I found a GREAT antenna for both GMRS & 70cm

[Jaxco]

Hi,

I waited 4 months to do this post because I wanted to be sure that it was all it was cracked up to be. I am talking about the Browning BR-6157. It is 5/8 over 5/8 for 4.5dBd - not stellar gain but a very solid performer for an antenna with an 80 MHz, YES, an 80 MHz bandwidth with SWR under 2 through the entire operating bandwidth of the antenna which is pre-tuned for 410MHz to 490MHz.

How does it achieve the wide bandwidth? Simple, the thicker the radiating elements, the wider the operational bandwidth of the antenna. The fiberglass antenna is 3.75" thick! This is a robust and inexpensive antenna, I got mine shipped for under $60.

The antenna weighs about a pound and is just under 3 feet long. The solid brass base looks cool too. It has an "N" connector, I have mine fed with genuine LMR-400 and I have a coax switch to toggle between my 70cm and GMRS radios.

My results have been fantastic:

I am hitting more distant repeaters on 70cm after replacing my old half wave over half wave co-linear that I made even though it was supposed to deliver better gain than the new antenna.

SWR's Observed using MFJ269C: (Yes because of the way this Analyzer 'frequency creeps' it takes me awhile to check specific frequencies accurately, but these numbers are accurate.)

440.125MHz - 1.13:1
444.950MHz - 1.06:1 (My favorite repeater receive freq.)
449.950MHz - 1:1 (My favorite repeater input freq.)
462.550MHz - 1.19:1
462.700MHz - 1.21:1

YMMV but not by much, I bet! If you are not an antenna guru, this is a very SAFE, relatively inexpensive bet for both 70cm and GMRS and it even comes with excellent mounting hardware for your mast.

73

 

[Project25_MASTR]

A DB408 in the 450-470 range works well too. New they are expensive…used you can find them for next to nothing if you look in the right places.

Mobile I like the PCTEL wideband knobs…430-480 MHz on Unity gain.

 

[FKimble]

Yes fatter radiating elements generally produce a wider useable SWR bandrange. So just how fat are the radiating elements inside that non-radiating fiberglass shell?

 

[Jaxco]

I cant find schematics but inside 3.75", I would imagine the 2 5/8 wave elements could be pretty thick because the antenna isn't really tapered any.

 

[blastco2]

I use the commet ca-2x4 for mobile ops. Covers 440 and 467 under 2:1. 3 db on vhf and 6 on uhf. Nmo or unf mounts and $70.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I used to use a comet...

 

[linboogy]

A DB408 in the 450-470 range works well too. New they are expensive…used you can find them for next to nothing if you look in the right places.

Mobile I like the PCTEL wideband knobs…430-480 MHz on Unity gain.

Know where I can get one?
I would gladly trade a 1 month old Laird FG4607 9.1 Dbi 7.1 Db Omni and some cash. Nothing wrong with it but need something other than an Omni for our GMRS repeater