I have did some research and looked at several items but want to get others opinion and suggestions;
I have a dual band Yaesu FT-7900. I have used several dual band antenna, but have found I get better reception and distance with a dedicated band antenna. Have tested both as mobile and as base station.
I'm wanting to use two dedicated antennas one for 2m (VHF) and one for 70cm (UHF) with the Yaesu. As such needing suggestions on what would be the best way / best product for obtaining my goal since the dual band radio only has one antenna jack.
I might be in the minority here, but I also prefer multiple single band antennas over multiband antennas.
Yes, I know that a properly designed multiband can be very good and convenient, but I just have had more problems with them then equal quality single band antennas. And, while I can see no real reason to support it (assuming the multibander is not a reduced size antenna), I also feel single banders tend to work better.
With that said, I find it hard to justify not using a good quality dual band antenna for 2M/70cm. Companies have been making dual banders for a long time, and really have some good products out there. In other words, if I am only talking about 2M and 70cm I have no problem using a dual band antenna, but when you start getting into other bands I pretty much refuse to go multi-band unless there is no other way.
For example, on my Miata I do have a Comet UHV-4 quad band to go with the Yaesu FT-8900, but when the same radio was in my Bronco I had diplexers and single band antennas...and it did indeed seem to work better. But, there is no way I am going to have 4 antennas on the Miata, it already looks like an RC car with that big UHV-4 on the back.
What is very important is to compare apples to apples. Dont expect an 14" 2M/70cm dual bander to perform as well as two single band full-size 5/8 wave antennas. But by selecting a dual bander that is not reduced size (unless you need or desire small size and are willing to accept the compromise) and with similar designs (for example it would be unfair to compare a dual 5/8 wave collinear to a simple 1/4 wave) you can probably come up with a dual bander that will perform as well as a pair of single banders (within your ability to tell).
Also remember that not every company uses the same "standard" of gain in their advertising. One company might do a theoretical calculation or modeling and base it on dBi, another might base it on dBd but still be theoretical, yet another might include actual measured numbers from some source. Of my three examples I would bet the last would be the lowest "number", but might well have more actual gain than the other two. It is sometimes better to compare designs, rather than gain numbers. Two different full size, 52", 5/8 wave 2M antennas made by two different companies are going to have pretty much the same gain...regardless of what it says on the package.
If you want single band antennas go ahead and do it, and use a good quality diplexer, I do the same thing in most of my applications. But, realistically, a good full sized dual bander like the Diamond SG7900 (or similar, that was not a plug for Diamond) is just hard to beat.
T!
