Traintenna
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:25 pm
I just bought the TrainTenna from DPD productions, does anyone have one and what do they think of it?
B1G - The Big Train
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I have one. The long silver whip was a little too dorky looking for me, so I attached an old 22" black radio shack whip I found in my closet. I compared the reception between the two and the difference was so minimal that I decided to keep the shorter whip on there. The long, silver whip just screams "DORK!"Huelsy'sTrainBlog wrote:I just bought the TrainTenna from DPD productions, does anyone have one and what do they think of it?
Do you even have a Traintenna????RRTTF wrote:The Traintenna is nothing more than a 5/8 wave VHF magnetic mount antenna. Radio Shack used to sell one. Shakespeara sells one. Maxrad sells one. A bunch of other manucturers sell them, and most of them sell them for less money than the Traintenna. (Unless, somehow, having the word "Train" in the name makes it worth spending extra money just for the name!).
Absolutely correct.hoborich wrote:The closer you can cut an antenna to a specific frequency, the better it will perform. Most antennas are cut to the middle of the range of frequencies it is intended to receive.
Antennas are pretty simple. I'm sure we've all seen them made from coat hangers and seen rabbit ears covered with aluminum foil. They're basic science, but not rocket science. Matching length to frequency is the best way to improve reception. They're simple enough that anybody could make one themselves. One brand vs. another is mostly just smoke. I suppose we're all free to pay whatever we want though. Perceived value is an interesting thing.TomCat4680 wrote:Do you even have a Traintenna????RRTTF wrote:The Traintenna is nothing more than a 5/8 wave VHF magnetic mount antenna. Radio Shack used to sell one. Shakespeara sells one. Maxrad sells one. A bunch of other manucturers sell them, and most of them sell them for less money than the Traintenna. (Unless, somehow, having the word "Train" in the name makes it worth spending extra money just for the name!).
Do you really think all antennas are created equal and all that matters is height?????? In my 13 years of scanning experience, I've found that to be the furthest thing from the truth. Same thing with scanners. My VX-150 with a Diamond RH77CA at ground level gets waaaay better railband reception than any wideband scanner/antenna combination I've ever had, even my base station rooftops.
True. But the test I performed with two different length whips showed a negligible difference. And because of that, I chose the less dorky, black and shorter whip even if it does sacrifice a fraction of reception range.hoborich wrote:The closer you can cut an antenna to a specific frequency, the better it will perform. Most antennas are cut to the middle of the range of frequencies it is intended to receive.
Well maybe if you had your own scanner and a good antenna you wouldn't have to be one of those annoying idiots in Durand that does nothing but ask me when the next train is coming over and over.hoborich wrote:I've never understood the need for more range on a railroad scanner. I already hear enough trains that I never see.
You obviously have me confused with one of your friends. I was referring to the downriver Detroit area where we hear trains on the Wabash, Lincoln Secondary, NS Detroit lines, Oakwood yard, Livernois yard, Shoreline Sub, CN dispatcher, NS dispatcher, Conrail Dispatcher, South Yard, Flat Rock yard, and occasionally Windsor.Well maybe if you had your own scanner and a good antenna you wouldn't have to be one of those annoying idiots in Durand that does nothing but ask me when the next train is coming over and over.
Wait, so it took you three weeks to get it?! Not exactly the fastest service from "DPD Productions".Huelsy'sTrainBlog wrote:I just got it on Thursday and it works great!
"They said", being the operative words here.They ran out they said.
it only screams dork if your driving around in a hatch back import that begs for a homeless gang bang to be performed inside of it cause my antenna config looks sweet on my truck thank you very muchJ T wrote:I have one. The long silver whip was a little too dorky looking for me, so I attached an old 22" black radio shack whip I found in my closet. I compared the reception between the two and the difference was so minimal that I decided to keep the shorter whip on there. The long, silver whip just screams "DORK!"Huelsy'sTrainBlog wrote:I just bought the TrainTenna from DPD productions, does anyone have one and what do they think of it?
Don't make me sick that Chris guy (fb) on you.Big Frank wrote: it only screams dork if your driving around in a hatch back import that begs for a homeless gang bang to be performed inside of it cause my antenna config looks sweet on my truck thank you very much