EMSJUNKY
Member
what is the different between a 1/4 and a 5/8 wave antenna-- which one will get me better reception.
I have to disagree with you and repeat what MB said and this is from experience: it will depend on the terrain. If you use a 5/8 and you need to hit a repeater that is higher in altitude than you there are times that you will not be able to get into it where a 1/4 wave will get you into it just fine. So to say it will give you "better performance period" is too strong a statement for me to agree with.hsdtech said:A 5/8 wave WILL give you better performance than a 1/4 wave, period.
-Bill
djeplett said:If you use a 5/8 and you need to hit a repeater that is higher in altitude than you.
hsdtech said:Hmmm...I would think 99.999% of the time the repeater will be higher. LOL.
hsdtech said:A 5/8 wave WILL give you better performance than a 1/4 wave, period. Compare the 2 antennas on a local repeater listening to the input frequency of the repeater when someone is transmitting. You will definitely hear the difference.
-Bill
sometimes i notice the difference sometimes not. I have a mobile 2m/70cm dualband 1/4 wave and a mobile 160mhz 5/8 wave and sometimes i can't tell the difference when train scanning and using hot box detectors as a test signal. i'm in the flint hills in KS btw.hsdtech said:A 5/8 wave WILL give you better performance than a 1/4 wave, period. Compare the 2 antennas on a local repeater listening to the input frequency of the repeater when someone is transmitting. You will definitely hear the difference.
-Bill
grem467 said:i have to disagree with this statement as well. I switched to a 1/4 wave antenna and had a noticeable improvement on local repeaters, but the signals into repeaters 40 miles away did diminish.
it ALL depends on your usage and desired radation pattern.
Josh said:My experience with VHF is that both antennas have appeared to work equally.
I choose a 1/4 wave over 5/8 wave not only because of size, but when you're travelling down the freeway, or other road above 45mph, the 5/8 wave bends far too much and received signal degrades significantly.
-Josh