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UHF Antenna's

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SFD1117

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I recently installed my Motorola CDM1250 UHF (450-470) mobile and had a question about which antenna to choose from. I have the standard Motorola HAE4003A Wave roof mount (Unity) antenna and the Antenex TRA4503 whipless antenna with a 3dB gain. Which will give me the most Rx and Tx strength/performance? Thanks for your help in advance.
 

n5ims

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In general, unity gain antennas (1/4 wave - about 6" on UHF) work best in cities where a radio on the ground uses a repeater that's located fairly close but high up on a building or tower. This is due to them having a higher radiation angle.

Gain antennas, however, generally work best in flat rural areas where a radio on the ground uses a repeater that's located further away on a tall tower or mountain top. This is due to them having a much lower radiation angle.

A gain antenna that's used to communicate to a fairly close, but quite high location may send little signal there since it was sent out close to the ground, not up to the tall building.

See this thread for more information --> http://forums.radioreference.com/an...37-wave-confusion-mobile-antenna-related.html
 

cmdrwill

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The standard Motorola HAE4003A Wave roof mount (Unity) antenna will far out preform the Antenex TRA4503 whipless antenna with a 3dB gain.

Remember. "you gota have iron in the sky" to receive radio signals. ( Alternator whine school, 1975)
 

Skypilot007

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Just FYI your radio most likely has a band split of 450-520 or so, not 450-470. I've never heard many good things about the whipless antennas. Yeah they look cool and they're incognito in some instances but suffer in performance. Depends how far away you need reception.
 
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