I've had this little dual band telescopic antenna for 5 years, or so. I've always been impressed with how well it worked. Recently, I read where the antennas with blue lettering (like mine) are fake. I'm like, well it's a good fake then.
The more I thought about it, my OCD kicked in. I looked on Amazon and found an "authentic" one from Baofeng Tech. The listing was preferred and the price was around $17 shipped. The lettering on this new one is silver. OK, this has to be the real McCoy.
Got the antenna today. It looks nice, feels solidly built. Put it on my Yaesu FT-25 and kerplunked a tower...nothing. Put my old one back on and worked like a charm. So, got my meter and adapter up'd both antennas. My old one = 1:6:1 and my new one went to infinity.
Wrote them and described my findings. I told them that the new "authentic" one is either defective or a fake. They are sending a replacement. Can't wait to see what happens.
Just a side note...best check those aftermarket antennas just in case.
The more I thought about it, my OCD kicked in. I looked on Amazon and found an "authentic" one from Baofeng Tech. The listing was preferred and the price was around $17 shipped. The lettering on this new one is silver. OK, this has to be the real McCoy.
Got the antenna today. It looks nice, feels solidly built. Put it on my Yaesu FT-25 and kerplunked a tower...nothing. Put my old one back on and worked like a charm. So, got my meter and adapter up'd both antennas. My old one = 1:6:1 and my new one went to infinity.
Wrote them and described my findings. I told them that the new "authentic" one is either defective or a fake. They are sending a replacement. Can't wait to see what happens.
Just a side note...best check those aftermarket antennas just in case.