Nagoya UT-308UV antenna for Hand-Held Radios?

[MrGClips]

Anyone knows this Nagoya UT-308UV 22" long antenna, or used it hooked up to a hand-held?
http://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Nagoya-UT-308UV-SMA-Female-BaoFeng/dp/B00XQ9H9OC

I got it for my little Baofeng F-9 2V+ 8Watt radio (http://baofengradio.us/tri-power-8w-radios.html) as a "home-station" antenna that I want to put outside my window, hoping it would give me the best possible performance. For now, only for reception and later transmission as well if I get my Ham license.

I only found one review, a very positive one, which was my reason for buying this model.
REVIEW:http://www.miklor.com/COM/Review_UT308.php

The official product page says 50W max power, but the user's guide that came with it says 100W, which must be a mistake. (I include the image I scanned from the paper that came with the antenna.)

Also, on the Amazon page it claims a 4.15 dBi gain, which seems pretty high compared to the others.

So, what can I realistically expect from such a 22" antenna in performance (placed outside my window), in comparison to the standard Rubber-Duck antenna? I have high but reasonable expectations.

 

[Catalinaflyer]

I use the NA-771 on a dozen UV5-R+ handhelds, I would say that this antenna easily adds 5X transmit and receive range over the stock antenna. I would imagine the one you purchased would give even better results over a radio mounted whip. My only concern is if it requires a metal base to use as a ground plane (like the roof of a vehicle).

 

[MrGClips]

I use the NA-771 on a dozen UV5-R+ handhelds, I would say that this antenna easily adds 5X transmit and receive range over the stock antenna. I would imagine the one you purchased would give even better results over a radio mounted whip. My only concern is if it requires a metal base to use as a ground plane (like the roof of a vehicle).

So I can't just use it on any surface? What if I put it on top of my window air-conditioner outside? Would that work or that's too small a surface? Or placing a metallic plate underneath it in the window? How big does the surface have to be? Or I've got the wrong antenna for the wrong application and I should just send it back, get something else? Thank you!

 

[Catalinaflyer]

So I can't just use it on any surface? What if I put it on top of my window air-conditioner outside? Would that work or that's too small a surface? Or placing a metallic plate underneath it in the window? How big does the surface have to be? Or I've got the wrong antenna for the wrong application and I should just send it back, get something else? Thank you!

That's why I said "if" it requires a ground plane. I'm not familiar with this exact antenna but I would imagine attaching it to your window A/C would give it a pretty good ground plane.

I would try it and given at this point your main use is receiving the ground plane wouldn't be important anyway. You've already got it and another benefit would be the ability to take it in your vehicle whereas a true base antenna would be more expensive and no ability to take it with you.

 

[MrGClips]

That's why I said "if" it requires a ground plane. I'm not familiar with this exact antenna but I would imagine attaching it to your window A/C would give it a pretty good ground plane.

I would try it and given at this point your main use is receiving the ground plane wouldn't be important anyway. You've already got it and another benefit would be the ability to take it in your vehicle whereas a true base antenna would be more expensive and no ability to take it with you.

It says: "... Requires Metal Ground Plane ...", so I guess a metal surface is a must.

I wrote to the seller on Amazon and asked them about it. They wrote me back that ".. Any metal base will do fine - the larger and more grounded; the better reception it will have. ". Well, I guess then it SHOULD work.

I hate ignorance, especially when I'm the ignorant one!

 

[dsalomon]

I've used a baking pan as a ground plane when in a situation where I've needed to place an antenna where no good ground plane exists. It works just fine. For example, when setting up a portable station and only a mobile antenna with a magnetic base is available, put the antenna magnetic base on a baking pan and you're good to go. I agree with the other poster that putting it on your window air conditioner should also provide an adequate ground plane.

 

[khaytsus]

RG316 will put that at about a 2db loss a 146mHz assuming it's 20 feet long, but it'll still be a win.. Getting outside of the house is huge, although you will have a significant RF 'shadow' towards the other direction.

I wonder if the gain in the chart is over the rubber duck.. The antenna itself is a quarter wave at 2m, which is 0dBi... so the rubber duck is -4.15dBi? Kidding. Sort of. I'm sure it's worse than that

 

[fenriswolf039]

Miklor gave this antenna 5 stars and posted this SWR chart: