Railfan Technology > Scanner Holder

Those of you that use hand-held scanners (Yaesu VX-170, Uniden BC-125AT, etc.), how do you secure the scanner when driving?

I use a Arkon Seat Rail Mounting Pedestal with Gooseneck, 4 Hole AMPS Head, and Ram Mounts Finger-Grip GPS and Radio Holder.  I traded in the vehicle.  Before I install the holder in the new vehicle, I wanted to see if there were better alternatives.
 
Thanks.
 
Jeff
Bloomington, IL
 

There are some mounts available on Amazon or EBAY but I use a mobile radio for when I'm in the car. You don't need the top of the line scanner for railroads, I'm sure Uniden has something or the Whistler 1065 is one I use. It's a good radio for high band VHF that the railroads use. It's good for aircraft as well, I use it for both. If you don't want to drill a hole in your car for an antenna use a magnetic mount antenna. You will have much better reception with the mobile radio. You could also use the magnetic mount antenna for the hand held and improve your reception. You might search amateur radio supply stores like Ham Radio Outlet to see what they have. Good hunting!

James Nelson
Thornton, CO
www.flickr.com/mojaveflyer

    I have a home rigged redneck job. I use a large, 3/8, maybe 1/2" wide zip tie horizontally encircling the passenger headrest of my pickup. Fairly tight, yet still loose enough to get the belt clip behind it, the radio then rests in the charging cradle, which sits on the seat-top with a little room to spare since the headrest is extended up a little, and smaller than the seat it protrudes above. In this position, the radio is head height, and aimed at my ear. 

Desmond Praetzel. "4451 Puff" 

 

Mounting a mobile radio in many newer model vehicles has become a real problem.  My wife and I bought a different vehicle late last summer.  There is literally no place to mount a mobile radio in the front driver or passenger area.  For now, I'm using a mobile antenna connected to a portable radio that is clipped to the front seatback, with a speaker mike running to the front for the driver or passenger to use.  The bad thing is that radio face and controls are not visible unless one unclips the radio and brings it up front to change channels, etc.  My longer term solution will likely be to purchase a mobile radio with a Bluetooth wireless control head microphone--then mount the radio itself under the seat, and find a location to clip the mike/control head somewhere on the dashboard.  So far, however, I've not found a radio with such a setup where the Bluetooth control head is reliable, especially since the vehicle infotainment system also uses Bluetooth to connect wirelessly to phones, etc.  Fortunately, the "new" vehicle in our household is not my primary railfanning vehicle.  No matter what kind of radio a railfan is using in a vehicle, it really can't be very effective unless it is connected to an external antenna.  One note here:  most portable radios have similar or identical circuitry and reception capability as their "cousin" mobile radio models.  What makes the difference in reception capability is the antenna.

Thanks for the responses!

Here's what I use for an SDS100 and Kenwood NX210. Lido Mounts makes a few similar options for this seat wedge from single radio to radio and cell holder. Plates adjust to get nice tight fit and easy to remove.


https://www.lidoradio.com/products/lm-wedge-ext-wedgemount-with-mic-holder-for-all-hts