Dual band mobile

[mrgodlike]

Can anyone tell me by the pic I uploaded if they think I may harm my ht with this antenna. I don't have one yet, but found this one in my old stock. Thanks in advance.

Rocky

P.S. I will be using it for a Yaesu VX-8GR And a Yaesu VX-8R, if it won't harm my rigs.

 

[2RT307]

I would check the SWR's to see if it is within usable range. I don't have a VHF/UHF SWR meter yet, but stumbled across this:

No VHF SWR Meter? No Problem. - KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

If you have a regular CB SWR meter, you can use it as they describe.

I've been using my Baofeng with a mag mount and Larsen 2/70B with absolutely no issues.

73,
RT307

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

HT's are pretty good at working into weird SWR. The duckie antenna they come with is hardly ever a great match and with the antenna being held in different positions and in differing proximity to the body, inside a car etc the SWR varies wildly. Plus the power is low too. That being said I would certainly prefer to check the SWR when using any non-stock antenna. My big question is if the antenna you want to use is dual band or just 2m. I am guessing that since it appears to have a PL-259 connector on it that it is at least a 2m antenna and not a cellular antenna. As for 70cm......

 

[FatHam]

Looks an awful lot like the $25 MFJ dual bander I've got on my HT/Car at the moment. The whip extends 16" out of the coupling nut. Works "okay" as a temporary set up until I get a V71 and Comet 2X4 installed. SWR's under 1:5 on 2m and under 2:1 on 440.

 

[mrgodlike]

Actually if my memory serves me correctly, I think it was a cellular antenna at one time. I ordered a dual band several days ago, just haven't got it yet. After this thread, I noticed a bad coax so I won't take any chances. Thanks everyone.


Rocky
KD8ILS

 

[2RT307]

Rocky, which dual band antenna did you decide to go with?

73,
RT307

 

[mrgodlike]

High Gain NAGOYA UT-106


You get what you pay for. It's way smaller than it appears.

 

[W5LZ]

That antenna is about 15 inches long. That means it's a 1/4 wave on 2 meters and as such, has a negative gain factor, it has no gain. It can have some gain on 70 cm, but not anything extraordinary.
- 'Doc

 

[mrgodlike]

That antenna is about 15 inches long. That means it's a 1/4 wave on 2 meters and as such, has a negative gain factor, it has no gain. It can have some gain on 70 cm, but not anything extraordinary.
- 'Doc

It's kinda junk too...

 

[W5LZ]

I've never had my hands on this antenna so can't say anything about it from experience. There are some general things that I do know about, such as the so-called 'gain', the 'general' thingys don't change, they are sort of 'standard'. Can't change physics and that's what it amounts to. All that 'high gain' from a 1/4 wave antenna is advertising (nasty word)...
- 'Doc

 

[w9cll]

The antenna will work, will it work good? No but it probably will not smoke your radio either. There are much better antennas to buy that wont cast you an arm and a leg. Currently I am running this MFJ-1729 - RADIOS>ANTENNAS>MOBILE ANTENNAS>VHF/UHF DUALBAND ANTENNAS

It works but I am going to replace it soon with this LARSEN NMO-2/70BLACK | BLACK NMO-2/70 ANTENNA 2M/440

 

[W5LZ]

The use of an HT can certainly be convenient, but it's also limiting to a certain extent because it's so 'convenient'. Adding an external antenna is both beneficial and detrimental without a fair amount of care. Connecting/disconnecting that antenna get's to be a PITA after a while, and if you aren't at least sort of careful the HT's connector can break. I do it too, and so far haven't broken anything. The key phrase in that is 'so far'! I figure sooner or later I'll break something.
Antennas for HTs are the same as for a mobile or fixed radio, the bigger the thing is the more performance, usually. How you go about mounting that antenna is also a factor. Mag-mounts tend to work okay, but not as well as a fixed mounted antenna (lots of 'fudge' in that, take it for what it's worth). It's better to have a large, strong magnet than a smaller one, until it get's completely ridiculous.
As performance increases so does the cost. I can certainly understand the 'frugal' aspect, but that frugality has to stretch at times, you know?
I doubt if any of this is going to be a particular benefit to you, but it's something you really should keep in mind.
- 'Doc

(One 'trick' with a 'carried' HT's antenna is to use a real live 1/4 wave and add a 'rat tail' to it, it does make a difference. You basically change from a 1/4 wave to a vertical 1/2 wave antenna. Still won't do 'miracles', but it works.)