Icom V-8000 (Mobile Radio)

[N1XDS]

I recently picked up a icom v-8000 mobile radio from a guy. everything is in excellent condition and I have a question. I was looking at the comet mobile antennas and I had my eyes on the Comet HMC-6S or the UHV-4 antenna which are quad band. the guy I bought the v-8000 from told me the comet antennas are the best bang for the buck because I asked him about the mfj antennas or the comet antennas. Any help would be appreciated it

 

[K2KOH]

Considering the V8000 is a monoband radio, I wouldn't spend the big bucks on the quad band antenna. Comet isn't bad...they're along the line of the Diamond Antennas. Look for a 2 meter monoband antenna.

 

[ReceiverBeaver]

Yeah I definately agree. You'll be spending really big bucks on the antenna capability to operate on the 3 other bands that your radio doesn't even have.

Typical is to get a 5/8 wave 2 meter-only antenna. I use a mag mount on the top-center of the cab of my pickup and works great. Nice omni-directional pattern.

What type of ant/mount you select will mainly have to do with what kind of vehicle you have and where you can or plan on mounting it.

TNX 73

 

[Whistler]

I love my V-8000 but I do miss having UHF but anyway. I am using a trunk mount 1/4 wave and this works best for me. I think if you use a 5/8 you will get more gain and some distance but it may mess things up a bit if you have applied the mod and are tranmitting outside the 144-148. Just a thought.

 

[Hamradiostuffing]

Do not try to transmitt out of band with this radio. The filters can not handle the out of band transmission. If you will try to tranmitt at 150 mhz the radio will produce 50 watts. The filters in the transmitter are only designed to operate between 144-148 MHZ. This will damage the driver very fast. I have heard bad stories about this radio used out of band.

I would use a 5/8 wave you will get alot of good gain.