1200MHz Antenna Options

[tweiss3]

I am looking to pick up a IC-9700 (when available) in the near future, and refuse to leave the 1200 band un-used. Are there any other options than the handful of tri-band antennas that include 1.2? I was looking into dipole arrays, but there I couldn't seem to find anything available. I also am uninterested in yagi's for general every day use.

 

[prcguy]

I have a couple of Diamond F1230A verticals which work ok.

 

[jwt873]

For my 9700, I'm using a Comet GP-95 for 2m 70cm and 23cm FM.

For 23cm sideband I've got a Directive Systems 45 element loop Yagi. Even though it's horizontally polarized, it does a good job of reaching our 1285 MHz D-Star repeater which is about 30 miles away.

 

[tweiss3]

So I'm pretty much stuck with GP-95/GP-98/X6000A, or a single band fiberglass antenna that is the same size as the three mentioned? I was afraid of that. Makes sense to go with the tri-band for the space savings on the tower.

 

[KinkedCoax]

Like JWT873 I was using a GP-95, then switched to a GP-3 (dual-band omni) duplexed off the V/U ports, and a CYA-1216E yagi dedicated to 1.2GHz. Really depends on your distance to repeater needs. I like the Comet off the shelf stuff, it works well enough. Good luck on your hunt.

 

[prcguy]

There are smaller 1200MHz fiberglass antennas around, how big or small do you want?

So I'm pretty much stuck with GP-95/GP-98/X6000A, or a single band fiberglass antenna that is the same size as the three mentioned? I was afraid of that. Makes sense to go with the tri-band for the space savings on the tower.

 

[tweiss3]

There are smaller 1200MHz fiberglass antennas around, how big or small do you want?

That's a really good question. I'm not of the opinion of buy once, cry once (within reasonable means). I'm limited to 50' top of tallest antenna by zoning, so I'm still trying to figure out what all I want. I just don't want to have to climb up (or tilt over) the tower in 5 years to replace anything. I figure, stick the big gun on top, which at this point means GP-95 at 8' tall, then I can get a few set of dipoles or dipole arrays below it for other things, like 220, before I get to the roof line of my house at 22'.

I was wondering if there was either a smaller or something else available that had more benefits and fit/improved the intended maximum use of antenna space. It seems like a tri-band is my ideal choice. I was just checking that I didn't miss something in my searches.

 

[prcguy]

What are your requirements for distance? Can you hit all the repeaters you want with a modest antenna on each band or do you need lots of gain to reach distant low repeaters? Do you work much simplex where people are low to the ground and far away? If your needs are simple then a triband or smaller separate antennas for each band may suffice. If not you may need to go separate big antennas high on your tower to reach out far.

That's a really good question. I'm not of the opinion of buy once, cry once (within reasonable means). I'm limited to 50' top of tallest antenna by zoning, so I'm still trying to figure out what all I want. I just don't want to have to climb up (or tilt over) the tower in 5 years to replace anything. I figure, stick the big gun on top, which at this point means GP-95 at 8' tall, then I can get a few set of dipoles or dipole arrays below it for other things, like 220, before I get to the roof line of my house at 22'.

I was wondering if there was either a smaller or something else available that had more benefits and fit/improved the intended maximum use of antenna space. It seems like a tri-band is my ideal choice. I was just checking that I didn't miss something in my searches.

 

[ind224]

I hate the z word....they can make an aluminum dish be rusty, just by saying it is rusty.