I was considering putting up a dualband antenna for useing with my Wouxon. getting a speaker mic and the cable adapter for conecting the coax to the wouxun. Will this damage the wouxun in any way. If the match is good I would think it should work just fine. Anyone useing an HT with a base antenna?
Dual band handheld w/base antenna
- Thread starter grogan
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Dual band antennas are usually factory tuned, just put it together and you're good to go. It's hard to damage an HT unless you run it over with a truck or run it directly from AC mains so not to worry. They're also quite tolerant of mismatched loads which makes them useful for testing and tuning antennas. I'm not using my 2M HT now but have used it for that purpose and as backup for the base and mobile.
Oh before I forget, since RG-8U type coax is REQUIRED for VHF/UHF operation and being fairly stiff and heavy it's not recommended to connect it directly to the HT's BNC connector. They're not meant to take much stress and will likely come loose breaking internal connections. I made up a 6' jumper of RG-58U SO-239 to BNC male, worked fine and no broken connector.
Oh before I forget, since RG-8U type coax is REQUIRED for VHF/UHF operation and being fairly stiff and heavy it's not recommended to connect it directly to the HT's BNC connector. They're not meant to take much stress and will likely come loose breaking internal connections. I made up a 6' jumper of RG-58U SO-239 to BNC male, worked fine and no broken connector.
RG-8U coax required I guess RG8X is not good for this application???? just looking to save $$ that almosd doubles the price of 100 ft.
fineshot1
Member
RG-8X is fine cable but why would you need 100 feet of it?
maby 75' will due but I will have to measure carefully I have 100 on my other antenna but the location is a little higher and a few feet further from the house. My radio desk is first floor cables run down to the basement, across to the far side of the house and out to my antenna 20' from the house and 32' to the base of the antenna. The dual bander will mount to the chimney with a 8' mast 75' might do it but i will have to measure with care.
fineshot1
Member
ok - well if you need that much length then you might
be right about needing the RG8 type cable. I would
use the Belden 9913 if its feasible for you to do so.
i would look into another way to route the cable to
shorten up the run.
be right about needing the RG8 type cable. I would
use the Belden 9913 if its feasible for you to do so.
i would look into another way to route the cable to
shorten up the run.
N4KVE
Member
Also remember if you live near a large metropolitan area, that base antenna up in the air will turn a HT into an intermod sponge. Most HT antennas operate at a loss in gain, & get no intermod, but attach that HT to a high gain antenna, & the noise will become real annoying real fast. GARY N4KVE
I run my Icom T70A through about 60 feet of RG8 Coax to a Jetstream tribander in an unused bedroom on my second floor and get much improved performance over the basic rubber ducky. I can hit a repeater 20 miles away at full quieting with half power on VHF (2.5 watts) according to the signal reports I get. With the ducky it's still reachable from outside with 5 watts, but spotty if I move around. Can't put the big antenna outside due to neighbours that don't like it.
To answer the original question, no it won't harm an HT if a 'base' antenna is used with it. Naturally, that antenna should be tuned for use on the bands that HT works on. A more flexible 'jumper' to connect to that HT is a good idea for the reasons stated above. Depending on your method of operating, a hand mic isn't out of the question either, or maybe an external speaker.
- 'Doc
- 'Doc
I'm a new ham and plan on doing the same thing. I'm going to start with a Vertical with moderate gain, just enough to reach some of the more distant repeaters. There is only one local repeater. I'm in a rural area so interfearence should be far less than urban areas.
I also put an antenna on my vehical to help get the signal out while driving.
Down the road, I'll upgrade to a good higher power base UHF/VHF radio with SSB and a higher power mobile for my truck.
Money is tight so I'm going to make the best use of my handheld until I can upgrade my station. Of course the handheld will always be a part of my equipment.
I plan on staying with the UHF/VHF bands for a while and when I find a good deal on a used HF transcever, I'll get the 20 to 160 bands. I very much want to get a higher power 6 meter rig. It is a band I want to work, especialy with the sun spot cycle where it is now.
My best to you and experiment, that's what radio is about, John K
I also put an antenna on my vehical to help get the signal out while driving.
Down the road, I'll upgrade to a good higher power base UHF/VHF radio with SSB and a higher power mobile for my truck.
Money is tight so I'm going to make the best use of my handheld until I can upgrade my station. Of course the handheld will always be a part of my equipment.
I plan on staying with the UHF/VHF bands for a while and when I find a good deal on a used HF transcever, I'll get the 20 to 160 bands. I very much want to get a higher power 6 meter rig. It is a band I want to work, especialy with the sun spot cycle where it is now.
My best to you and experiment, that's what radio is about, John K
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