New G4/5 7/800 antenna

[W8RMH]

Well that's interesting. The link in post #1 above no longer says "Extra Gain" - but my receipt does.....

My receipt states that too.

 

[GTR8000]

I ordered and received one about two weeks ago for my G5. Have not noticed any appreciable difference in reception. I noticed that it did not sit flush when attached and that didn't make me too happy. It has a very slight gap.

I could probably crank it down but don't want to damage anything.

Hmm, no appreciable gain detected, and it doesn't even mate up well with the pager? Seems like a wasted $15 to me.

I'd love to know exactly how an antenna that is the same exact size as the previous antenna manages to allegedly achieve 3 dB of gain. I guess Unication's engineers have figured out how to defeat the laws of physics!

 

[bob550]

I'd love to know exactly how an antenna that is the same exact size as the previous antenna manages to allegedly achieve 3 dB of gain. I guess Unication's engineers have figured out how to defeat the laws of physics!

Maybe the blue band gives the antenna its performance boost.

 

[dough1590]

Received my "new" G5 763-870m Mhz antenna today and installed. On my local Frisco PD and FD frequencies I don't see any changes outside of four steady bars for reception, but when switching over to the Tarrant County SO channels (which is 30 miles away) no longer get random "out of range" alerts. Instead am receiving three constant bars which didn't happen with original antenna. For $15 bucks I'll take the improvement.

 

[w6hp]

Received my "new" G5 763-870m Mhz antenna today and installed. On my local Frisco PD and FD frequencies I don't see any changes outside of four steady bars for reception, but when switching over to the Tarrant County SO channels (which is 30 miles away) no longer get random "out of range" alerts. Instead am receiving three constant bars which didn't happen with original antenna. For $15 bucks I'll take the improvement.

Does it fit flush like the original?

 

[dough1590]

In my case yes it did with no mod. Comparing the original and the newer vesion I do see where it looks like newer one is a tiny bit shorter on the screw end but fits perfect on my G5.

 

[bob550]

In my case yes it did with no mod. Comparing the original and the newer vesion I do see where it looks like newer one is a tiny bit shorter on the screw end but fits perfect on my G5.

This, and your earlier "reception report", is encouraging!

 

[dough1590]

This is a photo with the new antenna attached to give everyone an idea of how it fits. Appears to be flush to me, although it certainly looks different.. almost like it sits loose but it is screwed down tightly.

 

[bob550]

This is a photo with the new antenna attached to give everyone an idea of how it fits. Appears to be flush to me, although it certainly looks different.. almost like it sits loose but it is screwed down tightly.

I can see a slight gap. At least as compared to the OEM antenna. Maybe they just couldn't shoehorn the "extra gain" into the original size antenna body .

 

[WB6WQF]

This is a photo with the new antenna attached to give everyone an idea of how it fits. Appears to be flush to me, although it certainly looks different.. almost like it sits loose but it is screwed down tightly.

The gap is unacceptable. That’s terrible build quality for commercial equipment.

 

[bob550]

Is that gap going to compromise the ip67 rating in any way?

 

[county]

IMO the ‘gap’ is a non-issue as unlike the original antenna there is an inner skirt on the new one that appears to seal everything.
Performance improvement is noticeable. Previously got out-of-range in my basement. No more.

 

[county]

See image below. Orig antenna on left, new on right with red arrow pointing to the raised ridge that performs seal.

 

[bob550]

See image below. Orig antenna on left, new on right with red arrow pointing to the raised ridge that performs seal.

Ok, so the base of the SMA looks to be identical to the original, and not as it appeared in pictures. Mine's been delivered so I guess I'll see when I get home later.

 

[markjrenna]

Great news on the enhanced reception. Going to order a couple from Ray's. Thanks!

 

[w6hp]

I might be in the minority but I don't care for the gap and believe it was a manufacturing error or just poor quality control. Otherwise, we would see it in other applications.

 

[N6ML]

I'd love to know exactly how an antenna that is the same exact size as the previous antenna manages to allegedly achieve 3 dB of gain. I guess Unication's engineers have figured out how to defeat the laws of physics!

Gain isn't just about the amount of metal - how that metal is arranged can drastically affect the *pattern*. They may have come up with a new arrangement that gets more gain at angles that are more beneficial. In other words, "size isn't everything - it's how you use it" ... or something It'd be interesting to see plots for the old and new versions (showing where the 3dB improvement is actually observed), but that's probably not going to happen....

 

[markjrenna]

I was told this gain is appreciable and was for Michigan near Canada. Has improved reception for them. So it will help us all.

 

[bob550]

I was told this gain is appreciable and was for Michigan near Canada. Has improved reception for them. So it will help us all.

You're saying this antenna was designed to specifically improve reception in Michigan near the Canadian border? Does that mean the rest of us are screwed?

 

[markjrenna]

You're saying this antenna was designed to specifically improve reception in Michigan near the Canadian border? Does that mean the rest of us are screwed?

No not screwed. It will benefit us all for the 700/800 MHz range.