4 best vhf scanner antennas

A VHF (Very High Frequency) scanner antenna is designed for receiving radio signals in the VHF frequency range, typically between 30 MHz and 300 MHz. These antennas are commonly used by radio enthusiasts, hobbyists, and professionals such as emergency responders, aircraft spotters, and marine operators to monitor a wide range of communications and radio transmissions.

Key characteristics of VHF scanner antennas include:

  1. Frequency Range: VHF scanner antennas are specifically designed to cover the VHF frequency range. This allows users to receive signals from various sources, including public safety agencies, aviation communication, marine radio, and amateur radio bands.

  2. Gain: Antenna gain refers to the ability of the antenna to focus and amplify received signals. VHF scanner antennas may have different levels of gain, which can affect their performance in terms of signal reception. Higher gain antennas can receive weaker signals from a greater distance.

  3. Antenna Type: There are various types of VHF scanner antennas, including omnidirectional and directional antennas.Omnidirectional antennas receive signals from all directions, while directional antennas are designed to focus on signals from a specific direction, offering better reception in that direction.

  4. Mounting Options: VHF scanner antennas can be mounted in different ways, depending on the intended use. Common mounting options include fixed-base, magnetic mount, or roof-mounted antennas. The choice of mounting option depends on whether the antenna will be used in a fixed location or on a mobile platform.

  5. Materials and Durability: The construction of VHF scanner antennas varies, but they are typically made from materials designed to withstand outdoor conditions. Weather-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials are often used to ensure long-term durability.

  6. Connector Type: VHF scanner antennas usually come with connectors that are compatible with the type of scanner or radio receiver being used. Common connector types include BNC, SMA, and N-type connectors.

  7. Height: The height of the antenna can impact its performance. Taller antennas generally provide better reception, especially for distant signals. However, the practicality of antenna height may be limited by the installation location and local regulations.

When selecting a VHF scanner antenna, it's important to consider your specific needs, such as the types of signals you want to receive and your location. Additionally, the choice of scanner or radio receiver can also affect overall system performance.

Remember that the effectiveness of a VHF scanner antenna depends not only on the antenna itself but also on factors like terrain, interference, and local regulations. Proper installation and tuning are essential to maximize reception quality.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best vhf scanner antennas on the market
  

BABYLTRL Big Dog Harness No Pull Adjustable Pet Reflective Oxford Soft Vest for Large Dogs Easy Control Harness

Babyltrl

Based on 21 reviews Check latest price
  • Large size: Chest Girth 22-32 inch. Perfect harness for large dogs, but also fits well for medium dogs, like golden retriever, labrador, german shepherd, american bully pitbull and more. Adjustable Straps let you create a custom fit for your dog.
  • No pull design: Pulling pressure is evenly distributed to the body to prevent Pulling and Choking. Our dog vest harness comes with 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
  • Easy to wear & locking Security: This pet harness with simple design and quick snap buckles which make it easy to put on and take off. Locking feature on both snaps makes it much more secure, perfect for daily walking, running, hiking, training, hunting, outdoor adventure and more!
  • Sturdy handy handle: Our pet dog harness comes with sturdy D-ring leash attachment point and easy grap handle to help you to control and assist your dog.
  • Reflective & lightweight: Premium Nylon Oxford material offers a long lifetime for this soft dog chest harness. Lightweight and easy to clean. Reflective straps keep your dog SAFE all the time while out for a walk.

User questions & answers

Question: My Rottweiler is 170 pounds will this fit him
Answer: My dog measures 36" at the deepest part of his chest. Fully let out, I think it would fit your dog. It has a leash ring at the top, and one at the bottom (between front legs). It is made of nylon, as are the fasteners. It's very sturdy and we are very happy with it. The dog is comfortable wearing it. I hope this helps.
Question: How long will it last
Answer: My dog isn't that big. She is medium build.
Question: how does it keep a dog from pulling
Answer: My dog is a yellow lab with a 33" chest girth and weighs 78 pounds. The XL works quite nicely for her and there is at least 3" of expansion room on each side snap. I don't know the measurements on the large but think it could be border line with a 32" girth and certainly not much room for growth.
Question: Do you have to manipulate the dogs legs to put this on? I have an elderly golden retriever who will not tolerate legs being picked up and stuck into h
Answer: I guess no one sent in photos. It looks like this. I went to a pet shop before ordering mine and examined their harnesses . The Barkbay one is of better quality than those at the pet shop at a lower price, too

Product features

BS PRODUCT, PROVIDED EVERYTHING YOU WANT!

1. No pull

2. Easy walk

3. A standy handle for control

4. Front and Back Rings for Attaching Leash

5. Adjustable Neck and Chest Girth

6. Easy to Put on and off

7. Reflectable in the Dark

8. Breathable and Comfortable Padding

9. Cool Looking

Front and Back Rings for Attaching Leash

Our pet dog harness comes with front and back sturdy D-ring leash attachment point, help stopping pulling and choking very effective

Reflectable in the Dark

With the reflective straps keep your dog SAFE all the time while out for a walk

A standy handly

we designed the easy grap handle to help you to control and assist your dog more convenient on some occassions

POSITION

Unbuckle the chest strap and loosen the neck strap. Slide your pup's head through the neck piece, and arrange the chest straps between the two front legs, under the chest.

