If you were going to purchase an external antenna for your railfan vehicle, would you choose the Traintenna model, or would you get the Motorola Railscan Highgain antenna? Just curious, and why? From my observations, they both look almost identical to each other.
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Try this link for some radio information. Also, I think @trainroomgary has information on this railfanning hobby.
The antenna info starts around 2:30.
{1} BingFu Antenna • $10.00
{2} This is a roof mounted BingFu Antenna with a magnetic base.
{3} The only negative to this antenna is the magnet power could be stronger. Sometimes the antenna will come off the vehicle but it will cause no damage because of it’s lightweight.
{4}. Check out this thread: https://ogrforum.com/...2#158111059004770482
Hope this helps: Gary 🚂
Thanks to all for the info., and suggestions. I am still looking and contemplating what I want to do.
Try a company called Bridgecom. They have a nice dual band (VHF & UHF) mag mount car antenna at a reasonable price. bridgecom.com
FYI: I am a general class amateur radio operator (KO4TIY) and have done a lot of business with them. I have THAT antenna and they are good and helpful folks!
Thanks to all! I am also going to get up to Ham Radio Outlet in Milwaukee, (the old Amateur Electronics) to se what they have. Since my old BC100XLT is quite old, I might also look at the BC125XLT as well. Still weighing all my options. Did hear from Railcom, and the Railscan Gain antenna is $84 plus shipping, only a few bucks more than the Traintenna model.
The Uniden SDS200 is the top of the line base/mobile scanner, but it has a hefty price tag: $700.
I was out rail-fanning today at the CN Yard in Waterford, Michigan. Photos from this trip will be posted on “Rail-fanning on the OGR Form”. Sidebar story: on my way home I stopped at the Oakland International Airport, Waterford, Michigan.
To test the Scanner & Antenna. Most of the action was on frequency 160.5500 conversations between the tower & aircraft. These communications are very understandable.
Gary 🚂
I took a 2m MFJ whip with a 24×3/8 (or is it the other way), and with an antenna analyzer, cut it for low SWR on RR band. Just to listen. No transmit.
And the RR band is set up for FM NARROW. You may want to set up your channels with that setting.
To update anyone who may be following this thread,,,,,,,, I made a trip a few weeks back up to Milwaukee to hit a few hobby shops, plus stop by Ham Radio Outlet, which is a re-incarnation of the old (and out of business) Amateur Electronics Radio on Good Hope Road, just minutes from Walther's showroom and facility. I did pick up two Diamond RH77CA antennas, and a MFJ brand, mag roof mount (with BNC). Yesterday, I finally got the time to test these out with my Bearcat BC100XLT scanner in my truck, with great results! I took a run down to Grant Park, Illinois on the UP main, and was picking up dispatcher to train, and train to dispatcher action all the way up to 130th street in Chicago. The CN ex IC line 15 miles to my west was coming in loud and clear as well. I also heard the CSX Jacksonville dispatcher talking to something on the CSX main in Indiana (ex Monon), but could not make out the response. The salesman at Ham Radio Outlet tells me that they as a whole, sell more of these Diamond antennas than any other ham radio antenna, two to one. Now I do not know if these out perform say the Traintenna, or Railcom antenna, but I am impressed with the performance of what I bought.
The Diamond antennas are top quality for hams and others! You did well! Art, KO4TIY (General class license).
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