Are there any good gooseneck HT antennas?

[OkieBoyKJ5JFG]

The title pretty much says it. I've seen a couple of videos of people cutting open gooseneck antennas to find that the shell was just cosmetic and there was no coil inside it. I know they can be good if made correctly, but are there any on the market which actually are made in the style of the military ones? For example, Nagoya makes one which might actually be good given their reputation, but I'm reluctant to buy one unless someone with personal experience tells me it's more than just an ordinary antenna with a shell on it.

Thanks!

 

[Hit_Factor]

How do you handle polarization with one of these? What is the use case for this style antenna?

Reminds me of how a gangsta aims with a Glock, but that's OK 'cause they won't hit the target.

 

[OkieBoyKJ5JFG]

How do you handle polarization with one of these? What is the use case for this style antenna?

The flexible antenna would be very convenient for things like horseback riding where you have to put your body into positions where a radio on the belt with an ordinary antenna would either poke you in the side, damage the antenna, or both.

 

[vagrant]

Use a pigtail and mount/harness/clip the antenna elsewhere. Use a speaker microphone so the radio can stay put as well.

 

[OkieBoyKJ5JFG]

Use a pigtail and mount/harness/clip the antenna elsewhere. Use a speaker microphone so the radio can stay put as well.

Yeah, maybe...but then you have the radio on your belt and the antenna attached somewhere else, which is twice as much hassle when you take the radio off your belt. It's not like guys playing paintball. Sometimes you'll want the radio (getting instruction from a coach, staying in touch on a trail ride) and sometimes you won't. If you finish the lesson and you want to do a little hacking before you put the horse away, it's more comfortable to ditch the radio, and personally, I'd find it annoying to have twice as much junk to remove, to say nothing of maybe getting something tangled in the pigtail.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Speaker mics are very useful, especially in noisy environments. When available I'll pick the radio with a speaker mic everytime. Quality HT antennas are very robust, it's very unlikely that you would damage it.

I doubt there is going to be any benefit, and it's likely to decrease performance. Unless it's a CCR, can't really hurt the (lack of) performance.

I don't know if this is still going on, for awhile, Nagoya antennas were being counterfeited, shop carefully. Checking their website I didn't recognize any of their antennas to be "gooseneck". Gooseneck does not return any results on their search webpage.

 

[OkieBoyKJ5JFG]

I doubt there is going to be any benefit, and it's likely to decrease performance. Unless it's a CCR, can't really hurt the (lack of) performance.

Nobody in their right mind uses an expensive radio around horses.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Nobody in their right mind uses an expensive radio around horses.

I'll let the mounted guys I worked with know. Best of luck.

 

[OkieBoyKJ5JFG]

I'll let the mounted guys I worked with know. Best of luck.

Perhaps I should have caveated that or put a laughing face because it was mostly a quip. Law enforcement officers certainly do use expensive radios around horses, but they are betting their lives on them. Also, they don't typically buy the radio themselves.

 

[k6cpo]

Perhaps I should have caveated that or put a laughing face because it was mostly a quip. Law enforcement officers certainly do use expensive radios around horses, but they are betting their lives on them. Also, they don't typically buy the radio themselves.

And the horses are probably better trained.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Nobody in their right mind uses an expensive radio around horses.

So you've never heard of the Mounted Patrol ?? They Don't use Beofangs !

 

[rf_patriot200]

The title pretty much says it. I've seen a couple of videos of people cutting open gooseneck antennas to find that the shell was just cosmetic and there was no coil inside it. I know they can be good if made correctly, but are there any on the market which actually are made in the style of the military ones? For example, Nagoya makes one which might actually be good given their reputation, but I'm reluctant to buy one unless someone with personal experience tells me it's more than just an ordinary antenna with a shell on it.

Thanks!

Abree makes a tactical gooseneck style antenna for vhf/uhf that supposedly has good results.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Abree makes a tactical gooseneck style antenna for vhf/uhf that supposedly has good results.

"Abbree" (2 "b"for those searching)

 

[mayidunk]

You might try Smiley Antenna. I've had their SUPER STICK 5/8 wave, two-meter antenna for going on 20 years, and while I don't actually use it for two-meter ham work, the quality of the thing is just superb! They have a bunch of other antennas as well, and I believe they will even custom fabricate one for you! And they won't cost you an arm and a leg. Their current two-meter Super Stick II is selling for just under $30!

Smiley Antenna Co., Inc. "The Orginal Tuned Antenna"

Smiley Antennas offers a wide range of antennas for emergency services, border patrol, as well as beacon antennas for boats, planes, etc., including dual and tri band, flexible and telescopic, and commercial connectors. The Antennas are flexible, durable, medium to high-gain, USA-made duck, telescop

www.smileyantenna.com

 

[GadgetGeek]

How about the Diamond RHF40? Hamradio Outlet had one connected to a Home Patrol scanner and it was working well.

RHF40 - Diamond Antenna

www.diamondantenna.net

 

[mmckenna]

Not horse related, but similar….

I used to ride ATV's quite a bit, and we always carried radios in case we were separated.

Carrying a radio is a good idea, but having it clipped on your belt really impacts performance, usually about 30dB or more. Us meatbags really suck up RF.

The goose neck antenna would be a concern since it'll put a lot of stress on the radio's antenna connector. Cheap radios will have a harder time than higher tier radios.

Getting the antenna away from the body is the right thought path, but there are only a few options that actually work and don't risk damaging the antenna jack.

I always had a hydration pack with me, and I carried the radio in there. I had the helmet wired in, and it worked well. A speaker mic might be a good option for you. Getting the antenna up and away from the body will help range.

 

[rf_patriot200]

signalstuff.com

 

[rf_patriot200]

The Signal stick is Very light weight, so minimal strain on the SMA connector, and the whip can be threaded through the molle straps on your pack for more of a low profile look, and prevents it from whipping around.

 

[mmckenna]

The Signal stick is Very light weight, so minimal strain on the SMA connector, and the whip can be threaded through the molle straps on your pack for more of a low profile look, and prevents it from whipping around.

Yep, looks like a good solution for short range stuff. Getting the antenna away from the meatsack help with performance.

The tacticool/swat/molle users are not often looking for long range stuff, so not an issue.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Yep, looks like a good solution for short range stuff. Getting the antenna away from the meatsack help with performance.

The tacticool/swat/molle users are not often looking for long range stuff, so not an issue.

Right, but definitely makes your radio happier.