FASTEN

Snap the strap buckles together.

ADJUST

To extend the neck straps, pull the neck slider away from the logo, bringing it colser to the front leash attachment ring. The above picture refers to the maximum neck position.

LOCK

Push the Red Button to the locked position.

Osprey Nebula Men's Laptop Backpack

Osprey

Based on 409 reviews Check latest price

Product description

The Osprey Nebula laptop backpack gets the same attention to detail as our most technical packs. The Nebula daypack offers durable fabrics and contemporary aesthetics in a comfortable package for everyday use. It also has travel friendly features such as the TSA airport approved laptop sleeve that can fit up to a 15" laptop along with a padded, zippered tablet sleeve. The front panel organization pocket keeps all your small items handy while the large main compartment has plenty of room for all your essentials. Additionally, dual stretch mesh water bottle pockets make sure you stay hydrated for a busy day on the go while the internal organization helps keep things organized. While there are upper side compression straps to keep your pack streamlined, you can tuck them away in the hidden garage pocket when not in use. It can also be used as a bike commuter pack with the blinker light attachment and a heat embossed scratch-free slash pocket for your sunglasses.

  • TSA airport-approved laptop pocket
  • Padded laptop and tablet sleeve (fits up to most 15” laptop)
  • Internal magazine/document sleeve and organization
  • Front panel organization pocket with key clip
  • Stretch mesh front panel pocket and dual side water bottle pockets
  • Heat embossed scratch-free slash pocket and loop for blinky light attachment (light not included)

User questions & answers

Question: How much does this weigh
Answer: No
Question: There’s two different specs listed in the description. One says will fit up to 17” and the other says up to
Answer: It might be a bit of a tight fit. The length of the opening for the laptop sleeve is about 12 inches. Hope this helps.
Question: Will this bag stand on its own after packed
Answer: This pack is not waterproof but is water resistant and can shed light rain due to the nature of the materials used. For heavy rain, we recommend adding a rain cover for extra protection.
Question: Does this backpack compress enough that I would be able to fit it under the seat of an airplane as a personal item
Answer: That is somewhat dependent on the specific laptop dimensions as laptops are generally measured by screen size diagonally not necessarily by the total dimensions with the laptop casing. However, it should be able to fit in the pack without any issue. The only potential issue is the padded sleeve may not cover the entire laptop but it should still protect the laptop plenty well. We hope that helps!

Product features

Osprey Nebula Backpack

Osprey's 24/7 line is designed with the same commitment to fit, durability, comfort and function are our most technical packs. In each pack you'll find familiar and functional features like a padded laptop/tablet sleeve, internal organization and loop for attaching a blinky light for commuting.

TSA Airport Approved Laptop Sleeve

The Nebula has a designated laptop sleeve that unfolds to lay flat eliminating the need to remove the laptop for easy and secure travel through airport security.

Upper Side Compression Straps

Upper side compression straps with tuckaway garage straps.

Front Panel Stretch Mesh Pocket

A Front panel stretch mesh front panel pocket provides additional external storage and organizational options.

Dual Stretch Mesh Water Bottle Pockets

Dual stretch mesh side pockets provide additional external carry options.

Dinictis 40L Carry on Flight Approved Travel Laptop Backpack, Business Weekender Bag-Grey

Dinictis

Based on 2 reviews Check latest price
  • AMPLE SPACE AND REASONABLE DESIGN: Dimensional design meets the maximum size allowed by IATA flights, easy to carry around; Capacity: 40 L;Backpack size:50*35*25 CM/19.6*13.8*9.8 INCH; Main compartment size:50*32*14CM/19.7*12.6*5.5INCH; Suitable for 10.1-inch tablets and 15.6-inch laptops.
  • CONVENIENT TRAVEL: The hidden shoulder strap makes the backpack can be carried or lifted, making it easy to carry around; Luggage trolley straps provides easy travel; The main handle and side handles are designed to lift the backpack from multiple angles.
  • EASY TO ORGANIZE: The computer compartment with protective foam pad can store up to 15.6 inch laptop. With the small item storage bag on the lower front side (there is a key buckle in the storage bag), and a quick access storage bag on the upper front side, you can store and organize all personal belongings conveniently and quickly.
  • DURABLE:The fabric is made of high density scratch resistant and water repellent polyester, and strengthens the key points of force, which provide more durable backpack.
  • COMFORTABLE: Thickened sponge handles and shoulder straps provide you with more comfort when you are carrying and gripping the bag; The chest strap relieves shoulder pressure for weight bearing.

User questions & answers

Question: can i lock the laptop compartment
Answer: It does not appear to be able to be locked.
Question: Splashproof but not waterproof
Answer: Was great in the rain, but I didn't throw it in a pool to test how waterproof.
Question: Is this too large to be called a "personal item" allowed in addition to a carry on airline bag
Answer: It is TOO large. It is almost the carry on maximum size for most airlines. The personal item size limit is just over half the size of this thing. You can carry this as your large item and a tote bag or purse or daypack sized backback or laptop case as your "personal" item.
Question: Will it fit under plane seat
Answer: Yes, it fits in the overhead compartment and under seat. We suggest not pack too much and using the compression straps. Hope it is useful to you.

