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Comtelco A1843A-30

ak7an

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2023
Messages
65
Location
Indianola, UT
Looking for a UHF only antenna for my SXS. Found this one and can’t find if it is No Grond Plane or not. Does any know? I would listen to suggestions. I an currently using a Diamond NR 770. It is a bit long and looking for a shorter antnenna. I have a Kenwood NX 800 UHF radio installed so I don’t need the dual band capability.
Thanks
Ed
AK7AN
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
25,282
Location
United States
That's a 5/8th's wave antenna and would require a ground plane.

You'd want a 1/2 wave design antenna if you are working without or with a compromised ground plane:

If it was me, I'd run something like this:

The spring can be useful for absorbing some of the vibration/tree branch strikes.
 

ak7an

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2023
Messages
65
Location
Indianola, UT
Hey thanks mmckenna for that info, what I was thinking that it was a GP antenna. So a 6” metal disk? would love that be enough GP for 438- 462?
 

ak7an

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2023
Messages
65
Location
Indianola, UT
Ok. I was thinking 6” radius. I have enough plastic roof to drill a hole in and an aluminum large pie plate under it. Would probably make for an overall better performance install.
 

ak7an

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2023
Messages
65
Location
Indianola, UT
mmkenna, have you done business with the Antenna Farm website? Looks like they have a great selection of radio stuff. A lot of antenna prices are cheaper than Amazon, and thats with shipping included.
Thanks again
Ed
AK7AN
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
25,282
Location
United States
mmkenna, have you done business with the Antenna Farm website? Looks like they have a great selection of radio stuff. A lot of antenna prices are cheaper than Amazon, and thats with shipping included.
Thanks again
Ed
AK7AN

Yes, both at work and at home. They're usually pretty good to deal with.
 

AK9R

Lead Wiki Manager and almost an Awesome Moderator
Super Moderator
Joined
Jul 18, 2004
Messages
9,958
Location
Central Indiana
have you done business with the Antenna Farm website?
I've had good experiences, too. From mobile antennas and mounts to commercial base antennas, it's all been good.
 

ak7an

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2023
Messages
65
Location
Indianola, UT
So I wound up with a Laird 4303S for my SXS. Drilled a hole thru the metal bracket thing under the partial plastic roof, and thru the partial plastic roof. The metal bracket thingy is roughly 14 X 8 and bolted to the ROPS bar. This made for a nice looking install and the antenna tuned up very nicely. 30 MHz of 2.0 SWR bandwidth. I centered my 1.1 SWR at around 440 MHz. Covers the Ham and GMRS bands quite nicely. Parked next to my base antenna pole and get a better signal on the Barton Peak repeater with my base radio, but it also has 120ft of LMR 400 feed line which at UHF is a killer.. Alll in all very plaesed with the install. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
73
Ed
AK7AN
 
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