The scanner mega-thread

[Dave Brand]

Which antenna have you got with your Icom? If it's an FA-S75V it's just about the best you'll get. The one I have, which was ordered as an FA-S75V is, in fact, a little bit shorter (150mm overall compared with 170 Those are overall lengths - effective length will be slightly less) but it works very well.

166.3375 mHz corresponds to a wavelength of 177 cm (if I'm using the correct conversion table!), so the ideal antenna will be a multiple of 177 cm. The FA-S75V is a good compromise unless you want to go to something much bigger - ideally, you should look for an antenna whose length is equal to the wavelength or wavelength divided by a multiple of two - i.e. half wave, quarter wave, etc. Buy a telescopic antenna & you can tune it to the desired frequency.

Don't worry about dipoles, they are not practical for handheld scanners. BNC is a bayonet fitting - to use a BNC fitting antenna you'd need a screw-in adaptor.

[Steve Milward]

Just to add to the excellent reply from Dave, the thread on your Icom is referred to as SMA.

[marshal_man]

Does anybody know where i can find a cheap police style headset (clear coiled) for my scanner??

[Scottish]

I bought myself one of these:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ht_1448wt_1139

Arrived quite quickly and am happy with it.

[AndyMil]

Got mine from a place called Wildtalk, online.
not really impressed with it for circuit work, its very quiet.

edit to add, mine is the same as the one above

[Jordygirl]

Got mine online from a company called Vestguard UK.... US covert acoustic tube earpiece(listen only) £10... I paid for express delivery when my old piece died, and got it the next day. Result.

Linda

[Andy Johns]

I got mine from East London Communications:
http://www.eastlondoncommunications.co.uk/index1.html
You want the 2.5 mm one.

[peter195001]

Mine think, was from maplin, just ear piece, works well, but not sure if can still get them

[Scottish]

Originally Posted by Andy Johns

I got mine from East London Communications:
http://www.eastlondoncommunications.co.uk/index1.html
You want the 2.5 mm one.

I've got the Maycom AR-108 which takes the 3.5mm jack. Check your scanner user manual for the correct size.

[PVDA]

Originally Posted by Scottish

I've got the Maycom AR-108 which takes the 3.5mm jack. Check your scanner user manual for the correct size.

Worse case buy a 3.5 to 2.5 adaptor for a few dollars

[Sticker Rub]

These are quieter than normal earpieces so although comfotable to wear for long periods, they're difficult to hear over loud background noise. They also get muffled when water gets into the tube, as I discovered at Silverstone this weekend.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

166.3375 mHz corresponds to a wavelength of 177 cm

Just spotted my typo! I used the correct figure, 169.3375, for the conversion.

[Guinness2702]

Originally Posted by peter195001

Mine think, was from maplin, just ear piece, works well, but not sure if can still get them

Was gonna suggest Maplin too. Don't have one, but look here...

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?MenuNo=12587

[numbersix]

Thanks for your help, Dave.

It's an Icom IC R5. The aerial is an FA-S27C and measures about 177 mm.

It was so bad at Goodwood, I turned it off. Last weekend at Island I could pick up Race Control but not the replies. The Maycom was better and a LOT cheaper.

I may buy a telescopic and try it out. I suppose I will need an adaptor of some kind.

Phil

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by numbersix

The aerial is an FA-S27C and measures about 177 mm.

There's your problem! KayBee bought an Icom from Maplin. It was so bad that she returned it as not fit for purpose - fortunately, she'd bought it in one of their shops & specifically stated the frequency range she wanted to listen to. They sent it back saying it was OK, so she phoned them & stated again that it was not fit for the purpose she'd bought it for, so they asked for it to be returned again - this time it came back with the FA-S75V antenna, which solved the problem.

[Matthews Dad]

Originally Posted by numbersix

Thanks for your help, Dave.

It's an Icom IC R5. The aerial is an FA-S27C and measures about 177 mm.

It was so bad at Goodwood, I turned it off. Last weekend at Island I could pick up Race Control but not the replies. The Maycom was better and a LOT cheaper.

I may buy a telescopic and try it out. I suppose I will need an adaptor of some kind.

Phil

Phil

I think it may also be a bit of the specific geography of Oulton at play here as well

I was only getting one 1/2 of the conversations some of the time as well it seemed to depend where the sender was located,

Richard

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Matthews Dad

I was only getting one 1/2 of the conversations some of the time as well it seemed to depend where the sender was located,

Same thing happened with one IO or post chief at Donington at the Masters meeting - too close to the debris fence one side or the barrier the other and there transmissions were totally lost.

Graeme

[Keith Lewis]

I bought one last week from ebay: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Rocket-Radio-Letchworth.

Works well, and delivery was very quick. A bit quieter than 'D' type but much more comfortable.

[marshal_man]

Thanks people

[numbersix]

Tried Google search for FA-S75V and zappo. Not Maplins either, nor Icom.

Any ideas, other than nicking KB's when she's not watching?

Phil

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by numbersix

Tried Google search for FA-S75V and zappo. Not Maplins either, nor Icom.

Any ideas, other than nicking KB's when she's not watching?

While the latter suggestion has its merits, it could be painful - beware the handbag!

Looks like the FA-S75V is obsolete. I've done a quick search which suggests that an FA-SC55V would do the job - it's listed as "VHF antenna for 150-174MHz". There are other Icom, & other manufacturers', antennae which could also be suitable.

[Steve Milward]

Picked one of these up today from Waters and Stanton in Essex today for £7.99.

Great quality earpiece and a good price

[Steve Milward]

The Icom scanners also have a wider frequency range 25 Mhz to 1300 Mhz with no gaps. This will mean that the sensitivity is not as good as those scanners which have dedicated bands like the Maycom units.

To overcome this you would be better getting a tuned aerial that is designed for this frequency. I believe Panorama manufacture one with an SMA connection for Icom Radios.

I have contacted a rep from the company for a part no so if I get it I will post an update here.

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Mildrop

To overcome this you would be better getting a tuned aerial that is designed for this frequency. I believe Panorama manufacture one with an SMA connection for Icom Radios.

It's worth bearing in mind that 169.3375 is not the only frequency used at circuits. Looking at the frequencies I've got stored, anything from 163.9200 to 173.0625 (maybe even a wider range than that) may be encountered.

[Matthews Dad]

Just to chuck into the mix as well the MSA rally safety frequency of 81.xxx
so if like me you work both circuit and rally being able to get both are vital