Product features

Accessories

Excellent accessories make your travel more comfortable, and the careful design allows you to stop worrying about storage

Details and quality

Amazon Basics Carry-On Travel Backpack - Black

Amazon Basics

Based on 5 reviews Check latest price

Product description

An Amazon Brand

  • Carry-on travel backpack with internal, zippered laptop sleeve; ultra-flexible and lightweight; made of durable polyester
  • Main compartment with zippered mesh space, optional midway shelf, and internal/external compression straps
  • Front pocket and front-top pocket for easy access to documents and travel liquids; main upper packing compartment with organizer, expandable storage space tuck-away ID pocket
  • Padded shoulder straps disconnect easily and store away in zippered back pocket; removable sternum strap, waist belt, and shoulder strap; well-placed exterior handles
  • Main compartment measures 5.5 by 13 to 14 by 21.5 inches (LxWxH); main upper packing compartment measures 3 to 5 by 13 to 14 by 21.5 inches (LxWxH); full-expansion zipper creates 10% more packing space

User questions & answers

Question: What are the dimensions
Answer: 22"H x 17"W x 6"D (or 8"D when expanded). These are approximate, as it is a soft side--you could probably get it out to 9" or more depth if you really packed it in there and put the zippers to work.
Question: What is the capacity in liters so that I could compare to other bags
Answer: I'd agree with AL's 50L. I have both this and the Hynes Eagle 40L, and this easily has 25% greater capacity than the Hynes. Fully expanded, it's comparable to a domestic-sized roll-aboard suitcase.
Question: Can this handle rigorous packing? I tend to pack a lot into little spaces, but don't want something that can't handle it and will rip at the seams
Answer: It is a nice back pack with neat features. But, it is a $40 backpack. I would consider it a medium duty travel pack, and would not recommend repeated over loading. I have a $300 Gregory pack constructed with rip stop material and zippers that are double the size of the ones on this pack. With that said it is a great backpack for the money!
Question: Will this bag adhere to flybe carry on requirements
Answer: My wife and I just returned from a trip to Europe where we flew Norwegian, RyanAir, and Flybe. I used a different bag, while she used this AmazonBasics bag. None of the airlines measured our backpacks and we were able to carry on for all of our flights. Flybe was the tightest in terms of getting the bag in the overhead bin, but it did indeed fit. Just don't over pack, and you will be fine. For Norwegian and RyanAir, we had zero issues getting the bags in the overhead bins.

Product features

AmazonBasics Carry-On Travel Backpack

Ultra-flexible, lightweight, and durable, the AmazonBasics Carry-On Travel Backpack makes a great choice for savvy travelers. Made of durable polyester, the travel pack functions as an unstructured suitcase that can be quickly converted into a backpack.

The travel backpack meets carry-on requirements, and it features three well-placed exterior handles—great for lifting, placing in an overhead compartment or trunk, or for more traditional side-handle carrying. The premium carry-on travel backpack comes loaded with organizational components and user-friendly features.

Multiple Organizational Compartments

A zippered front pocket offers easy-to-access space for boarding passes, travel itineraries, and other important documents, while a zippered front-top pocket keeps travel liquids and other personal items conveniently accessible.

On the front, the backpack provides a double-zippered opening for its main upper packing compartment. The inside flap of the unzipped panel features a briefcase-style organizer with sleeves and zippered pockets for storing small items. The main upper packing compartment’s interior offers ample storage space, including a place to securely clip your keys.

This carry-on travel backpack offers a roomy and well-organized main compartment that’s secured shut with double zippers and four external compression straps. Unzipped, the inside flap offers a full-width zippered mesh compartment—great for larger items or keeping contents separate from the main compartment.

Inside the main compartment, there are two adjustable compression straps to help keep contents in place.

Laptop Sleeve

Designed with today’s traveler in mind, the backpack comes with an internal laptop sleeve. The laptop sleeve provides a zipper closure, and if not traveling with a laptop, the main compartment expands into the laptop area, so there’s no wasted space.

Adjustable Straps

The travel backpack comes with padded shoulder straps for comfortable carrying. For secure placement, the travel bag offers an adjustable sternum strap and a waist belt, both of which can be removed if preferred. The backpack shoulder straps disconnect easily and store out of the way in a zippered back pocket, allowing the bag to be checked or carried like a suitcase. The travel pack also comes with a removable shoulder strap for more carrying options.

Spacious

The AmazonBasics carry-on travel backpack’s main compartment measures 5.5 by 13 to 14 by 21.5 inches (LxWxH), and its front compartment measures 3 to 5 by 13 to 14 by 21.5 inches (LxWxH). A full-expansion zipper creates an additional 10 percent of packing space—no need to hold back when it comes to returning home with gifts and souvenirs. Experience exceptional quality, convenience, and flexibility with the AmazonBasics Carry-On Travel Backpack.

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