Construction:
The 20-014 antenna is a large antenna. Its constructed with 3 different sized
elements sticking straight up attached together and 3 long elements that shoot straight
out horizontally. It has a PL-259 connection and a mounting bracket for an antenna
mast. You have to have plenty of space for this one. It's around 6 feet tall and
over 11 feet across.
Performance:
I actually have this antenna in my attic sitting on the floor,
it comes just under a foot from hitting the roof.
I have used 50ft of RG 8/U cable to bring the signal
down to my BC210xlt scanner that I use in my bedroom.
I have noticed that it does improve reception especially in the VHF lo-band.
It sure doesn't help in the 800 mhz band, I get better
reception using the stock antenna that came with the scanner for those
frequencys. I have hooked up my BC895xlt scanner to the
20-014 antenna to check s-meter readings and compaire that with my 20-176
antenna that I use. I will post those here at a later time. In my observations,
the 20-176 beats the 20-014 but that may because the 20-176 is mounted high
in the attic and the 20-14 sits on the insulation on the floor of the attic.
My 2 cents:
For a 3 dollar antenna (bought on clearance from Radio Shack),
you can't go wrong. You can probably pic one up on Ebay
for around 30-40 bucks. It out performs the stock antenna and is probably a
great antenna if I can get it out of the attic and outside on a mast. Most reviews
I have read on this antenna say it out performs almost anything else out there.
FACT: the antenna will only perform as good as the cable is don't forget!!!