" antennas

[Mike Urich]

From: "DW White" <ke6wyb@hotmail.com>

> Based on those I've seen, the antenna supplied with most scanners are
> resonant at approximately 153 Megahertz.
>
> Two reasons.
> 1.  Cost.  Why pay to re-engineer something that's "always worked" if it's
> not costing sales??
>
> 2.  In my experience, there is still a lot of public service on VHF-Hi.
> Also NOAA weather and Aircraft.

Mike wrote

All true plus let me add a P.S. ... if you take the third harmonic of 153mHz
you have 459mhz making this antenna fairly resonant in both the VHF-hi and
UHF bands.   Kinda like using a 40 meter dipole on 15 meters.  Unfortunately
the 5th harmonic is 765 mHz and the 7th is 1071 mHz giving it a null across
the 800-900 mHz portion.  Now a second harmonic from a 440 mHz antenna is
still somewhat usable for 800-900... the 6th from a 153 (918 mHz) I would
have my doubts.

Mike Urich,   KA5CVH
www.ka5cvh.com
LaPorte TX   EL-29

Amateur Radio *IS* a contact sport!