Skyscan Mobile 25-2000MHz Magnetic Scanner Antenna (MK3)

As a fully licensed Radio Amateur for over 40 years and latterly a frequent VHF/UHF scanner user (mostly for military airbands) I wanted an aerial (the word antenna is just SO American!) that I could use mobile and which would perform better than the little 'rubber-duck' supplied with my Uniden scanner. Initially, I purchased a cheap and cheerful VHF/UHF dual band aerial for less than £10 that had a very small mag-mount which was useless if the vehicle was moving at more than 2-3 mph, but at least it was an improvement and increased the scanner's performance noticeably.However... I suspected that my little scanner was capable of much more if the aerial system could be improved further... and I wasn't wrong! This new Skyscan Mobile 25-2000MHz Magnetic Scanner Aerial (MK3) from Moonraker - a brand that I'd first dealt with back in the 1970s - is something else! Even my wife noticed the difference the first time we went out to RAF Coningsby with it. Channels that previously had been noisy or unreadable. were now crystal clear and we sat listening to air-to-air comms between Typhoon pilots on exercises many miles away, over the Yorkshire Moors, in the Lake District and at a couple of bombing ranges on the east coast.The super strong mag-mount will keep the aerial in place on the roof of the car at all (legal) speeds and the high quality cable is of ample length and pre-fitted with a BNC connector.The aerial came securely packaged and is supplied partially assembled and with two allen keys - simply use the supplied nut to fix the aerial to the mount/base and you're good to go. A very VERY good aerial for the money, which won't disappoint.

The Moonraker MK3 Antenna was dispatched & delivered very Promptly. It arrived well wrapped and in perfect condition. I was impressed with the comprehensive paperwork, which was included, should the item need to be returned. The Mk3 Antenna is a really nice quality product, with a hugely powerful magnetic base, requiring very little DIY to set up (2 Allen Keys are included). I have positioned the MK3 Antenna, by an upstairs bedroom window, placed on a heavy-duty Magnetic metal Speaker Stand & connected to my ATS25 Pro+ SDR.FM-RDS Station reception/quality in Stereo, is excellent, without the Receivers RF Pre-Amplifier being activated. I'm really pleased that Reception Quality is equally as good on the 2m Amateur Band (144-146MHz NFM).Even though this Moonraker MK3 Antenna is fairly simple in design, it seems to work really well, ticking all the boxes I hoped it would. I'm certainly pleased with the Moonraker MK3's, quality and performance, hence this 5 Star Review

Transformed my rt730 radio. I can receive many more stations now. Mine is on a 400×400×2 mm mild steel zink plated bit of plate ( to provide a ground plain)on a window sill outside. Performs very well . Would highly recommend.

Had plastic on the thread for the tightening nut which I had to work loose. No instructions either. Works very well despite the gripes. Picks up twice as much traffic as the previous aerial. It is constantly bringing in signals of all kinds. Well worth the money paid.

Outstanding. I am actually blown away as I live 75 miles away from Edinburgh yet picking up their air traffic control, albeit a little broken but the actual aircraft are all very clear as can be heard. I barely got broken aircraft traffic with just the standard aerial.

I've been listening to airband (Civil and Military) for years now. I first bought one of these aerials for use with my AOR2000 scanner. It worked brilliantly. I eventually had it on my metallic shed roof so I could listen to airband whilst working in there and was able to pick up civil & military aircraft at higher altitudes from over 200 miles away. After 15 years outside it fell apart so I replaced it with the current model. Visually it's identical and it works just as well.I decided to buy another one in 2017 to use with my Uniden UBC-125XLT when I'm plane spotting away from home. All the aerials allow excellent reception but having a good large metallic base acting as a ground plane is essential for the best reception. The shed roof and the car body both meet the requirement well. Whilst on the car I have driven at 70 m.p.h. without the magnet letting go so I don't recognise the issue others have had. It does give a fair bit of wind noise, a whistle, when travelling above 50 m.p.h. but this can be overcome by wrapping a spiral of garden twine around each element and covering with shrink wrap. That will stop the noise in the same way as car makers do with some vertical aerials.For home use, I use this aerial as part of a discone with my Uniden-Bearcat BCT15-X and am able to receive aircraft signals from 300+ miles away for high level aircraft (the curvature of the earth stops VHF & UHF signals propagating further).All in all I would highly recommend these aerials.

Its already to go might need to tighten 4 antennas up alan keys supplied if came loose in transit, then just connect it up good amount of cable, will need adapter due too its BNC as standard. Aircraft can pick up easily and are clear. Not tried 27 CB yet. I just stuck in on a tin on windowsill. Its a great bit of kit works on Rt-730 quansheng no problems.

I gave this a bad review ,but I was wrong.I didn't ground it on metal, it now sits on my radiator and wow wot a differnce .This little Arial finds things I've never heard before ,I'm using it with a cheap sdr box on my laptop,it's superb with sdr# software.good thing is it's small enough to be probable and mobile on the car but don't drive with it on the roof as the magnet isn't strong enough.this is a very well made Arial not cheap nasty item.if you have space issues or no loft or can't put one up outside this little gem is your answer .Also if your new or thinking of starting out in scanning ,then please don't buy expensive radios to start with but a £20 sdr box and this Arial for under £30 and save yourself a heap of cash .to be fair this set up is better than my radios .If you look you can find software that scans for signals like a radio these also have almost unlimited storage for found signals .