Navycop
Member
I have an extra stock antenna. I was going to cut it in half for a snubby. Will it pick up 800mhz?
Making a snubby out of a stock antenna.
- Thread starter Navycop
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Just about any antenna will receive some signals on just about any frequency. The question is: How well will it work, will it be an improvement over the stock antenna? Without using test equipment to determine the proper length to be resonant at 800MHz, cutting a stock loaded antenna will be just trial and error. It may work better at 800MHz, it may be worse. The problem is, once you cut it, it's done, and you can't undo it.
I took a UHF rubber duck six inch whip and cut it down to about three inches, and it did improve reception at 800MHz. But this was not a stock loaded antenna, it was a quarter wave whip, so the results were more predictable.
You can either try it and see, or else purchase a ready made stubby antenna.
I took a UHF rubber duck six inch whip and cut it down to about three inches, and it did improve reception at 800MHz. But this was not a stock loaded antenna, it was a quarter wave whip, so the results were more predictable.
You can either try it and see, or else purchase a ready made stubby antenna.
jim202
Member
Problem with a stubby antenna, they don't work very well. If you just don't like the long 6 inch
or so flex whip, they work. If you do go to a stubby and are in a poor coverage area, you
loose. Either you won't be heard, or you won't be heard very well when transmitting. If
you are using it for receive, the stubby is not much better than a wet noodle for an
antenna.
Guess it only matters on how you intend to use it. All the Public Safety users I know,
stay away from the stubby for coverage concerns.
Jim
or so flex whip, they work. If you do go to a stubby and are in a poor coverage area, you
loose. Either you won't be heard, or you won't be heard very well when transmitting. If
you are using it for receive, the stubby is not much better than a wet noodle for an
antenna.
Guess it only matters on how you intend to use it. All the Public Safety users I know,
stay away from the stubby for coverage concerns.
Jim
N
N_Jay
Guest
An antenna is a engineered element, not a random part.
Cutting it in half makes about as much sense as taking sand paper to your glasses to adjust the prescription.
Cutting it in half makes about as much sense as taking sand paper to your glasses to adjust the prescription.
Navycop
Member
The reason I was going to cut down the stock antenna it won't fit where I want to mount it. And I had an extra one so I didn't have to buy a snubby.
why do you call it a snubby? It is called stubby.
Cutting an antenna in half will destroy it, just use the right tool for the job. Speaking of which, THIS is a snubby.
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clanusb
Member
poetato potato.
there is one station in my area that is allowed to use the stubby ants. and that is because their first in is right by the com tower.
there is one station in my area that is allowed to use the stubby ants. and that is because their first in is right by the com tower.
Poetato? Stubby ants? Oh boy you're asking for it now. (;->)
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