Extending range

[CarterB]

I am a radio dealer. Here is what we sell for high gain VHF mobile/base use.
132-174 Wide Band Antenna w/ Spring
TESSCO SKU: 458963
QTY/UOM: 1 EACH
UPC: 646444589635
MFG PART #: MWV1322HDS
MAXRAD 144-174 MHz, 26 MHz bandwidth no ground plane antenna

[Ken W2KB]

I am a radio dealer. Here is what we sell for high gain VHF mobile/base use.
132-174 Wide Band Antenna w/ Spring
TESSCO SKU: 458963
QTY/UOM: 1 EACH
UPC: 646444589635
MFG PART #: MWV1322HDS
MAXRAD 144-174 MHz, 26 MHz bandwidth no ground plane antenna

I looked at the manufacturer's site and that is a mobile antenna, not for fixed use at a home which was the question posed. To be used it would require construction of a groundplane, otherwise the radiation pattern would likely be at a high angle not suitable for reception of ground-based transmissions. For mobile use the sheet metal of the vehicle roof provides an excellent groundplane.

For reasonable gain at a fixed location, the relatively inexpensive http://www.hy-gain.com/support.php?productid=GPG-2B should work fine and has equal or better gain specifications. Much more expensive, but with very high gain, the http://www.new-tronics.com/main/html/ba ... 7_150.html would be ideal for a fixed use.