BKR9000 antennas

[policefreak]

Just curious has anyone experimented with any other antennas other than that big huge pole attached to the BKR9000? Mainly for UHF and 700/800mhz. I feel like if when mine comes and I have the factory antenna attached, I could knock someone out if they are standing within 30 feet of me!

 

[rsmith7799]

From a Dealer aspect, I wouldn't use another antenna. It has already been shown that one other antenna has been used and it didn't perform at all. The reason was that the male and female connections inside the barrel of the antenna are too short, thus there was no connectivity. With the VHF/UHF/700, 800, GPS within the stock antennas, I would be very leary to "experiment" with anything else. (my opinion only)

 

[gtaman]

There are two version of the Multiband antenna. One is a little shorter. I found this on the FCC website.

 

[policefreak]

From a Dealer aspect, I wouldn't use another antenna. It has already been shown that one other antenna has been used and it didn't perform at all. The reason was that the male and female connections inside the barrel of the antenna are too short, thus there was no connectivity. With the VHF/UHF/700, 800, GPS within the stock antennas, I would be very leary to "experiment" with anything else. (my opinion only)

Yea that all makes sense. People used to do stuff like that with Unication pagers and had similar results. I used a SMA F to BNC F adapter and a Remtronix 800 antenna with good results. This time I'm looking to go shorter whenever that becomes available. Does it make the radio top heavy and more apt to fall having such a long antenna?

 

[ServerTech]

Yea that all makes sense. People used to do stuff like that with Unication pagers and had similar results. I used a SMA F to BNC F adapter and a Remtronix 800 antenna with good results. This time I'm looking to go shorter whenever that becomes available. Does it make the radio top heavy and more apt to fall having such a long antenna?

I guess it depends on what your use case is for what you want to do with the radio. Were you going to be using it in a working environment or using it as a radio enthusiast? Which band splits did you order on your BKR9000? You mentioned that you were going to be using UHF, 700/800 MHz mostly? I would imagine having a multiband radio would come with some compromises as far as antennas are concerned, meaning that in order to have the radio work reasonably well, it would mean that the antenna length would need to be a certain length.

 

[policefreak]

I guess it depends on what your use case is for what you want to do with the radio. Were you going to be using it in a working environment or using it as a radio enthusiast? Which band splits did you order on your BKR9000? You mentioned that you were going to be using UHF, 700/800 MHz mostly? I would imagine having a multiband radio would come with some compromises as far as antennas are concerned, meaning that in order to have the radio work reasonably well, it would mean that the antenna length would need to be a certain length.

I am a radio enthusiast, so this will not be a work radio. But yes, I agree some compromise is likely needed. The compromise is I'm afraid that the long antenna will turn me into a clutz and I will keep knocking over the radio. Most of what we have here is 700/800 mhz, but there is some UHF mixed in a little further away and some areas still on VHF where I travel, which is why I went multi-band.

 

[ServerTech]

I am a radio enthusiast, so this will not be a work radio. But yes, I agree some compromise is likely needed. The compromise is I'm afraid that the long antenna will turn me into a clutz and I will keep knocking over the radio. Most of what we have here is 700/800 mhz, but there is some UHF mixed in a little further away and some areas still on VHF where I travel, which is why I went multi-band.

I'm in the same boat as you, in that I'm a radio enthusiast who had placed an order for a BKR9000. In my case I ordered one in VHF/UHF bands only (I know, it's weird but I don't plan on using the radio for Non-Affiliated Scan).

When I ordered my radio I didn't include the BKR9000 antenna (specifically, the BKR0893-148-E20 part). I already had a Motorola VHF/UHF antenna (PMAT4001A) and I was going to use that since that antenna is specifically for VHF/UHF/GPS APX series radios. I'm not interested in using it on 700/800 MHz, and since the antenna connector for both the BKR5000/9000 is the same Motorola SMA-F connector, "in theory" it should work.

My 2 cents - if I were you I would see how it goes with the stock antenna on the radio. You can always get another antenna later on down the road, but you can't go wrong having the stock antenna. I had also ordered the stock antenna, just in case.

 

[rsmith7799]

HOW DARE YOU SPEAK WITH FORKED TONGUE! Please oh please don't use another vendor's antenna.

 

[2wayfreq]

Yes, I know "Blasphemy", But all I need for my system use is a 700/800 stubby. I experimented, and the one I chose is too skinny for the antenna seating base on the radio leaving a gap. I would like a kind of a "Seal" so rain water doesn't get into the threaded base. I would need a fatter type.

 

[ServerTech]

Yes, I know "Blasphemy", But all I need for my system use is a 700/800 stubby. I experimented, and the one I chose is too skinny for the antenna seating base on the radio leaving a gap. I would like a kind of a "Seal" so rain water doesn't get into the threaded base. I would need a fatter type.

Just curious, what was the model/brand of the 700/800 stubby?

 

[ServerTech]

HOW DARE YOU SPEAK WITH FORKED TONGUE! Please oh please don't use another vendor's antenna.

LOL!

I did end up buying the OEM antenna so I had all of my bases covered. Unfortunately, I received an update on my radio order and was told that there was going to be a delay in my delivery. It sounds like BK is having to make some changes to the BKR9000 case in order so it's IP67/68 compliant as it was originally advertised. The revised case won't be shipping until January? Until then, radios will be delivered but they'll only be rated for IP64 specification.

Anyways, I suppose that deserves it's own discussion thread.

 

[policefreak]

LOL!

I did end up buying the OEM antenna so I had all of my bases covered. Unfortunately, I received an update on my radio order and was told that there was going to be a delay in my delivery. It sounds like BK is having to make some changes to the BKR9000 case in order so it's IP67/68 compliant as it was originally advertised. The revised case won't be shipping until January? Until then, radios will be delivered but they'll only be rated for IP64 specification.

Anyways, I suppose that deserves it's own discussion thread.

When was your radio ordered?

 

[ServerTech]

When was your radio ordered?

Towards the end of June.

 

[TwoSerious]

Haven't tested any of the 9000 antennas but my general experience is that you get minimal gain for more annoyance with those longer antennas.